Shotoen Museums and Gardens
Commemorative Museum of Korean Missions◆Exhibition Title

Event Period: September 11th to November 25th, 2024.

The History of the Korean Missions.

◆Exhibition Overview
Korean envoys came to Japan 12 times during the Edo period, traveling from Busan, atthe southern tip of the Korean peninsula, to Tsushima, then sailing through the Seto
Inland Sea to Osaka. From Kyoto they then walked overland to Edo. Along the way theyinteracted in various ways with Japanese literati and people from all walks of life, and aresaid to have had a major impact on Japanese culture at the time.
This exhibition follows in the history of the Korean envoys, focusing on documents fromShotoen Museum.

◆View Point
The Korean envoys interacted with the Japanese in various ways all over Japan.
Documents of their interactions remain in the form of paintings, books, and othermaterials all over Japan. In this exhibition, you can see what the Japanese andKoreans were like 400 to 200 years ago.

◆Recommended works「Books Title : Seisa Tôkyô, Yokyô」
These two books record the recitation of Chinese poetry by the 9th Korean envoys
to Japan in 1719. Chinese poetry was a form of cultural education in Japan and theJoseon dynasty at the time. Therefore, even though the spoken languages weredifferent, cross-cultural exchange was possible through Chinese poetry. These books
are valuable documents that give us an insight into the state of international
exchange at that time.

Shotoen Museums and Gardens
Ceramics Museum◆Exhibition Title
Somenishiki-The World of the Gorgeous Imari ware
Event Period: September 11th to November 25th, 2024
◆Exhibition Overview
Old Imari wares made using the techniques of "sometsuke," in which Imariwares are decorated with blue pigments, and "uwaetsuke," in which
painting is done over the glaze in colors such as red, yellow, and green,
including gold, are sometimes called "somenishiki." A representative
example is "kinrande" works. Kinrande works tend to be gorgeous, andmany large plates and vases were exported to decorate European palaces,
while luxurious bowls called "katamono" were made for the domestic
market.
This exhibition will introduce gorgeously colored vessels while providing
an overview of the history of Imari ware, with a focus on works from theShotoen Ceramics Museum.
◆View point
Japan has a wide variety of ceramics. In terms of pottery, Bizen ware andMino ware, which have rough or uneven surfaces, and Imari ware, which issmooth and shiny in porcelain, have different charms. Among ceramic
connoisseurs in Japan, the surface of the ceramic is called "Hada" (meaningskin), and the texture and pattern of the skin are called "Keshiki" (meaningscenery). There are various ways to enjoy it, such as enjoying the texture of
the soil that is the material, enjoying the rich colors of glaze and painting,and enjoying the forming. In this exhibition, you may find your favorite way
to enjoy the surface of the ceramics.
◆Recommended works

①Large Lidded Jar with Overglaze Polychrome Enamel Design ofPavilion and Peony
This large jar was produced
between 1700 and 1740 in thearea around Arita in Saga
Prefecture, Kyushu. The porcelain
portion was made in Japan, andtransported to the port of Imarifor export to Europe. It is believedthat European metalworkers thenadded the metal decorations
around this porcelain. This is oneof the pieces that shows theconnection between Japanese
Imari ware and Europe.