The value of misconception the other: The case of the Japanese swords and its fittings in the late XIX and early XX centuries.

[SalaMarcos]

Today I would like to invite you to my next lecture, registered at the International Congress of Japanese Studies of Kyōto Ritsumeikan University and Bucharest University, this Friday 31th March at 12:20 Romania time.
It is completely free but you have to register in this link previously.

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1By-vdY5kNtF7Ydcz7hl5Vt7QQEutrffkeSAuIY3KewM/edit

Here's the Zoom link to access, no password required.

 

https://ritsumei-ac-jp.zoom.us/j/92724137035

Although they insist that to be sure, it is better to also register at the previous link. This is the abstract of my intervention.

1 / 1
International Symposium on Japanese Studies
(Re)-imagining and (re)-translating Japanese culture
Abstract.
Title: The value of misconception the other: The case of the Japanese swords and its fittings in the late XIX and early XX centuries.
From 1641 to 1854, the Japan Tokugawa government limited the contact with the West to the Dutch East India Company (VOC), through the artificial island of Dejima (Nagasaki). This would end with the signing of the 1854 Peace & Amity treaty with the United States, opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate. In the following years, other nations such as the United Kingdom, France or Spain, would sign similar treaties, causing the opening of new ports. Despite the fact that the main intention of foreign powers was to obtain supply ports in the commercial whaling career, the truth is that soon the cities that opened their doors became a place of cultural exchange between Japan and the West. After the fall of the feudal government of the Tokugawa, and the arrival of the Meiji era (1868-1912), the trips of Westerners to Japan and vice versa multiplied exponentially. It is at this time when Japanese merchandise will come to transform the history of Western art, such as the case of Japanese ukiyo-e prints and their influence on the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters. However, another phenomenon was taking place: the purchase of Japanese objects by Westerners, to bring back memories of their trips to this exotic and distant country. In this context, Japanese swords were some of the objects that these travelers most searched. However, the misconception of "the other" led them to denature these objects, transforming the use of several of its parts. The Japanese, made use of this ignorance, and began to manufacture souvenirs for tourists lacking artistic or monetary value. We will focus in two mayor areas of production of this goods, Nagoya and Yokohama. The massive purchase of these objects by Westerners, who believed they were taking a piece of Japanese culture, as well as their subsequent revaluation (even today), leave us still not knowing "the other".

[rkg]

Unfortunately, this will be at 2:20 AM my time and while I'd normally be OK with staying up until o'dark:30 for something like this, due to health reasons I won't be able to attend.  will the zoom recording be available for viewing later?

thx,

rkg

(Richard George)

[GRC]

I just received an email stating the time is actually:

(Friday, March 31) from 8.30 (Romanian time).

 

is it 12:20pm or 8:30am?

[SalaMarcos]

The Symposium will start at 8:30h and my lecture about Nihontō and tōsōgu at 12:20. I will try to record it and upload to YouTube. 

 

Thanks for the interest! 

 

1 hour ago, GRC said:

I just received an email stating the time is actually:

(Friday, March 31) from 8.30 (Romanian time).

 

is it 12:20pm or 8:30am?

 

[GRC]

Thanks for clarifying Marcos 

and for uploading a recording (hopefully it works out).

[GRC]

Thanks Marcos,

 

"Nagoya-mono" and "Hama-mono" are new terms to me.

 

Also, well done in pushing the need for Western museums (and by extension, Western collectors) to properly preserve their nihonto and their fittings, and not let them fall into states of disrepair.

 

I also liked how you were able to point out that "othering" could be seen in the misuse of or motifs used in sword fittings from both Westerners and Japanese alike (although there are many more examples from Westerners).

[SalaMarcos]

4 hours ago, GRC said:

Thanks Marcos,

 

"Nagoya-mono" and "Hama-mono" are new terms to me.

 

Also, well done in pushing the need for Western museums (and by extension, Western collectors) to properly preserve their nihonto and their fittings, and not let them fall into states of disrepair.

 

I also liked how you were able to point out that "othering" could be seen in the misuse of or motifs used in sword fittings from both Westerners and Japanese alike (although there are many more examples from Westerners).

Thank you for your kind words!

In this forum, years ago there was some topics about Nagoya mono and Hama mono. I think the members of this forum will know the 90% of the lecture, but it's very important to teach other university and museum researchers in order preserve the nihontō and tōsōgu. 

[Steves87]

Hi Marcos,

I was unable to attend, but I will definitely be watching the recording if it becomes available. I am studying information institutions at university, and I can see that there may be some information that I could cite in research articles. I have to do some research into cultural collections soon, and preservation/disaster management is what I will likely be focusing on. Please let us know if there is a recording available.

[Steves87]

Hello Marcos, I was wondering if there is an English conversion of: La investigación de monturas de sables japoneses en colecciones públicas españolas. Un punto de inicio para los estudios hispánicos sobre la materia

I am interested in reading this for a university subject, I have access to it through my institution in its native language, and could probably get it translated, however, I don't think I could cite it as the institution is English speaking and it may go against subject policy.

No problems if there is no translation, thank you.

[SalaMarcos]

On 30/4/2023 at 9:42, Steves87 said:

Hola Marcos, me preguntaba si hay una conversión al inglés de:  La investigación de monturas de sables japoneses en colecciones públicas españolas. Un punto de inicio para los estudios hispanos sobre la materia

Estoy interesado en leer esto para un tema universitario, tengo acceso a él a través de mi institución en su idioma nativo y probablemente podría traducirlo, sin embargo, no creo que pueda citarlo ya que la institución habla inglés y puede ir en contra de la política del tema.

No hay problema si no hay traducción, gracias.

Dear Steve, 

It's my plan to make a translation, but I didn't did it yet. I will post here when it's done. Thank you for your interest.