Auspicious Bamboo Grove Painting / Kakejiku Hanging Scroll
The subject of the hanging scroll is "Auspicious Bamboo Grove Painting."
The bamboo, growing swiftly and directly towards the sun, symbolizes the strength of a heart moving unwaveringly and straight towards its goals. Its resilience, never breaking but bending, and its ability to recover, represent the vitality that endures and rebounds even in adversity.
Moreover, bamboo, evergreen and enduring through wind and snow, represents robust vitality and straight growth.
This scroll, evoking the richness of nature and imbued with various meanings in its main work and mounting, is suitable for year-round display indoors.
This product, "Auspicious Bamboo Grove Painting," is carefully stored, wrapped around a scroll rod inside a beautiful wooden paulownia box. The cylindrical parts at both ends of the scroll, known as jikusaki, are crucial when storing the scroll. The jikusaki of this product are made of stoneware, and the material used for the scroll ends can be indicative of who created it and for what purpose, adding to its allure.
The hanging scroll is an important item that allows one to enjoy various events and seasonal changes, bringing a sense of ease and the transition of the seasons into everyday life. It is also frequently used to entertain guests who visit.
Tracing its history, the hanging scroll was introduced to Japan during the Asuka period (538 CE–710 CE). It coincided with the arrival of Buddhism from China, and initially, Buddhist paintings were depicted on these scrolls. In the Heian period(794 CE–1185 CE), these Buddhist painting scrolls became popular among the aristocracy. By the late Kamakura period(1185 CE–1333 CE), with the popularity of the tea ceremony, alcoves were created to display power.
In the Azuchi-Momoyama period(1568 CE–1600 CE), influenced by the tea master Sen no Rikyu, scrolls began to be changed seasonally. The mounted scroll, appreciated in these alcoves, plays an important role in Japanese interior decoration.
Hanging scrolls are deeply rooted in Japanese traditional culture, yet the number of Japanese rooms and alcoves where scrolls are displayed has been decreasing. However, the value of conveying the messages encapsulated in scrolls remains undeniable.
The charm of these scrolls lies in the different meanings expressed by the characters and paintings they depict, the fabrics used in the details, and the patterns.
Today, they add color to both homes and offices and are ideal for collections of Japanese art. Hanging scrolls not only represent Japanese culture but also provide viewers with a sense of richness and a serene space.
| Quantity | |
| Size | |
| Weight | |
| Material | |
| Package type | Paulownia box |
| Origin | Made in Japan |
| Artist / Brand |
Choose options
Upon closer inspection,the kanji character for en, meaning connection or relationship, can be seen at the overlapping sections of the bamboo, embodying the wish for good relationships and fortunate connections.
At the top and bottom of the hanging scroll, which correspond to the ten and chi "heaven and earth" sections, a pine pattern is applied, while the central section features a plum blossom pattern.
Both are beautifully embellished in silver, lending a radiant elegance to the scroll. The pine symbolizes longevity for its ability to withstand severe cold, while the plum, like bamboo, signifies vitality and nobility.
About Craftsmen
Suzuki Yuri
Born in 1958 in Gifu Prefecture. Specializing in bird-and-flower paintings, classical designs, figurative, and animal paintings, she has won numerous awards including being selected for the 5th Maeda Seison Memorial Grand Prize. Currently a member of the Bokusai-kai. Her works are featured in the art yearbook.
Renowned for its delicate style of painting, she is energetically engaged in creative activities, surrounded by the rich nature of Gifu Prefecture.