Japanese Glossary

Beni-e

Hand-coloured prints in beni (pigment obtained from the saffron plant), yellow, blue, green, and sometimes in copper dust.

Benizuri-e

Primitive type of colour prints, mostly in two or three colours, made approximately 1740-1770.

Fuchi-Kashira

The fuchi was a sort of metal ring formed between the butt of the hilt and the tsuba. The kashira is the accessory which covers the end of the hilt.

ga
"A picture" or "to paint." When placed after the signature of a painter, the word means "painted by."

Hashira-e
"Pillar-print" (75 x 12 cm ca.), narrow, vertical print.

Hiramaki-e

A maki-e technique (lacquer decoration technique in which the design is created by sprinkling gold or silver dust on the surface and polishing it) in which the smooth surface is preserved.

Hitsu
"Brush." When placed after the signature of an artist, the word means "painted by."

Inro
(‘in' - 'seal'; ‘ro' - 'case') a moulded decorated box. Inro boxes are generally made of the wood of the Japanese cypress (Hinoki), covered with several layers of lacquer, and decorated. The outer shape is usually rectangular, with a rounded interior divided into several compartments. Originally they contained personal seals and an ink pad, but as time went on, they were used for medicaments and other small articles.

Kakemono
Hanging scroll painting.

Kogai
A small boring instrument with a sharp point, apparently used to repair knots in the lacets of samurai's armour.

Kogo
Incense-box.

Kozuka
A little knife with a decorated handle.

Maki-e
Technique of lacquer decoration, usually with gold or silver. The design is first drawn in the lacquer with slight colour, and a thick layer of gold or other metallic dust is sprinkled on the damp, sticky surface of the design, adhering to the colour. A second layer of transparent lacquer is then applied and polished. The result is a painting in gold or silver.

Menuki
A small metal ornament which was attached with silk cords to the hilt of the sword.

Nashiji
"Pear-skin ground". A special kind of lacquer decoration used to give aventurine-like effect to the lacquered surface. Gold dust is sprinkled sparsely over the lacquered ground while the final coating is still moist. The surface is then coated once more with lacquer and subsequently polished.

Netsuke
(ne - root; tsuke - to fasten) originally a decorated accessory on a cord which attached various implements to clothing. These implements are known as "Sagemono" ("hanging things") and include such items as inro boxes for seals and medicaments, tobacco pouches, purses, and cases for writing materials.
Types of Netsuke:
KATABORI (carving in the round) - the most common is a three-dimensional sculpture. Among its motifs are religious images, animals, imaginary creatures, and plants. The katabori is made of wood, ivory, horn, bone, ceramic, porcelain, or lacquer-ware.
MANJU - the same name as the Japanese rice-cake, it is round, oval, or square, and flat, with a design on it. Manju are made of ivory, lacquer-ware, metal or porcelain, either in one or two pieces.
KAGAMIBUTA (mirror lid) - is a form of manju. The kagamibuta has one concave section, made of ivory, horn, or wood, with a metal cover like a Japanese mirror. The metal workers decorated the lid with engraving or with inlays of precious metals.
RYUSA - named for the artist who created it in the 18th century, also a type of hollow manju. The ryusa is either carved, or made of filigree, and hence is very light in weight.
SASHI - elongated netsuke statuettes, made out of lengths of bone, bamboo, wood, or ivory.
NETSUKE MASKS - were generally made as a hobby by the artists who created masks for the traditional Noh Theatre of Japan. Highly detailed masks were carved from wood, as were the originals, and were sometimes coated with lacquer.
Nishiki-e

"Brocade picture" a full colour print.
Shakudo
Black alloy of copper, bronze and gold.

Shibuichi
Alloy of copper and silver.

Sumi-e
Drawings in black.

Surimono
Woodblock prints made to order as greeting cards.

Suzuri-bako
Writing-box.

Takamaki-e
A maki-e technique (lacquer decoration technique in which the design is created by sprinkling gold or silver dust on the surface and polishing it) in which gilded ornamentation is applied in relief, using clay, charcoal or powder as a base, so that it is not merely visible, but also tactile.

Togidashi
Togidashi is another maki-e technique (lacquer decoration technique in which the design is created by sprinkling gold or silver dust on the surface and polishing it) in which layers of lacquer are applied over maki-e, after which the surface is ground and polished until the picture is revealed.

Tsuba
"Handguard." Separates the blade from the hilt of the sword. It is usually 18 centimetres wide.

Uchiwa-e
"Fan picture" print made to be mounted on a fan.

Ukiyo-e
"Pictures from the Floating World". Paintings and prints flourishing in the Edo Period (1603-1868) prescribed format of the traditional prints -
oban (37 x 25 cm)
chuban (28 x 21 cm)
hosoban (34 x 14 cm)
hashira-e (25 x 12 cm)

Urushi-e "Lacquer picture" hand painted print with the addition of glue and copper dust simulating lacquer.