- Published: September 25, 2022
- Updated: September 25, 2022
- University / College: Columbia University
- Level: Doctor of Philosophy
- Language: English
- Downloads: 48
Museum Report Museum is a place legally set aside to conserve historical and cultural objects like buildings, clothing, and weapons. In addition, museums provide educational and inquiry services related to such item. Japanese American National museum, located in the western region of Los Angeles, links the Japanese Americans ancestral way of life to the overall American history as away of appreciating the diversity in American culture.
The museum report is on a visit to the Los Angeles county museum of art situated in Los Angeles. It was a splinter from the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art. I was impressed by different kinds of art including paintings and carvings. However, this report specifically puts more emphasis on the ‘ Netsuke carvings’. The carving is about the ancient Japanese clothing where, Kimono (a Japanese garment without pockets). I was amused on how tiny personal effects like small knives were tucked into the garment’s sleeves which is made to slip below sash (obi), or kept in some hanging vessels called sagemono. It was amazing how ‘ netsuke’, which sounds ‘ nets-keh’, were incorporated as toggles in the garments to ensure the vessels carrying the personal effects was balanced. I learnt the ancient Japanese valued tobacco as the pouches were also part of the garment. The carvings were accurate, smooth, and all details were clearly portrayed. For instance, one could easily perceive that the hanging containers were balanced. Some objects made of wood or coral and looking like animals were kept together with the garment carvings. I learnt that the animal carvings portrayed the initial garments shapes before netsuke.
Japanese civilization is the act of the ancient Japanese leaving their traditional ways of life in terms of education, clothing, and socioeconomic activities to adopt the western kind of living. This began in the 19th century where foreigners were allowed to move to Japan to do some trade, during which the ancient Japan was under the leadership of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The western rulers forced the Japanese to enter into agreement that granted them more powers in terms of economy and law. Since all foreign offences were to be tried in the western counties, it limited the powers of the Japanese.
The Japanese adopted the western political systems where the emperor never ruled alone but accepted opinions or advice from other groups. In the ancient rule, the emperor gave direct unquestionable orders. Uniting armies from different domains and having a common training also symbolized civilization. Payment of taxes shifted from giving out rice to paying money to the government. This was used in nation building by both the samurai and the commoners, unlike before when taxes were paid by only commoners. Change in clothing occurred when the government demanded a common mode of clothes among both the samurai and the Japanese who were always half naked. The samurai had to abandon wearing their swords (Slade 29-52). Not all groups were for the civilization more so the samurai who lost their power as the government adopted the civilized life; however, they were wiped out in 1877 by the western trained government army who were equipped with guns while samurai stuck to their traditional swords. The paintings and carvings of the traditional samurai swords and those of the modern guns were in the museum enabling complete understanding of the traditional and civilization conflict in ancient Japan
Socioeconomically, the people were free to move and settle anywhere without any hindrances. The government constructed industries and adopted western technology due to its financial and environmental stability. Construction of transport through railways and roads as well as communication via telegram commenced. Civilization occurred progressively leading to the modern day Japan.
Work cited.
Slade, Toby. Japanese and cultural history. New York: Oxford International Publishers Ltd.,
2009. Print.