Museum Collection Exhibition: Traditional Art
From Egawa Tannan's swords to Hakuin Ekaku's calligraphy and paintings

Egawa Tarozemon Hidetatsu (1801-1855), who served as the magistrate of Izu, was affectionately known as "Tannan-san" by the people of Izu. At the end of the Edo period, he faced the threat of the arrival of the Black Ships, and devoted himself to the defense of Japan's coasts. In between his busy government duties, he enjoyed poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and left behind a diverse range of works. In fact, when Tannan built a reverberatory furnace (a blast furnace for casting cannons), he utilized his knowledge of iron, cultivated through the ancient art of forging Japanese swords. This article also features a letter from swordsmith Taikei Naotane, under whom Tan'an apprenticed, as well as a short sword he forged himself.
Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1768), also known as "Hakuin-san," was a famous monk who was praised for saying, "There are two things that are beyond Suruga: Mount Fuji and Hakuin of the Plains." He combined pictures and poems to convey the teachings of Zen in an easy-to-understand way, and many of his calligraphy and paintings remain in Izu.
We will also introduce Noh masks and mask chests that have been revealed to be former possessions of the Uesugi family through recent research, as well as the popular swords Kashagiri and Tonbogiri. We hope you will enjoy reading this book, which will also include new information and provide a deeper and more enjoyable experience.