Zither named “Flowing Water", 1794
Nakamura Sōtetsuexpand_more
Wood with black lacquer and mother-of-pearl inlay; silk tasselsexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.422
Not on Viewexpand_more
The seven-stringed zither, called kin in Japanese, has been played in China (where it is called qin) for at least 3,000 years. It was introduced to Japan by the 700s and was a common instrument in the cultural sphere represented in The Tale of Genji. This example of a kin was created by an artist of the celebrated Nakamura family of lacquerers, all of whom used the given name Sōtetsu. The artist of this zither, which is dated to 1794, was probably the fifth-generation Nakamura Sōtetsu, who lived from 1764 to 1811. The Nakamura lacquerers maintained relationships with Japan’s leading cultural trendsetters and were celebrated for their craftsmanship.
Details
- Title
- Zither named “Flowing Water"
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.422
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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