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Suminagashi is the Japanese traditional art of Marbling which have
over 8oo years history. |
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Suminagashi pattern is made on the surface of tap water(unthickened), and then
copied by covering a Washi paper(Japanese Paper)on it. |
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There are only one pattern like trailing smoke or water flow fundamentary.(See Room-1) |
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Until those 100 years, the method for Suminagashi was kept secret to out
side of Hiroba family in Fukui prefecture. The Hiroba's suminagashi is
called as "Echizen Suminagashi" "Echizen" is a old
name of Fukui prefecture. |
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From Meiji-era, the method became open to the public gradualy.Forinstant, Mr.Tokutaro Yagi, independent suminagashi marbler from Hiroba family, opened his method to the public by publishing an initiatiation book of Suminagashi and Mr.Tadao Hukuda in Fukui prefecture and Mr. Suzuo Tanaka in Tokyo, doing demonstration and exhibition of Suminagashi frequently as a traditional art craft. |
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The method is relativery simple. Even a children can do Suminagashi very
easily. |
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Suminagashi stand on Japanese fine natural tap water and Washi paper made
from paper mulberry or Kozo. |
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In Europe, there are craft paper which has over 300 years history called "marbling" which is basicaly a art of copy from the surface of water like suminagashi.
But, there are big differences between two. Marbling uses thickened water and uses comb or skewer to make pattern while Suminagashi uses unthickened water and does not use any comb or skewer. |
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In Turky, there are similar artform called "Ebru". " Ebru" may have long history than "Marbling" |
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Suimonga is the advanced art form of the art of copy from the surface of water which stand on Japanese Suminagashi. |
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Suimonga uses tap water(Unthickened-Drinkable city water) and utilise Marangoni
effect to shape pattern. Marangoni effect is a fenomenon of liquid flow
which caused by partial difference of surface tension of the liquid. |
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Marangoni effect is the most notable fenomenon of liquid in space. As the surface of water placed on the ground is kept non-gravity like in space, Marangoni effect can be applied to shape pattern on the surface of water effectevely. |
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Traditional old type of Suminagashi becoming to be called as "Classic Suminagashi" because of development of advanced art form-Suimonga. |
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Classic Suminagashi were applied to paper for calligraphy, wrapping paper, handcachief as decorative pattern, but Suimonga have an eye on not only same use of classic Suminagashi but also on independent art form. |
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In 2001, Suimonga was recognized as "Japanese Traditional Art Craft" by 7th department of the Japanese Traditional Craft Association(Nihon Kogeikai). |