A Basic Study of Lotus thread Weaving - Focusing on Reevaluation through Non-Destructive Testing -

2024 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00206
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01060:History of arts-related
• Research Institution: Kitakyushu Museum of Natural History and Human History
• Principal Investigator: TOMIOKA YUKO 北九州市立自然史・歴史博物館, 歴史課, 学芸員 (20508957)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 北澤 菜月 独立行政法人国立文化財機構奈良国立博物館, その他部局等, 室長 (10545700) ; 大橋 有佳 公益財団法人元興寺文化財研究所, 研究部, 研究員 (10804388)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: 藕糸 / 當麻曼荼羅 / 中将姫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

During the research period, it was confirmed that lotus thread were used in 10 of the materials we investigated. Furthermore, it was also confirmed that this fiber is not a strong fiber through the process of harvesting lotus fibers and weaving the harvested fibers into textiles. Therefore, it is believed that lotus fibers were not widely used, and the act of spinning lotus fibers spread as a religious act among devout women seeking to adhere to the legend of Princess Chujo. Additionally, regarding the research methods for lotus fibers, it is effective to search for the characteristic spiral fibers of lotus fiber using a microscope. In addition, using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to examine the properties of the fibers can enhance the results, and it is considered efficient to use this method when it is difficult to capture the characteristics of lotus fibers through microscopic observation.

Free Research Field

美術史学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

藕糸の分析方法について、非破壊であれば視覚的な確認が比較的容易であることを明示できた。高性能のデジタルカメラや顕微鏡を使用すれば藕糸の特徴を確認することができる。このような成果の公表により、藕糸に関する調査研究が進むことが期待される。
また、藕糸について展示やワークショップを通じ研究者以外に公開することが出来た。大人も子どももハスの茎から糸が採れることに驚き、制作背景や歴史にも関心を持っていた。