The history of gold leaf in Kanazawa
It's uncertain when gold and silver leaf making began in Kanazawa. However, Toshiie Maeda, first lord of the Kaga Domain, was chosen to welcome the mission from the Ming Dynasty on the battlefield during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea in 1593. In order to decorate spears and other items for the welcoming, an order was given for gold and silver leaf production in feudal Kaga and Noto, and production began.
Kanazawa metal leaf, and the climate of the Hokuriku region
Kanazawa developed as a production area for gold leaf, due in part to the climate of the Hokuriku region, with suitable humidity, heat, and water quality for metal leaf production. The persevering "artisan spirit" and techniques that were fostered by the land are also main factors in the development of gold leaf.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, notable for his love of gold, preferred gold leaf and used it in castle towers and furniture. A large amount of gold-leaved roof tiles have been excavated, including roof tiles from Jurakudai, a residence built by Toshiie Maeda ,and daimyo feudal lords, featuring the umebachi mon, the Maeda family crest from nearby Fushimi Castle. It is speculated that many daimyo feudal lords used gold leaf in many ways as a symbol of power, such as on roof tiles and interior decorations.
Kanazawa metal leaf, created in secret
In the era of Tokugawa Ieyasu, production of gold and silver leaf came under strict control as a way to establish an economic system in the feudal government. This "Ban on Gold Leaf Production" strictly prohibited gold leaf outside of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. However, gold leaf production continued in secret in the workshops of the Kaga Domain. From this, people in the Kaga Domain focused their energy into the development of traditional crafts, such as Kutani ware, Wajima lacquer, Yamanaka lacquer, and Kaga maki-e, and the cornerstone of today's craft kingdom, Ishikawa, was established.
The metal leaf shops of Kanazawa
While the ban on gold leaf was still in place, an opportunity came for Kanazawa gold leaf in 1808. Ninomaru Palace, part of Kanazawa Castle that was lost to fire, needed to be rebuilt and a large amount of gold leaf was needed. Hakuya Sasuke, who managed the gold leaf business in Kyoto, was ordered to prepare gold leaf, and craftsmen experienced in gold leaf were summoned from Kyoto. The townspeople of Kanazawa used this opportunity to begin trying to establish a metal leaf production industry, but the ban on gold leaf continued to be enforced, being re-issued 3 times in 1820, 1824, and 1826 by the feudal government. Despite this, gold leaf production still continued in secret in the workshops of the Kaga Domain.
In 1830, due to the efforts of the Domain, the Goto family from Edo Kinza (gold guild) granted Sasuke Notaya with a "Gold Leaf Retailer" sign as a license for selling Edo gold leaf, and in 1845, Notaya was granted official permission to sell Edo gold leaf.
In 1864, the Kaga Domain received permission to establish their own gold leaf production, and using this opportunity, the quality and volume of Kanazawa gold leaf was developed greatly. Due to the abolition of metal leaf guilds and the collapse of the feudal government with the Meiji Reformation, Edo gold leaf, part of the once-regulated gold leaf industry, came to an end, and the predominance of Kanazawa metal leaf grew almost overnight.
The World War and the rapid progress of Kanazawa metal leaf
Germany was once the largest production center of metal leaf in Europe, but damaged from the First World War, it was hit with a devastating blow, causing the metal leaf industry in Kanazawa to develop rapidly. Kanazawa metal leaf developed through the laying of deep roots in religion, being used in Buddhist altars, Buddhist religious objects, and decorative gift cords.
Size(Height x Diameter) *1cm = approx. 0.39 inches |
W18.5×D8.2×H1.0cm(Pair Free Mini Tray) |
---|---|
Weight *1g = approx. 0.035 oz |
198g |
Packing gross weight *1g = approx. 0.035 oz |
300g |
Raw materials | Resin |
Country of origin | JAPAN |
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