Junshi (Visitation 巡視) or Chōsen Tsūshinshi Emakimono

Title

Junshi (Visitation 巡視) or Chōsen Tsūshinshi Emakimono

Date

c. 1800

Description

(Illustrated scroll of Korean envoy procession 朝鮮通信使絵巻物). Colored illustrated scroll on washi (Japanese paper). 27.0cm x 538.0cm, Sakamaki/Hawley Collection.

Korean envoys and delegations arrived in Japan during the Yi dynasty (1392-1910). The first envoy was sent in 1413 and the last was in 1811. During the Tokugawa period alone, which began in 1600, 12 envoys arrived. The delegations were usually sent for special occasions like the succession of a new shogun. It was recorded that the first envoy was accompanied by nearly 500 attendants. Normally, an envoy procession would start out from Kyūshū; (Southern island) and make its way to the capital of Edo. Along the route, each regional lord protected the procession and the public lined up along the road to witness these exotic parades. It sometimes caused a financial burden to regional lords but the cultural and trade exchanges were significant.

The author and year of this scroll are unknown, however, it was produced sometime during 1800s. The scroll was fully restored by a master conservator at the Tokyo National Museum in December 2003 with the help of many individuals in the local Hawaii community. Unlike a book (see also Chōsenjin raichō gyōretsuki), the scroll colorfully depicts the entire procession, as it would appear to the public standing along the road

Extent (Pages, Duration, Dimensions)

illustrated scroll on washi

Is Part Of

Asia - Japan Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library

Page Location

98