Huang Goodman · Art Forgotten

Art Forgotten

Art from public museum collections. A mismatched real Japanese law, and some other factoids.

Every object, image and description comes from the museum's own catalogue record, and every object links to its original. Japanese records are machine-translated into English; the museum's Japanese is kept beside the translation because it is the authoritative form. Each law carries its official number and links to e-Gov 法令検索, the Japanese government's statute database.

伊勢物語絵巻
{伊勢物語絵巻 · 絵・住吉如慶筆 詞・愛宕通福筆 · 江戸時代・17世紀 / Edo period, 17th century · Japan Search · 国立国会図書館}
Ise Story Picture Roll This picture roll tells the story of Ise. It depicts various events and scenes related to Ise. The beginning shows the divine soul of the Ise Shrine descending from heaven. Followed by the deity Amaterasu-omikami's journey to Japan and the foundation of the Ise Shrine. The story continues with the shrine's protective deity, Toyouke no Okami, and her role in the agricultural cycle. Festivals, rituals, and daily life at the shrine are also illustrated. The picture roll provides a vivid account of the mythological and historical significance of Ise. · Picture: Izumi Geshiki's brush Calligraphy: Aimatsu-toku Fude (Love Rejoicing Brush)

This is a work representing the six-volume illustrated version of the "Tale of Isshi," featuring Isshi Yasunobu as the leading character. It is a significant work transitioning from the Tosa School to the Yoshida School, with the calligrapher being particularly notable. It was passed down as a valuable heirloom from the Shogun's inner palace of the Tokugawa shogunate to the Tsutenkaku family. (Ariwara Narihira's Kobayagi Yūimotsu) (Created: Akasaka Hikaru, 2009-02-26) (2007/06/05_h082)

これは在原業平を主人公とする『伊勢物語』を6巻の絵巻に表わした作品である。土佐派から出て住吉派をおこした如慶の代表作で、詞書の筆者が明らかなことも貴重である。四代将軍徳川家綱の正室高厳院の御遺物として津軽家に伝来した。(ありわらのなりひら ことばがき ごゆいもつ) (作成: 赤羽光2009-02-26)(2007/06/05_h082)

View the original at Japan Search →
The law
京都国際文化観光都市建設法
Kyoto International Culture Tourism City Construction Act
昭和二十五年法律第二百五十一号 · Act No. 251 of 1950

A national statute written for one city. Article 1 recites the beauty of Kyoto and its historically, culturally and artistically important position in the world, and gives two purposes: to raise international culture and serve the ideal of permanent world peace, and to contribute to the economic recovery of Japan. It was passed five years after the war ended.

The cool part. Article 3 lets Kyoto designate culture tourism preservation districts and, by ordinance, prohibit building, rebuilding, removal, changes to the shape of the land and the cutting of bamboo, trees and stone, with compensation for ordinary loss. Then Article 4 does something statutes almost never do. It places a duty on the mayor personally: in the spirit of local autonomy, and with the cooperation of residents, the mayor must engage in ceaseless activity to complete the city. Nara received its own Act, number 250, the day before.

Verify at e-Gov 法令検索 →

Use it Take the ratio, not the picture. It sets a page better than a grid does.

Description source: museum curator text, translated — not generated