Kakemono
Encyclopedia
A , more commonly referred to as a , is a Japanese scroll
painting or calligraphy
mounted usually with silk
fabric edges on a flexible backing, so that it can be rolled for storage.
As opposed to makimono
, which are meant to be unrolled laterally on a flat surface, a kakemono is intended to be hung against a wall as part of the interior decoration of a room. It is traditionally displayed in the tokonoma
alcove of a room especially designed for the display of prized objects. When displayed in a chashitsu
, or teahouse for the traditional tea ceremony
, the choice of the kakemono and its complementary flower arrangement
help set the spiritual mood of the ceremony. Often the kakemono used for this will bear calligraphy of a Zen phrase in the hand of a distinguished Zen master.
In contrast to byōbu
(folding screen) or shohekiga (wall paintings), kakemono can be easily and quickly changed to match the season or occasion.
The kakemono was introduced to Japan during the Heian period
, primarily for displaying Buddhist images for religious veneration, or as a vehicle to display calligraphy
or poetry
. From the Muromachi period
, landscapes, flower and bird paintings, portraiture
, and poetry became the favorite themes.
Since the late 20th century, hanging scrolls of anime
and manga
characters as well as kung fu film stars are popular in North America
.
If the width is shorter than the height, it is called a or (needs verification); if the width is longer than the height, it is called a or .
The "Maruhyousou" style of kakejiku has four distinct named sections. The top section is called the "ten" heaven. The bottom is the "chi" earth with the "hashira" pillars supporting the heaven and earth on the sides. The maruhyousou style, (not pictured above) also contains a section of "ichimonji" made from "kinran" gold thread. On observation, the Ten is longer than the Chi. This is because in the past, Kakemono were viewed from a kneeling (seiza) position and provided perspective to the "Honshi" main work. This tradition carries on to modern times.
There is a cylindrical rod called jikugi (軸木) at the bottom, which becomes the axis or center of the rolled scroll. The end knobs on this rod are in themselves called jiku, and are used as grasps when rolling and unrolling the scroll.
Other parts of the scroll include the "jikubo" referenced above as the jikugi. The top half moon shaped wood rod is named the "hassou" to which the "kan" or metal loops are inserted in order to tie the "kakehimo" hanging thread. Attached to the jikubo are the "jikusaki", the term used for the end knobs, which can be inexpensive and made of plastic or relatively decorative pieces made of ceramic or lacquered wood. Additional decorative wood or ceramic pieces are called "fuchin" and come with multicolored tassels. The variation in the kakehimo, jikusaki and fuchin make each scroll more original and unique.
The Maru Hyougu, which is a fundamental and basic scroll style, is placed in the informal scroll style. The primary characteristic of these scrolls are the use of only one cloth for all parts of the scroll, and the Ichimonji bordering the artwork of the scroll. These scrolls lack a 中廻しchuumawashi which is typically a silk scroll with a 唐草karakusa pattern in the cloth. These are commonly made with solid colors in Japan. Some books list this as a Sou no Gyou style scroll, but Sagawa Taishin of Shibuya Kakejikuya did not put this in any category of scroll style.
Scroll
A scroll is a roll of parchment, papyrus, or paper, which has been drawn or written upon.Scroll may also refer to:*Scroll , the decoratively curved end of the pegbox of string instruments such as violins...
painting or calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
mounted usually with silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
fabric edges on a flexible backing, so that it can be rolled for storage.
Makimono
A Makimono is a Japanese hand scroll, an ink-and-brush painting or calligraphy which is supposed to be held in the hand and unrolls horizontally....
, which are meant to be unrolled laterally on a flat surface, a kakemono is intended to be hung against a wall as part of the interior decoration of a room. It is traditionally displayed in the tokonoma
Tokonoma
Tokonoma , also referred to simply as toko, is a Japanese term generally referring to a built-in recessed space in a Japanese style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed. In English, tokonoma is usually called alcove. The items usually displayed in a tokonoma are...
alcove of a room especially designed for the display of prized objects. When displayed in a chashitsu
Chashitsu
In Japanese tradition, architectural spaces designed to be used for tea ceremony gatherings are known as chashitsu ....
