{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O65708"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O65708/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8347/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8347/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT8347","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EK5229","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Akama Project","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O65708/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O65708","accessionNumber":"E.355-1901","objectType":"Woodblock print","titles":[{"title":"The Swordsmith on Mount Inari","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Inariyama Ko-Kaji","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This woodblock print is from a series entitled ‘Gekko zuihitsu’ (‘Miscellaneous Sketches by Gekko’) and dated to the equivalent of about 1887 (the dating is incomplete). The print depicts the swordsmith Sanjo Munechika, who lived during the Heian period (794–1185), forging the blade ‘Ko-Kitsune’ (‘Little Fox’) for the Emperor Ichijo (r. 987–1011). Munechika is assisted by Inari, the Shinto deity regarded as the guardian of smiths and metalworkers. Inari would often appear in the guise of a white fox, and an ethereal group of foxes (the earthly messengers, or manifestations of Inari) are shown here in the background. Around Munechika hang Shinto symbols of purity: a sacred rice-straw rope (<i>shimenawa</i>) with sacred paper (<i>gohei</i>) attached. Japanese blades were thought to be imbued with a spirit reflecting the manner in which they were forged, and swordsmiths worked in near-religious conditions. Purified in mind and body, they invoked divine spirits in their mastery over fire and metal.","physicalDescription":"Woodblock print depicting the smith Munechika forging the blade Ko-Kitsune (Little Fox) assisted by Inari the Shinto deity regarded as the guardian of smiths and metalworkers. An ethereal group of foxes (the earthly messengers or manifestations of Inari) are in the background and above Munechika is a sacred rice-straw rope (shimenawa), with sacred paper (gohei) attached as symbols of purity.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Gekko, Ogata","id":"A6090"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"block printing","id":"AAT53289"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Woodblock print","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AT8347","2010EK5229"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"015","id":"THES393909"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woodblock print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1887","earliest":"1887-01-01","latest":"1887-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x35383"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"25.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Arthur Morrison, accessioned in 1901. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Woodblock print titled 'Inariyama Ko-Kaji' (The Swordsmith on Mount Inari), from the series entitled 'Gekko Zuihitsu' (Miscellaneous sketches by Gekko), ca.1887, by Ogata Gekko, Japanese.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.355-1901"],"accessionNumberNum":"355","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1901,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-17","recordCreationDate":"2002-05-29","availableToBook":true}}