Current location:Earth Explorer news portal > style
VOX POPULI: Long lost in the war, Okinawan treasures finally come home
Earth Explorer news portal2024-05-01 01:59:43【style】3People have gathered around
IntroductionThe cultural heritage that once adorned the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879) has endured devastating trage
The cultural heritage that once adorned the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879) has endured devastating tragedies in the modern era.
The historical records belonging to the royal Sho family, which founded the kingdom, were confiscated by the Meiji government, which abolished the kingdom and incorporated the Ryukyu islands into Japan.
They were later consumed by the flames of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
Artworks that remained in Okinawa and escaped the disaster were reduced to ashes during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa in the closing days of World War II.
The extensive documentation left by researcher Yoshitaro Kamakura (1898-1983) provided invaluable clues in the post-war effort to restore these treasures.
He traveled to Okinawa before the war, capturing images of royal Shuri Castle, the kingdom’s symbol, crafts, and the “Ogoe”--portraits of successive kings.
Regrettably, the photographs were in black and white.
What were the colors of the royal attire worn by the depicted kings?
Were the jewels in their crowns the deep blue of the sea or the radiant color of the sun?
The Okinawa Churashima Foundation, drawing on pigment analysis from paintings of the same era and employing the latest technology, has undertaken the reconstruction of these paintings through color restoration.
Unexpectedly, a chance to verify the work’s results emerged out of the blue, something none of the people involved in the project could have possibly dreamed of.
Royal portraits such as that of the 18th King Sho Iku and other artifacts from the Ryukyu Kingdom’s era were recently discovered in the United States.
They seem to have been spoils of war and were found in the attic of a deceased U.S. war veteran’s home.
The king was clad in a garment of striking crimson with gold embroidery.
“It gave me goosebumps,” said Atsushi Koki, manager of the Ryukyu History and Culture Research Laboratory of the foundation’s Research Institute. “I was relieved to see that the colors matched the results of our reconstruction almost exactly.”
It took 79 years for these items to make their way back to Okinawa.
Wars have robbed people of treasures they have long cherished.
The Buddhas in Afghanistan and the ruins of ancient towns in Syria are among the cultural and historical heritages that have fallen victim to conflict.
Ukraine and Gaza likely share similar fates.
Humanity still does not know how to halt such foolish acts.
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 24
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Address of this article:http://sudan.whetstonetavern.com/article-72e199922.html
Very good!(22)
Related articles
- Ashley Judd speaks out on the right of women to control their bodies and be free from male violence
- Love Island's Molly Marsh displays her incredible figure in a logo
- Princess Amalia of The Netherlands, 20, who fled to Spain for a year after kidnap threats
- A Nigerian schoolgirl abducted by extremists 10 years ago is rescued pregnant and with 3 kids
- Caitlin Clark's $28million Nike deal is slammed as Sonny Vaccaro
- Paris Olympics opening ceremony on river Seine will last nearly 4 hours
- Vice President Harris returning to Wisconsin for third visit this year
- The Dolphins have a 1st
- Goodbye to Scotland's answer to Liz Truss: How Sturgeon's short
- Barcelona fined by UEFA for fans making Nazi salutes, monkey gestures at Paris Saint
Popular articles
Recommended
Entire mall in Georgia is closed after 'shots are fired inside
Husband of former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon is arrested again in party finance probe
Women share the infuriating behaviour that made them start to rethink their relationships
J.K. Dobbins signs with Chargers, continuing the trend of former Ravens heading to LA
China's archaeological site parks register strong revenue growth
Caitlin Clark fans won't receive Indiana Fever jerseys until August due to Nike blunder
Quentin Tarantino SCRAPS plans for his final film The Movie Critic which had Brad Pitt set to star
As Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes insists his 'dad bod' is 'great' for his NFL performance
Links
- Icebreaker Xuelong 2 leaves HKSAR for Shanghai
- Xi Extends Condolences to Libya's Presidential Council Chairman over Deadly Storm
- Xi Story: Assessing Losses for Flood
- Novel mineral sheds light on rare
- China's Yin officially installed as world No 1
- No casualties reported in 5.2
- Hometown hero soars in Shanghai
- Zheng solves her Sakkari conundrum
- Hometown hero soars in Shanghai
- Regional govts use celebrities' power to boost cultural tourism