Friday, 9 June 2023

NOBUNAGA BIRTHDAY PROJECT ⓹ Nobunaga - Kobe City Museum Ver.

It's a bit late, but I still managed to contribute a new Nobunaga portrait for 5 weeks straingh!

Today's picture celebrates Nobunaga in his maturity. This was presented to a temple in Azuchi, and like in the previous portrait, it was released some time after his death.
Currently it's preserved at the Kobe City Museum.

In this portrait Nobunaga is depicted in his formal attire, the one worn during meetings with the Emperor or members of the imperial family.
Two details are of a certain significance, here.
First, is the shaku, a ritual baton that Japanese dignitaries copied straight from their Chinese counterpart. During the years it lost the use as a "block note" of the Chinese hu and became "a purely ceremonial implement meant to add solemnity to rituals".
Second detail, the sword on his left side. When in presence of the Emperor & Co., or in formal events, samurai weren't allowed to wear weapons-- So probably this portrait refers to a meeting with the Shogun or his entourage.
In this portrait, a fullfilled Nobunaga is holding onto his most powerful insigna-- That of a governor in his right hand, and that of a warrior in his left hand.

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