Kabazaiku (樺細工) (literally "birch craftsmanship") is the traditional Japanese art of fashioning tea boxes, smoking accessories, and other woodworks out of the bark of a cherry tree.[1]
The name is somewhat misleading, as 樺 (kaba, birch) bark is almost never used in practice. It is believed that the term originally came from the association of white birch or "白樺" with homes in good standing. Thus 樺 may have described the class of artisans rather than the actual materials used. However this is just one of many explanations, with no single explanation widely accepted.
Traditional kabazaiku is normally small-scale, and focuses on perfectionist detailing of the rounded shapes such as storage containers for tea and tobacco. Keeping moisture levels relatively constant, the cherry bark acts as a natural insulator against changes in humidity, which is essential in the storage of tea and tobacco leaves. The colour is generally a dark red, partially from the bark itself, and partially from the tree's sap.
Originedit
Believed[by whom?] to have originated by Lord Satake in the Northeastern city of Kakunodate, Akita prefecture as a secondary vocation for lower-rank samurai, the tradition is said[by whom?] to be over 200 years old. It is passed on today through artisan workshops in the region. The "Kakunodate Kougei Kyohdohkumiai" museum in the town's samurai district has extensive exhibitions of kabazaiku artwork, as well as regular demonstrations for visitors.
Processedit
The bark of the abundant native cherry trees is first cleaned and treated to make it smooth and uniform. The wood of the tree itself is cut into the desired shape, the bark is then reapplied to the wood using the sap as an adhesive. The application process involves using a small metal trowel which is heated over a fire. Because every surface requires a separate, independently shaped piece of bark, the labour is quite time-intensive.
Modern applicationedit
In addition to tea boxes and tobacco accessories, modern kabazaiku craftsman also create larger-scale wooden artworks intended more for display than for specific use. Clocks, storage containers, calligraphy brushes, and sword sheathes are also produced.
Referencesedit
^"Kabazaiku (Cherrybark Craftwork) | Authentic Japanese product".
kabazaiku, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2016, learn, whe. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Kabazaiku news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kabazaiku 樺細工 literally birch craftsmanship is the traditional Japanese art of fashioning tea boxes smoking accessories and other woodworks out of the bark of a cherry tree 1 tea caddysmall TansuThe name is somewhat misleading as 樺 kaba birch bark is almost never used in practice It is believed that the term originally came from the association of white birch or 白樺 with homes in good standing Thus 樺 may have described the class of artisans rather than the actual materials used However this is just one of many explanations with no single explanation widely accepted Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Origin 3 Process 4 Modern application 5 References 6 External linksCharacteristics editTraditional kabazaiku is normally small scale and focuses on perfectionist detailing of the rounded shapes such as storage containers for tea and tobacco Keeping moisture levels relatively constant the cherry bark acts as a natural insulator against changes in humidity which is essential in the storage of tea and tobacco leaves The colour is generally a dark red partially from the bark itself and partially from the tree s sap Origin editBelieved by whom to have originated by Lord Satake in the Northeastern city of Kakunodate Akita prefecture as a secondary vocation for lower rank samurai the tradition is said by whom to be over 200 years old It is passed on today through artisan workshops in the region The Kakunodate Kougei Kyohdohkumiai museum in the town s samurai district has extensive exhibitions of kabazaiku artwork as well as regular demonstrations for visitors Process editThe bark of the abundant native cherry trees is first cleaned and treated to make it smooth and uniform The wood of the tree itself is cut into the desired shape the bark is then reapplied to the wood using the sap as an adhesive The application process involves using a small metal trowel which is heated over a fire Because every surface requires a separate independently shaped piece of bark the labour is quite time intensive Modern application editIn addition to tea boxes and tobacco accessories modern kabazaiku craftsman also create larger scale wooden artworks intended more for display than for specific use Clocks storage containers calligraphy brushes and sword sheathes are also produced References edit Kabazaiku Cherrybark Craftwork Authentic Japanese product External links edithttp www city semboku akita jp sightseeing densyo kaba html in Japanese https web archive org web 20071008184959 http www4 ocn ne jp kougei e index html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kabazaiku amp oldid 1033207477, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
