Portrait of a pilgrim

Category

Library Item

Item no

15146

Title

Portrait of a pilgrim

Description

A hand-painted portrait of a Japanese man traditionally dressed as a pilgrim. He is wearing a dark blue tunic over white leggings and 'waraji', straw sandals. His oversized hat called a 'sandogasa' is made of woven rice straws and is in a mushroom shape. The hat ties under his chin with a thick ribbon. Attached to his belt is a votive bell and he is holding a pink 'juzu', a Buddhist rosary, in his left hand.

The picture was taken indoors: on the floor are tatami mats and in the background is a hanging scroll ('kakemono') decorated with what seems to be a landscape.

Artist / maker

von Stillfried-Ratenicz, Franz

Date

1881

Size

24 x 19.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Art and Design Library

This item is part of a collection of prints from the studio of Baron Franz von Stillfried-Ratenicz, an Austrian photographer practising in Japan in the late 1870's. Von Stillfried ran a studio in Yokohama at the same time as his brother Raimund, who was also known as 'Baron Stillfried'. This caused a great deal of confusion with the local residents and visitors to Japan in the Meiji Period, and with art historians today.

This album, which dates from 1879-83, comprises 67 separate mounted prints presented in a lacquerware box. Albums of this kind were popular among foreign tourists, who frequently selected the individual prints they wished to include from the studio's collection. Many of these albumen prints were hand tinted. This was a laborious process for which von Stillfried employed, at the height of his success, a substantial number of Japanese workers.

This man is dressed as a pilgrim beggar of the type called 'hachitataki'. These pilgrims recited scriptures and rang the bells hanging on their belts while begging. The large hats or 'sandogasa' were used to partially cover their faces so that they would not be distracted during their pilgrimage. They also are a symbol of humility.

Japanese pilgrims could make two different kinds of journeys: they could visit different places of spiritual interest (temples, holy places or shrines) during long tours and in a precise order, or they could choose to visit only one sacred place, usually a holy mountain such as Mt.Fuji.

The first pilgrimages in Japan took place in the Nara Period (710-794). They became particularly popular among the elite in the Heian Period (794-1185) and then with the rest of the population in the Edo Period (1603-1868). The enthusiasm for these trips faded slightly during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), although it is still common to encounter pilgrims in Japan today.

The reasons to undertake these long journeys were varied and pilgrims could generally be divided in two groups: those who went out of devotion to worship a deity or a relic, and those to whom this journey was more like holidays. In the Edo Period indeed, travel was highly regulated and going on a pilgrimage was one of the only ways to travel freely around the country. Pilgrimage sites usually offered a wealth of entertainment and pleasures and foreign observers were often surprised by the lack of piety of Japanese pilgrims.

Despite this lighter side of pilgrimages, these long journeys were often dangerous as travellers had to walk through high mountains and on hazardous paths. It was common for pilgrims to get injured or even die during their journeys. People were aware of their strong dedication and would offer them food, shelter and presents to help them and to be associated to their spiritual journey. This custom still exists today and people offer pilgrims small presents such as tissues or fruits.

Lately, pilgrimages are getting popular again, perhaps as a response to a certain nostalgia for these spiritual journeys or because of a resurgent interest in religion. However, modern pilgrims rarely walk but rather take buses or cycle to holy places.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

People > Adults > Men

Places > Asia > Japan