Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods

Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods

The invention of lacquer technology is significant in history as the first evidence of the use of an organic substance in creating durable coloured objects. By focusing on the evidence from the Jomon Period, Japan, this article clarifies the nature of complex technology and knowledge required for la...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Matsumoto Naoko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2018-05-01
Series:Open Archaeology
Subjects:
urushi
lacquer technology
jomon
red pigment
personal ornament
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2018-0013
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spelling doaj-3a890694a60548a1a0de115e33a0a9b12021-10-02T17:48:50ZengDe GruyterOpen Archaeology2300-65602018-05-014120621610.1515/opar-2018-0013opar-2018-0013Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured GoodsMatsumoto Naoko0Okayama University, Archaeology, 3-1-1, Kita-ku, Tsushima-naka, Okayama, 700 8530, JapanThe invention of lacquer technology is significant in history as the first evidence of the use of an organic substance in creating durable coloured objects. By focusing on the evidence from the Jomon Period, Japan, this article clarifies the nature of complex technology and knowledge required for lacquer production, presents how lacquer technology enhanced our creative ability, and discusses its significance in human history. Lacquer technology was invented in the course of increasing human-plant interaction in the warming climate of the early Holocene. Personal ornaments coated with red lacquer are the most conspicuous throughout the Jomon Period from the beginning of lacquer technology. Strong attention to colour and intensive application on personal ornaments indicate that the creation of symbolic artefacts in social context was at the core of Jomon lacquer technology.https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2018-0013urushilacquer technologyjomonred pigmentpersonal ornament
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Matsumoto Naoko
spellingShingle Matsumoto Naoko
Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods
Open Archaeology
urushi
lacquer technology
jomon
red pigment
personal ornament
author_facet Matsumoto Naoko
author_sort Matsumoto Naoko
title Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods
title_short Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods
title_full Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods
title_fullStr Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods
title_full_unstemmed Japan: The Earliest Evidence of Complex Technology for Creating Durable Coloured Goods
title_sort japan: the earliest evidence of complex technology for creating durable coloured goods
publisher De Gruyter
series Open Archaeology
issn 2300-6560
publishDate 2018-05-01
description The invention of lacquer technology is significant in history as the first evidence of the use of an organic substance in creating durable coloured objects. By focusing on the evidence from the Jomon Period, Japan, this article clarifies the nature of complex technology and knowledge required for lacquer production, presents how lacquer technology enhanced our creative ability, and discusses its significance in human history. Lacquer technology was invented in the course of increasing human-plant interaction in the warming climate of the early Holocene. Personal ornaments coated with red lacquer are the most conspicuous throughout the Jomon Period from the beginning of lacquer technology. Strong attention to colour and intensive application on personal ornaments indicate that the creation of symbolic artefacts in social context was at the core of Jomon lacquer technology.
topic urushi
lacquer technology
jomon
red pigment
personal ornament
url https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2018-0013
work_keys_str_mv AT matsumotonaoko japantheearliestevidenceofcomplextechnologyforcreatingdurablecolouredgoods
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