ZONSEI

Evolution and Development.

From the Chinese name 'Zonsei' comes the origin of the name of this technique.
According to the explanation of Nobuo Inokuma, the Japanese classical literature and ancient studies scholar, there was a custom in the Chinese province of Fukien where royal household members engaged in competition to try to decorate interiors as attractively as possible. To achieve this end, most furniture was made with zonsei techniques.

The craftsmen at that time were revered and this art reached Japan in the middle of the Muromachi Period and was held in warm regard by aficionados. From the Edo Period to the end of the Tenpo Period, the pieces were simply loved as highly valued imported goods but at that point, no one in Japan was engaged in their production.

It was by chance that Zokoku Tamakaji came to know of the techniques of chosei and zonsei during his period of study in Kyoto and Osaka. He researched both art froms and at the end of his hard research after gaining a taste for lacquer painting techniques of old Japan, created purely Japanese style zonsei pieces.

At the beginning of the Meiji Period, Tamakaji's successor, his younger brother Kokusai Fujiwara spread production of what was known as 'Sanuki Zonsei lacquer ' and　demand increased together with the number of producers.

From 1893 to 1903, the export of pieces to America and Britain also experienced growth and the 'Golden Era' of Zonsei lacquer reached its zenith.

At that time the zonsei production share was 80% of total Sanuki lacquer ware, but from the beginning of theTaisho Period a flood of producers lead to production line pieces of bad　quality and over-abundance. Hence the decrease in demand and decline in subsequent production.

In 1954 due to the national financial assistance and actions of producers, the Kagawa Prefectural Lacquer Ware Research Institute was established on the grounds of　theTakamatsu Kogei Senior High School. The driving intent was the preservation of　traditional craft techniques and the nurturing of talent shown in the many young, talented artists who have graduated from this institute.

With the establishment of the Kagawa Prefecturial Lacquer Ware Research Institute, the recognition of kinma and zonsei lacquer has been heightened and education focusing on technical artistry education active. The possibility of gaining qualifications at high school graduation level is now a reality with a technique rich educational system. Special effort is also being made to foster outstanding technical talent with gifted pupils selected as researchers.

ZONSEI ARTISTRY

Zonsei has the colors of black, or red or yellow on the top layer on to which suitable patterns are drawn and whose outlines are sculpted by knife. Alternately, other methods can be employed where gold paint is outlined along the pattern or is subsequently poured on to the surface of engraved portions. Methods can be divided into 3 groups:

Engrave the outline finely and pour in gold paint in the engraved portion.
Inscribe gold paint into the outlines of the pattern and draw lines with a 　brush pen.
A piece is left in its finely sculpted state.

These pictures, colors , knives, shapes, lacquer art are filled with individuality and further more, possess the noble dignity of Kagawa's special lacquer artistry.
In 1962 Soseki Kagawa (now deceased) was given official recognition as a national living treasure of Kagawa and in 1976 together with zonsei and kinma, Kagawa was recognized as a designated region for their production in accordance with traditional craft　product industry promotion legislation.