Edo Tegaki Chochin (Hand-Painted Paper Lanterns)〜Traditional Crafts of Tokyo JAPAN

History and Characteristics：
It is recognized that in the Muromachi Period (1337-1573), the earliest examples of Chochin lanterns were being used at the start of the 16th century during the Bunki Era (1501-1504). The lanterns used then were said to be kago-chochin (lanterns inside bamboo baskets). Prototypes of what would later become the modern collapsible chochin are believed to have been created during the Tenbun Era (1532-1555). During the following Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1596), chochin adopted the form of a skeleton of thin split-bamboo hoops covered by paper. Such lanterns came equipped with a flat base for housing a candle. This design resulted in lanterns that could be expanded and collapsed at will. Chochin use subsequently became widespread during the Edo Period (1603-1868).
From the mid Edo Period onward, a great number of craftsmen skilled in calligraphy and brushwork resided in Edo's Asakusa district. Wholesaling systems were developed in the Meiji Era (1868-1912), this resulted in a growing division of tasks between chochin production processes and character/crest decoration processes. Even today, some Tokyo craftsmen make a living based on writing Japanese characters on finished hibukuro ("fire bag lanterns"). The Japanese characters written on chochin are generally referred to as being in the Edo moji style (the Edo lettering style), and such chochin calligraphers also prepare senjafuda, slips of paper bearing pilgrim names that are affixed to the gates of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Although lettering is written inside an outlined area on senjafuda, chochin lack such restrictions. This leads to a slightly more free-flowing calligraphy style. Furthermore, painting family crests on chochin differs from applying them to kimono, in that the former are painted in black ink on a white background. Crests are painted in a way that facilitates visibility from a distance, and unique methods are utilized to achieve a balanced appearance.

[@user-nv1qv7kp6x]

イベント事などでこういうのあったらすごい雰囲気出るだろうなあ。