In Osaka during the Edo period, many merchants displayed hanging scrolls in their alcoves to suit the seasons and occasions, creating a variety of different atmospheres in their homes. In Osaka at the time, literati calligraphy and paintings, as well as works from the Shijo school, were particularly popular, and tea ceremonies were frequently held to appreciate these masterpieces. The tea ceremonies were attended by the wealthy merchants of Semba and the wealthy people of Settsu, Kawai, and Izumi, and through their interactions, a major cultural sphere was formed centered around Osaka. The wealthy people of Semba and Settsu, Kawai, and Izumi also supported Osaka culture as patrons of artists and other artists.
The Asano family was one such merchant family, and in 1838 during the Edo period, they purchased oil pressing tools and a barn from Oya Kyubei of Furuichi Village and opened an oil shop. From the Tenpo Reforms through to the beginning of the Meiji period, the family grew as a leading merchant family, but in 1883, anticipating a future decline in cotton and rapeseed farming and an increase in rice farming, they received a license from Osaka Prefecture to operate a sake brewery, and thereafter also became active as a brewery owner.
The hanging scrolls handed down through the Asano family that are on display in this exhibition were created by painters and calligraphers active in Kyoto and Osaka during the latter half of the Edo period. Judging from their matching sizes and mountings, many of them are believed to have been commissioned by the head of the Asano family at the time. Furthermore, these hanging scrolls are not simply works by contemporary artists, but rather suggest that they were formed through connections between master and disciple and the wide-ranging exchanges of intellectuals. Please take a look at this treasured collection from a merchant family that continued to support the arts and culture of Osaka during the turbulent period leading up to the end of the Edo period.
AloJapan.com