Echizen Tansu are chests made mainly in the Takefu district of Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture. They are assembled from solid zelkova or paulownia wood using 'sashimono' joinery, a technique that uses no nails. To this are added lacquer coating that draws on the skills of Echizen Shikki and decorative iron fittings that draw on the blacksmithing techniques of Echizen Uchihamono. By combining several advanced techniques, the chests are given a solid, stately presence. Craftsmen skilled in woodworking settled in the area from the late Edo period, and by the mid-Meiji period, chest makers had formed the core of what became known as 'Tansu-machi' (Chest Town). Even today, chest shops and workshops are concentrated along Tansu-machi Street. The heart-shaped 'inome' motif used on the fittings is a pattern meant to ward off evil. In 2013 it became a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Origin
The roots of Echizen Tansu are said to lie in the skills of miyadaiku (temple and shrine carpenters) and woodworkers, cultivated through the building of temples and shrines. In the Muromachi and Sengoku periods, sashimono craftsmen are said to have made tea utensils under the Asakura clan's Fuchu magistrate's office, nurturing a culture of sashimono. In the Edo period, Honda Tomimasa, who governed Fuchu, developed the town and gathered craftsmen, and it is said that this allowed the sashimono, lacquer and metal fittings industries to take root.
History
In the late Edo period, craftsmen skilled in woodworking began to live in the town of Fuchu (present-day Takefu, Echizen City). By the mid-Meiji period, full-fledged chest makers had become central, and a townscape known as 'Tansu-machi' took shape. In recognition of this long tradition, it was designated a national Traditional Craft in December 2013. The Echizen Tansu Kaikan on Tansu-machi Street passes on this history and these skills to the present day.
Features
The materials used are zelkova, which is durable and has a beautiful grain, and paulownia, which resists moisture and does not crack easily. Using sashimono techniques that join wood without nails, the craftsmen build a sturdy body. The surface is finished with lacquer such as fuki-urushi (wiped lacquer) or shunkei-nuri, and decorative iron fittings are attached. Their appeal lies in a texture that deepens with use and a solid, stately presence.
Techniques
Sashimono (Joinery)
A technique for making boxes and drawers without nails by fitting together joints carved into the wood. Said to have been handed down since the Nara period, it supports the sturdy body of Echizen Tansu.
Fuki-urushi and Shunkei-nuri
Fuki-urushi is a technique in which raw lacquer is repeatedly applied and wiped off, producing a finish through which the wood grain shows. In shunkei-nuri, after filling the grain and applying an undercoat of sabi-urushi (lacquer mixed with fine clay), a top coat of transparent lacquer is applied to finish the piece while making the most of the wood grain.
Iron Fittings
Decorative iron fittings made using the blacksmithing techniques of Echizen Uchihamono. The heart-shaped 'inome' is a motif representing the eye of a wild boar and carries the meaning of warding off evil.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Sawing and Drying
The timber is sawn and dried over 3 to 5 years.
- 2
Drafting and Cutting Parts
Drawings are made and the necessary parts are cut out.
- 3
Edge Joining
Boards are joined together to achieve the required width.
- 4
Cutting Joints
Joints are carved into the parts, which are then assembled without nails.
- 5
Finish Planing and Coating
The surface is planed smooth and finished with lacquer.
- 6
Attaching Fittings
Decorative iron fittings are attached to complete the piece.
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Artisans & Workshops
小柳箪笥
A chest maker founded in Echizen City in 1907 (Meiji 40) as a sashimono workshop. Its fourth-generation head, Oyanagi Norikazu, became the youngest-ever certified traditional craftsman of Echizen Tansu in 2014. In addition to Echizen Tansu and paulownia chests, it also makes custom furniture and fittings such as doors and sliding screens.
Official site →How to Buy
- kicoru（小柳箪笥）
- A combined shop and atelier run by Oyanagi Tansu at 10-7 Takefu Yanagi-cho, Echizen City. It offers original furniture that makes use of the skills of a chest maker, as well as wooden goods such as building blocks and coasters.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
小柳箪笥店 kicoru
福井県越前市武生柳町10-7
A combined workshop and shop where visitors can experience the craftsmen's skills and see the chest-making process up close. According to Fukui Prefecture's production area map, eight workshops in the city, including this one, accept tour visits by reservation on weekdays.
View details →FAQ
Q. What is inome?
A. It is a heart-shaped motif said to represent the eye of a wild boar, and it can also be seen on castle gates and temple roofs. It is believed to ward off evil and is also used on the decorative fittings of Echizen Tansu.
Q. How are Echizen Tansu related to Echizen Shikki and Echizen Uchihamono?
A. Echizen Tansu are made by combining sashimono woodworking techniques with lacquer coating that draws on the skills of Echizen Shikki and iron fittings that draw on the skills of Echizen Uchihamono. Echizen City is the production area of three national Traditional Crafts: Echizen Washi, Echizen Uchihamono and Echizen Tansu.