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1908.82.365

Paper strip with inscription, 2 kitsune foxes and red, hexagonal shrine stamp. [SM 30/09/2008]

1908.82.365

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Collection type
Object
Description
Paper strip with inscription, 2 kitsune foxes and red, hexagonal shrine stamp. [SM 30/09/2008]
Geographical reference
Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Honshu Shimane Matsue
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1908
Date collected
By 1908
Acquisition information
Donated: 1908
Materials and processes
Material Ink, Material Paper Plant, Material Pigment, Process Stamped, Process Printed
Dimensions
Width: max 76 mm, Length: max 287 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1908.82.365 Other numbers: Chamberlain no. 216A
Research and responses

Bon Koizumi, from Shimane Women's College in Matsue Japan, during a research visit in June 2006 examined this object and thought, because of the location of the shrine, that it was possibly collected by Lafcadio Hearn. Hearn, was based in the area, and was asked by Chamberlain to collect material for him from this region. [ZM 09/06/2006]

See Collectors: Chamberlain in related documents file for information about Lafcadio Hearn. [ZM 12/09/2006]

This object was examined along with others from the Chamberlain Collection by Sekiko Matsuzaki-Petitmengin in June 2003 and 15 October 2007. She placed this object within the category of "Designs, iconographic models, histories and maps + Ofuda". [SM 30/09/2008]

The inscription on this object was transcribed and translated by Fusa McLynn who volunteered at the Museum in 2010 as: (Top) “Shinsen”, God’s word. (Centre, in two lines) “Amatsu norito no futo-norito no koto o nore, kaku naraba”, Chant Futo-norito of heavenly Norito. [El.B DDF Body Arts Project 2010/2011 13/10/2010]

Associated publications
See researchers file 'Koizumi' for copy of an article 'Prayer Inscriptions from the Shrines of Izumo which travelled to the Seas of England' by Bon Koizumi, San-In Minzoku Kenkyu: Bulletin of San-In Folklore Society, no 13 (2008), pp. 3-25. This object is listed in a table on p. 6. [The article is written in Japanese apart from copies of correspondence between Chamberlain and Hearn]. [ZM 21/08/2008]

Search terms: Writing, Religion, Document, Religious Object, Inscription, Envelope, Amulet