Emakimono: Unrolling Japan’s Ancient Picture Scrolls
Imagine watching a movie, but instead of a screen, you hold the cinema in your hands. You control the pacing, unrolling the story scene by scene from right to left. Long before the advent of film or digital screens, Japan mastered this form of sequential storytelling through Emakimono (picture scrolls). For the culturally curious traveler, understanding Emakimono is key to unlocking the secrets of Japanese art history and the origins of modern pop culture phenomena like manga and anime.
The Origins of Emakimono
The history of the Emakimono dates back to the Nara period (710–794), heavily influenced initially by Tang Dynasty China. Early scrolls were primarily religious, intended to illustrate Buddhist sutras to make them more accessible to the layperson. However, the art form truly flourished and found its distinct Japanese voice during the Heian Period (794–1185).
During this era, Japan began to move away from Chinese stylistic dominance, developing Yamato-e (Japanese-style painting). These paintings focused on softer landscapes, emotional depth, and stories relevant to the Japanese aristocracy. The format consists of a horizontal roll of paper or silk, attached to a wooden dowel. The viewer unrolls the scroll with the left hand while re-rolling the viewed portion with the right, creating a continuous, flowing narrative that mimics the passage of time.
Legends Painted in Ink
To truly appreciate Emakimono, one must look at the masterpieces that defined the genre. These scrolls did not just depict static images; they told complex, often emotional stories.
The Tale of Genji Scroll
Perhaps the most famous of all is the Genji Monogatari Emaki (The Tale of Genji Scroll), created in the 12th century. Based on the classic novel by Lady Murasaki Shikibu, these scrolls illustrate court life with breathtaking elegance.
Artistically, they are renowned for a technique called fukinuki yatai (blown-off roof). The artist removes the roofs of buildings in the painting, allowing the viewer a voyeuristic look into the private lives, romances, and political intrigues of the aristocracy. The faces are drawn in a style known as hikime kagibana (line for an eye, hook for a nose), which, while stylized, conveys profound emotion through body language and composition.
Choju-jinbutsu-giga (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals)
On the opposite end of the spectrum lies the Choju-giga. Often attributed to the monk Toba Sojo, these monochrome ink scrolls feature rabbits, frogs, and monkeys behaving like humans—wrestling, praying, and bathing. Satirical and humorous, these scrolls strip away the heavy colors of the court paintings in favor of dynamic, energetic brushstrokes that feel incredibly modern.
From Scrolls to Screens: Influence on Modern Culture
If you are a fan of Japanese pop culture, you are already a fan of Emakimono, perhaps without knowing it. Many art historians and critics consider Emakimono to be the direct ancestor of modern Manga and Anime.
The Choju-giga, in particular, is frequently cited as the first manga. The visual grammar established in these ancient scrolls—speed lines to show motion, the sequential progression of time, and the integration of text and image—laid the foundation for the comic books that Japan is famous for today. When you read a manga from right to left, you are participating in a tradition of reading images that has existed in Japan for nearly a millennium.
Traveler’s Tips: Viewing Emakimono
Seeing a genuine Emakimono in person is a rare treat due to their extreme fragility. Paper and silk from the 12th century are sensitive to light and humidity. However, with the right timing, you can witness these treasures.
Where to Go
- Tokyo National Museum (Ueno, Tokyo): Houses a vast collection of national treasures. They frequently have rotating exhibitions featuring famous scrolls.
- The Tokugawa Art Museum (Nagoya): Famous for holding significant fragments of The Tale of Genji scrolls.
- Kyoto National Museum: Given Kyoto’s history as the capital, many scrolls originating from local temples are preserved here.
Viewing Etiquette & Expectations
- Rotations: Museums often display high-quality replicas (facsimiles) while keeping the originals in storage for preservation. Do not be disappointed by this; the replicas are often indistinguishable to the untrained eye and allow you to see the colors as they originally appeared.
- Lighting: Expect the galleries to be dimly lit to protect the pigments.
- Seasonality: Special exhibitions often occur in spring and autumn. Check museum schedules in advance.
Sources & Further Reading
To deepen your understanding of the historical context surrounding these scrolls, the following texts and museums provide essential information:
- The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari): Reading the original text (translated by Royall Tyler or Arthur Waley) provides the narrative context for the most famous scrolls.
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): While older than most Emaki, this classical text sets the mythological and historical stage for the culture depicted in later scrolls.
- Tokyo National Museum Archives: Their digital collections offer high-resolution scans of many Emakimono for virtual viewing.
Emakimono are more than just old paintings; they are time capsules of narrative art. Unrolling them reveals not just the history of Japan, but the universal human desire to tell stories through pictures.