Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians"

Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians"

南蛮図屏風

c. 1600

Part of a set. See all set records

Japan, Momoyama period

(1573-1615)

Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on paper

Overall: 146.7 x 337.2 cm (57 3/4 x 132 3/4 in.)

Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 1960.193

Location

not on view

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Fun Fact

Europeans were called "Southern Barbarians" because their ships arrived in Japan from the south.

Description

These screens show European merchants arriving in Japan. Almost certainly the persons represented are Portuguese, since they are accompanied by Roman Catholic priests. Early in the seventeenth century the Portuguese were forced out of Japan, chiefly because of internal difficulties caused by their missionaries. Later between 1641 and 1853 the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to trade with Japan, but their presence was restricted to a port town in far western Japan, near present day Nagasaki.

See also
Collection: 
ASIAN - Folding screen
Department: 
Japanese Art
Type of artwork: 
Painting
Medium: 
Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, and gold on paper
Credit line: 
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund

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