仏教美学（日本民藝館） Buddhist Aesthetics (The Japan Folk Crafts Museum)

 

民藝運動を立ち上げた柳宗悦は、若い頃は神学に興味を持っていた。

その後、民藝の活動をするようになったが、宗教は常に柳の心の中にあった。

様々な仏教関連の民藝を収集していく中で、その思想は『美の法門』という書物に結実した。

その『美の法門』や『法と美』などの柳の宗教関係の書物のための原稿や、本の中でその写真が紹介された民藝品などが展示されていた。

展覧会を訪れた人々は、そうした展示品を目の前にして、柳の思いを追体験することになる。

仏教美学という展覧会名だが、展示品の中には、磔のキリスト像やアラビア文字が書かれた陶磁器など、様々な宗教の民藝品があった。

巨大なキリスト教の教会や、仏教の寺院の中に恭しく飾られている、美しい彫刻や絵画ではなく、素朴な民藝品の中にこそ、本当の人々の宗教への思いが表れていると、柳は考えていたのだろう。

会場の一角では、柳の講演が映像とともに流れていた。

これまで柳の肉声は聞いた記憶がなかったが、意外に高い声で、ややせっかちな話し方のように聞こえた。録音の状態でそうなっていたのかもしれない。

Yanagi Muneyoshi, who launched the Mingei movement, was interested in theology in his youth.

Later, he became involved in Mingei activities, but religion was always in Yanagi's heart.

As he collected various Buddhism-related Mingei works, his ideas came to fruition in a book called "The Dharma Gate of Beauty".

Manuscripts for Yanagi's religious books such as "The Dharma Gate of Beauty" and "Dharma and Beauty" were on display, as well as Mingei works whose photographs were introduced in the books.

Visitors to the exhibition were able to relive Yanagi's thoughts as they saw the exhibits.

Although the exhibition was called Buddhist Aesthetics, the exhibits included Mingei works of various religions, such as a statue of Christ on the cross and ceramics with Arabic writing.

Yanagi probably believed that people's true feelings about religion were expressed in simple Mingei works, not in the beautiful sculptures and paintings that are reverently displayed in huge Christian churches and Buddhist temples.

In one corner of the venue, a video of Yanagi's lecture was playing.

I had never heard Yanagi's voice before, but he had a surprisingly high-pitched voice and sounded a little impatient when he spoke. Perhaps that was due to the recording.