Hidehira-nuri is lacquerware produced mainly in Hiraizumi (town), Iwate Prefecture. Its origins are said to trace back to the late Heian period, when Fujiwara no Hidehira, the third head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, invited craftspeople from Kyoto and had them make vessels using lacquer and gold, both specialties of Hiraizumi. The Konjikido Golden Hall of Chuson-ji Temple employs a range of lacquer techniques - lacquer, gold leaf, maki-e, and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) - showing that Hiraizumi possessed highly advanced lacquer craftsmanship during the Heian period. The most distinctive feature is the 'Hidehira pattern,' in which diamond-shaped pieces of gold leaf are applied and then floral motifs are painted over them in lacquer; a design combining the cloud motif known as 'Genji-gumo' with diamond shapes, called 'yusoku-hishi-mon,' is often used on bowls and tiered boxes. This rustic yet gold-gilded, festive design remains a style unique to this region, unlike lacquerware from other production areas, and continues to be passed down to this day.
Origin
The origins of Hidehira-nuri are said to trace back to the late Heian period, when Fujiwara no Hidehira, the third head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, who ruled the Tohoku region from their base in Hiraizumi (town), invited craftspeople from Kyoto and had them make vessels using ample amounts of lacquer and gold, both specialties of Hiraizumi. The inner sanctuary of the Konjikido Golden Hall of Chuson-ji Temple employs techniques such as lacquer, gold leaf, gold-and-silver maki-e, and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), and 12th-century lacquerware has also been excavated from the Kyara-no-Gosho and Yanagi-no-Gosho residences, confirming that Hiraizumi possessed highly advanced lacquer craftsmanship at the time.
History
After the fall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, detailed records fall silent for several centuries, but by the late Edo period, lacquerware production had become active around Koromogawa village, adjacent to Hiraizumi. Since then, the technique has been passed down by local craftspeople under the name 'Hidehira-nuri,' and today bowls, tiered boxes, trays, and other vessels are made in workshops in Hiraizumi (town) and the surrounding area, including Ichinoseki City. As lacquerware tied to the historical background of Hiraizumi, home to the Konjikido Golden Hall of Chuson-ji Temple, it is also closely connected to the region's tourism.
Features
The greatest distinguishing feature of Hidehira-nuri is the 'Hidehira pattern,' in which diamond-shaped pieces of gold leaf are applied to the surface of the vessel and then floral or cloud motifs are painted over them in colored lacquer. The cloud motif known as 'Genji-gumo' and the diamond-shaped classical court pattern called 'yusoku-hishi-mon' are frequently used as designs on bowls and tiered boxes. The contrast between the brilliance of the gold leaf and the rustic black and vermilion lacquer creates a distinctive splendor that combines the elegance of Kyoto culture with the strength of Tohoku.
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Artisans & Workshops
翁知屋
Founded in 1869 (Meiji 2), a Hidehira-nuri maker and retailer in Hiraizumi (town). Its workshop is located near the Konjikido Golden Hall of Chuson-ji Temple, and it also runs 'Kuras,' a lacquer-painting experience facility.
Official site →秀衡塗工房 丸三漆器
A Hidehira-nuri maker with a workshop in Daito-cho, Ichinoseki City. It offers an experience where visitors paint a lacquer design on a glass alongside a lacquer-painting craftsperson.
Official site →Hands-on Experiences
翁知屋 うるし塗り体験 Kuras
岩手県西磐井郡平泉町
Reservation required. Prices vary depending on the experience menu (a lacquer-painting experience on chopsticks costs around 5,280 yen and up).
View details →秀衡塗工房 丸三漆器 漆絵グラス絵付け体験
岩手県一関市大東町摺沢字但馬崎10
Reservation required. The experience fee is around 3,000 yen (excluding tax), including the cost of the glass and materials.
View details →