Study on the Social Acceptance of Traditional Designs and the Skill Succession in Craftspeople: Focusing on Kyo-butsudan and Kyo-butsugu

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K12888
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 01060:History of arts-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Sangyo University
• Principal Investigator: Narita Chieko 京都産業大学, 文化学部, 助教 (10791501)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 伝統工芸 / 職人 / 技能継承 / ものづくり / 京仏壇・京仏具

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focused on Kyo-butsudan and Kyo-butsugu, which are comprehensive crafts supported by the expert skill of craftspeople in each process, to reveal change in acceptance of traditional design over time and the process of skill succession based on the viewpoint of craftspeople. The meaning and design of Buddhist altars and fittings, and the circumstances where craftspeople show their expert skill have been transformed with changes in social acceptance. This study revealed one aspect of the actual situation and significance of “social acceptance of traditional design” and “skill succession in craftspeople” based on the knowledge of the people engaged in the Buddhist altars and fittings industry in Kyoto, a leading city for traditional crafts and religion.

Free Research Field

伝統工芸

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

工芸品の意匠は各時代・各地域の文化・社会を反映した意味を持つ。また、工芸品には先達の技を受け継いできた職人たちの叡智が集約されている。本研究を通じて、分業制によって支えられてきた京仏壇・京仏具の意匠の社会的受容および職人の技能継承の実態と意義を明らかにしたことにより、時代を越えて人から人へと継承されてきた日本のものづくりの変化を紐解くための実践的示唆を得た。本研究の成果は日本のものづくり文化や技能継承の在り方に対するより一層の社会的関心や学びを広く促すことに繋がる。