Meiji: Japan's Transition into a Global Society

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Meiji: Japan's Transition into a Global Society
Alison Miller, curator
Asia Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

The art of Japan’s Meiji period (1868-1912) reflects a story of transformation, adaptation, and rapid change set against a world of increasing globalization. Literally meaning “enlightened rule,” the Meiji period began after the forced opening of trade by American Commodore Matthew Perry and his fleet of “black ships” in 1853. After two and a half centuries of near isolation, the opening of Japan’s borders created both opportunity and internal conflict. To successfully transition into a world of growing globalization, Japan adopted many institutions and practices from Western nations, with the government employing foreign experts to assist in education and training of professionals, government officials, and the military. At the same time, many Japanese felt it crucial to maintain their traditions and culture in the face of rapid national transformations.

This exhibition was organized by guest curator Alison Miller, KU graduate student in art history.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Kōkyo (active 1877–1904), Russian warships sunk by the Japanese Destroyers, Hayatori and Asagiri, at Port Arthur, 3 a.m. February 14th 1904
Kōkyo (active 1877–1904), Russian warships sunk by the Japanese Destroyers, Hayatori and Asagiri, at Port Arthur, 3 a.m. February 14th 1904
Kōkyo
Russian warships sunk by the Japanese Destroyers, Hayatori and Asagiri, at Port Arthur, 3 a.m. February 14th 1904
1904, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Masatoshi (active Meiji period (1868–1912)), 香炉 koro (incense burner)
Masatoshi (active Meiji period (1868–1912)), 香炉 koro (incense burner)
Masatoshi
香炉 koro (incense burner)
circa 1880s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Miharu (Meiji period (1868–1912)), 香炉 koro (incense burner)
Miharu (Meiji period (1868–1912)), 香炉 koro (incense burner)
Miharu
香炉 koro (incense burner)
circa 1880s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Miyagawa Kōzan (1842–1916), bowl with chrysanthemums
Miyagawa Kōzan (1842–1916), bowl with chrysanthemums
Miyagawa Kōzan
bowl with chrysanthemums
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Seishi (Meiji period (1868–1912)), vase with dragon around neck
Seishi (Meiji period (1868–1912)), vase with dragon around neck
Seishi
vase with dragon around neck
circa 1880s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Utagawa Sadahide (1807–1873), Yokohama shōkan Furansujin umanori nozu 横浜商館 佛蘭西人 馬乗之図 (Picture of Horse-riding French Woman from Yokohama Trade Center)
Utagawa Sadahide (1807–1873), Yokohama shōkan Furansujin umanori nozu 横浜商館 佛蘭西人 馬乗之図 (Picture of Horse-riding French Woman from Yokohama Trade Center)
Utagawa Sadahide
Yokohama shōkan Furansujin umanori nozu 横浜商館 佛蘭西人 馬乗之図 (Picture of Horse-riding French Woman from Yokohama Trade Center)
1861, 1st month, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Yoshikazu (active 1850–1870), Yokohama Ijin Yoshiki nozu (View of Foreigner Residence in Yokohama)
Utagawa Yoshikazu (active 1850–1870), Yokohama Ijin Yoshiki nozu (View of Foreigner Residence in Yokohama)
Utagawa Yoshikazu
Yokohama Ijin Yoshiki nozu (View of Foreigner Residence in Yokohama)
1861, 1st month, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Sadahide (1807–1873), Yokohama iijin minami-ka shuen nozu 横浜異人南家酒宴之図 (Picture of Foreign Merchant Dining in Yokohama)
Utagawa Sadahide (1807–1873), Yokohama iijin minami-ka shuen nozu 横浜異人南家酒宴之図 (Picture of Foreign Merchant Dining in Yokohama)
Utagawa Sadahide
Yokohama iijin minami-ka shuen nozu 横浜異人南家酒宴之図 (Picture of Foreign Merchant Dining in Yokohama)
1861, 1st month, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Yoshitora (active 1830–1870), Yokohama Hatoba Keshiki (View of Yokohama Harbor)
Utagawa Yoshitora (active 1830–1870), Yokohama Hatoba Keshiki (View of Yokohama Harbor)
Utagawa Yoshitora
Yokohama Hatoba Keshiki (View of Yokohama Harbor)
1861, 2nd month, Edo period (1600–1868)
four-legged urn
four-legged urn
four-legged urn
circa 1880, Meiji period (1868–1912)
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Fuwa Bansaku and the Monster
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Fuwa Bansaku and the Monster
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Fuwa Bansaku and the Monster
1865, 8th month, Edo period (1600–1868)
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake
1880, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Yoshu Nobuyasu, The Emperor's Triumphant Return
Yoshu Nobuyasu, The Emperor's Triumphant Return
Yoshu Nobuyasu
The Emperor's Triumphant Return
1895, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
Toyohara Kunichika
Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
1892, 10th month, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Gods disguised as prospective customers of a brothel (demons disguised as brothel customers)
Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Gods disguised as prospective customers of a brothel (demons disguised as brothel customers)
Utagawa Yoshiiku
Gods disguised as prospective customers of a brothel (demons disguised as brothel customers)
1860, Edo period (1600–1868)
Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), View of the Russian War, Capture of Chengchou Castle
Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), View of the Russian War, Capture of Chengchou Castle
Toyohara Chikanobu
View of the Russian War, Capture of Chengchou Castle
1904, Meiji period (1868–1912)
No. 495, Uyeno, Tokyo
No. 495, Uyeno, Tokyo
No. 495, Uyeno, Tokyo
circa 1880, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Utagawa Yoshitaki (1841–1899), Actor Nakamura Shojura as Mitsukuni
Utagawa Yoshitaki (1841–1899), Actor Nakamura Shojura as Mitsukuni
Utagawa Yoshitaki
Actor Nakamura Shojura as Mitsukuni
circa 1880s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Night Parade of 100 Demons (frog triptych)
Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Night Parade of 100 Demons (frog triptych)
Utagawa Yoshiiku
Night Parade of 100 Demons (frog triptych)
1893, Meiji period (1868–1912)
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat
1891, Meiji period (1868–1912)
untitled
untitled
untitled
circa 1900, Meiji period (1868–1912)
untitled
untitled
untitled
circa 1900, Meiji period (1868–1912)
untitled
untitled
untitled
circa 1900, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Yabu Chōsui (1814–1867), hanging scroll of a Skull
Yabu Chōsui (1814–1867), hanging scroll of a Skull
Yabu Chōsui
hanging scroll of a Skull
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
綱島亀吉 Tsunashima Kamekichi; 月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), 神田明神写真師の勉強 Kanda myōjin shashinshi no benkyō (Photographer's Study of Kanda Myojin)
綱島亀吉 Tsunashima Kamekichi; 月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), 神田明神写真師の勉強 Kanda myōjin shashinshi no benkyō (Photographer's Study of Kanda Myojin)
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi , 綱島亀吉 Tsunashima Kamekichi
神田明神写真師の勉強 Kanda myōjin shashinshi no benkyō (Photographer's Study of Kanda Myojin)
1881, 1st month, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Taniguchi Kōkyō (1864–1915), Autumn Song from the Odes of Wu
Taniguchi Kōkyō (1864–1915), Autumn Song from the Odes of Wu
Taniguchi Kōkyō
Autumn Song from the Odes of Wu
late 1800s–early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912) or Taisho period (1912–1926)
Mitsuyu Chihagi (active early 1900s), Seated Woman
Mitsuyu Chihagi (active early 1900s), Seated Woman
Mitsuyu Chihagi
Seated Woman
mid 1930s, Showa period (1926–1989)
Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883–1945), Summer Landscape
Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883–1945), Summer Landscape
Hashimoto Kansetsu
Summer Landscape
early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883–1945), Winter Landscape
Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883–1945), Winter Landscape
Hashimoto Kansetsu
Winter Landscape
1911, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), Teikoku gikai kizokuin no zu (Picture of the Imperial Assembly)
Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), Teikoku gikai kizokuin no zu (Picture of the Imperial Assembly)
Toyohara Chikanobu
Teikoku gikai kizokuin no zu (Picture of the Imperial Assembly)
1890, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Adachi Ginkō (active 1874–1897); 佐々木豊吉 Toyokichi Sasaki, Kijō saihō no zu (Picture of Noble Ladies Sewing)
Adachi Ginkō (active 1874–1897); 佐々木豊吉 Toyokichi Sasaki, Kijō saihō no zu (Picture of Noble Ladies Sewing)
Adachi Ginkō , 佐々木豊吉 Toyokichi Sasaki
Kijō saihō no zu (Picture of Noble Ladies Sewing)
1887, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Watanabe Nobukazu (1872–1944), Kōi godairei no zu (Picture of Noble's Imperial Ceremony)
Watanabe Nobukazu (1872–1944), Kōi godairei no zu (Picture of Noble's Imperial Ceremony)
Watanabe Nobukazu
Kōi godairei no zu (Picture of Noble's Imperial Ceremony)
1900, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Mizuno Toshikata (1866–1908), untitled
Mizuno Toshikata (1866–1908), untitled
Mizuno Toshikata
untitled
1904, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), The Illustrious Nobility of the Empire
Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), The Illustrious Nobility of the Empire
Toyohara Chikanobu
The Illustrious Nobility of the Empire
1887, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Events

