is a Japanese foundation with an important collection of Japanese and Chinese art, in particular ceramics, calligraphic works, and paintings. Established by
Tsûsai Sugawara in 1954, this includes two
National Treasures
National may refer to:
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* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
, twenty-three
Important Cultural Properties (six paintings, sixteen calligraphic works/old documents/classical texts, one
Muromachi-period red lacquered bowl), and eighteen
Important Art Objects.
The foundation possesses one of the largest collections of
bokuseki calligraphy, ceramics, and religious arts in Japan.
Tsûsai Sugawara (1894–1981), a popular cultural figure in Japan, started collecting in 1943 and in 1954 established the Tokiwayama Bunko ("library") Foundation, named for the area of
Kamakura
is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Kamakura has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 persons per km² over the total area of . Kamakura was designated as a city on 3 November 1939.
Kamak ...
where he had his private residence. Initially a physical gallery was opened to the public, consisting of multiple wooden buildings on Sugawara's estate,
but amendments to the
Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties necessitated the closure of the vulnerable structures after Sugawara died. The foundation, which now is based in Tokyo, began operating solely by exhibiting and loaning its works at and to other institutions in Japan and overseas, in particular the
Kamakura Museum of National Treasures
The or Kamakura Museum or Kamakura National Treasure House is a museum located on the grounds of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The museum houses around 4800 objects from the Kamak ...
and
Tokyo National Museum, as well as making materials available for academic purposes. In recent years there has been a particular emphasis on research and publications relating to Chinese ceramics.
Sugawara's son Hisao (1923-2008, also known as Toshio), who served as director of the
Nezu Museum, led the foundation for many years.
Hisao's nephew Ken, a grandson of Tsûsai, is its current director.
According to Hisao Sugawara, his father's collection "grew rather naturally and casually, following
ispersonal desire and taste." Therefore, he stated, the objects allow observers to learn not only about the art but also "much about the collector himself."
See also
*
List of National Treasures of Japan (writings: others)
*
List of Cultural Properties of Japan - paintings (Kanagawa)
This list is of the Cultural Properties of Japan designated in the category of for the Prefecture of Kanagawa.
National Cultural Properties
As of 1 August 2019, fifty-one Important Cultural Properties (including six * National Treasures) have ...
*
Kanazawa Bunko
References
External links
Tokiwayama Bunko
{{Authority control
Cultural organizations based in Japan
1954 establishments in Japan