Box inscribed by Shoji HAMADA
W 41 cm L 138 cm
A calligraphic hanging scroll of “Namu Ami Dabutsu” by Soetsu YANAGI, widely known as the founder of the Mingei movement.
Rendered in brushwork that is both powerful and warm, the central phrase of Pure Land devotion — Namu Ami Dabutsu — is expressed with a profound sense of spirituality and refined aesthetic awareness characteristic of Yanagi. Notably, the character “Mu” in Namu Amida is written using the older form “无,” reflecting a distinctive feature of Yanagi’s hand.
On the main paper, a faint vertical line in pale blue runs from top to bottom through the center.
The box inscription was written by the ceramic artist Shoji HAMADA, a close associate of Yanagi. The term “Myogo” (Sacred Name) appearing on the box refers to Namu Ami Dabutsu.
Muneyoshi YANAGI
1889-1961
Advocate of the Mingei (folk art) movement. Also known as the father of folk art. Born in Tokyo. While a student at Tokyo Imperial University, he joined the Shirakaba-ha coterie magazine group. Together with Kenkichi Tomimoto, Shoji Hamada, and Kanjiro Kawai, he focused on folk crafts for daily life, advocating "beauty of use" and founding the Mingei movement. In 1936, he established the Japan Folk Art Museum in Meguro-ku, Tokyo. Before the war, he devoted himself to introducing crafts from Hokkaido, Tohoku, Okinawa, Taiwan, and other regions. In 1957, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit.
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