, or teahouse for the traditional tea ceremony
Tea ceremony
A tea ceremony is a ritualised form of making tea. The term generally refers to either chayi Chinese tea ceremony, chado Japanese tea ceremony, tarye Korean tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony is more well known, and was influenced by the Chinese tea ceremony during ancient and medieval times....
, the choice of the kakemono and its complementary flower arrangement
Ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as .-Etymology:"Ikebana" is from the Japanese and . Possible translations include "giving life to flowers" and "arranging flowers".- Approach :...
help set the spiritual mood of the ceremony. Often the kakemono used for this will bear calligraphy of a Zen phrase in the hand of a distinguished Zen master.
In contrast to byōbu
Byobu
are Japanese folding screens made from several joined panels bearing decorative painting and calligraphy, used to separate interiors and enclose private spaces, among other uses.- History :...
(folding screen) or shohekiga (wall paintings), kakemono can be easily and quickly changed to match the season or occasion.
The kakemono was introduced to Japan during the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
, primarily for displaying Buddhist images for religious veneration, or as a vehicle to display calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
or poetry
Waka (poetry)
Waka or Yamato uta is a genre of classical Japanese verse and one of the major genres of Japanese literature...
. From the Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
, landscapes, flower and bird paintings, portraiture
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
, and poetry became the favorite themes.
Since the late 20th century, hanging scrolls of anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
and manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
characters as well as kung fu film stars are popular in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
If the width is shorter than the height, it is called a or (needs verification); if the width is longer than the height, it is called a or .
The "Maruhyousou" style of kakejiku has four distinct named sections. The top section is called the "ten" heaven. The bottom is the "chi" earth with the "hashira" pillars supporting the heaven and earth on the sides. The maruhyousou style, (not pictured above) also contains a section of "ichimonji" made from "kinran" gold thread. On observation, the Ten is longer than the Chi. This is because in the past, Kakemono were viewed from a kneeling (seiza) position and provided perspective to the "Honshi" main work. This tradition carries on to modern times.
There is a cylindrical rod called jikugi (軸木) at the bottom, which becomes the axis or center of the rolled scroll. The end knobs on this rod are in themselves called jiku, and are used as grasps when rolling and unrolling the scroll.
Other parts of the scroll include the "jikubo" referenced above as the jikugi. The top half moon shaped wood rod is named the "hassou" to which the "kan" or metal loops are inserted in order to tie the "kakehimo" hanging thread. Attached to the jikubo are the "jikusaki", the term used for the end knobs, which can be inexpensive and made of plastic or relatively decorative pieces made of ceramic or lacquered wood. Additional decorative wood or ceramic pieces are called "fuchin" and come with multicolored tassels. The variation in the kakehimo, jikusaki and fuchin make each scroll more original and unique.
Types of scrolls
There are several naming systems for styles of scrolls. The first naming system tries to classify the scroll based upon the stucture of the components of the scroll. It uses the terms Formal 真 Shin/Semi-formal 行 Gyou/Informal 草 Sou to describe aspects of the design. Other naming systems use direct names which will use the exact format a scroll should contain. Naming varies, by school or region of where the Hyougushi trained. Additionally, schools of Toko no Ma design utilize names that conflict with those used by Hyougushi. One school of Toko no Ma design called 雅道 Gadou calls a traditional 丸表具 Maru Hyougu style scroll a 見切り Mikiri style scroll. Samples of some scroll types will be listed below.The Maru Hyougu, which is a fundamental and basic scroll style, is placed in the informal scroll style. The primary characteristic of these scrolls are the use of only one cloth for all parts of the scroll, and the Ichimonji bordering the artwork of the scroll. These scrolls lack a 中廻しchuumawashi which is typically a silk scroll with a 唐草karakusa pattern in the cloth. These are commonly made with solid colors in Japan. Some books list this as a Sou no Gyou style scroll, but Sagawa Taishin of Shibuya Kakejikuya did not put this in any category of scroll style.