January 27, 2007
Workshop
Japan: Open for Influence
10:30AM–12:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court, Gallery 318
January 27, 2007
Workshop
Japan: Open for Influence
1:30–3:30PM
Gallery 317 Central Court, Gallery 318
February 8, 2007
Screening
Topsy-Turvy
6:30–9:30PM
309 Auditorium
February 15, 2007
Talk
Guest curator Alison Miller on Cultural Intersections
12:15–1:15PM
Gallery 318

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 100 Mar, Apr-2007, Alison Miller I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. After more than two hundred years of relative isolation, Japan opened its borders in 1853, paving the way for the Meiji period that followed from 1868 to 1912. The Meiji government launched grand initiatives to industrialize and modernize the nation. This prompted many questions about how to integrate foreign culture and technology while preserving traditional Japanese values. Meiji: Japan’s Transition into a Global Society presents visual representations of those debates through June 17 in the Spencer’s Asia Gallery. Many of the included objects, such as the woodblock print The Illustrious Nobility of the Empire, express Japan’s desire to be seen as an equal to European and American powers. Here, the Emperor acts as both a symbol of the Japanese nation, and a model for the Japanese citizenry. Although created using the traditional Japanese woodblock technique, this print incorporates new chemical-based dyes of European origin, and shows the Emperor in European-style military dress, with his wife in a high Victorian bustle, both seated in highly decorative European chairs. With thanks to Alison Miller for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.

Documents

Media Release