Koshu Crystal and Gemstone Carving is a craft in which natural stones such as rock crystal, agate and jade are carved and painstakingly polished. Its production area is Kofu City and its surroundings, and items ranging from incense burners, Buddhist statues and ornamental figures of dragons and hawks to accessories such as necklaces and rings are made. It is said to have originated about 1,100 years ago, when raw crystal was found on Mt. Kinpu, deep in the interior beyond Mitake Shosenkyo Gorge. In the Tenpo era of the Edo period, craftsmen were invited from Kyoto, bringing a method of polishing crystal by scattering kongosha (a hard abrasive sand) on an iron plate. Crystal is very hard, and carving and polishing it takes a long time. This polishing technique spread to the processing of gemstones and laid the foundation for Yamanashi to become one of Japan's leading jewelry production areas. In 1976 it was designated a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. At the Yamanashi Jewelry Museum in Kofu City, visitors can learn about the history of Yamanashi jewelry, which began with crystal.
Origin
Crystal carving in Kofu is said to have begun about 1,100 years ago, when raw crystal was found on Mt. Kinpu, deep in the interior beyond Mitake Shosenkyo Gorge. In Yamanashi, crystal was mined around Mt. Kinpu in the northern part of the prefecture until the Meiji period. In the Tenpo era of the Edo period, bead-making craftsmen were invited from Kyoto, bringing a method of polishing crystal by scattering kongosha on an iron plate. This technique is said to have been learned by the priests of Kanazakura Shrine in the northern part of Kofu City.
History
Records remain of orders received in the Ansei era (1850s) for prayer beads, obidome (sash clips) and netsuke made of crystal and jade. In the Meiji period, an industrial promotion center was established in Kofu as part of the national policy of promoting industry, and processing tools also developed. In the mid-Meiji period, cutting crystal for brooches also began. In the early Taisho period, raw materials began to be imported from South America and Africa, and the electrification of equipment further advanced the techniques. After World War II exports grew, and from the Showa 50s, following the Dollar Shock, the focus shifted to works of art for the domestic market.
Features
Crystal is very hard, and processing it takes a long time. Natural stones differ in composition depending on the type, and their size and shape are also limited. For this reason, craftsmen need the ability to read the characteristics of each stone, meticulous care and great patience. Using techniques such as fukaniku-bori (deep relief carving) and ukidashi-bori (raised relief carving), which makes patterns stand out, they finish works with transparency and a three-dimensional quality. The brilliance of thoroughly polished stone is the appeal of Koshu Crystal and Gemstone Carving.
Techniques
Fukaniku-bori and Ukidashi-bori (Deep and Raised Relief Carving)
Fukaniku-bori expresses three-dimensional forms by carving deep into the stone, while ukidashi-bori carves a design so that it appears to rise from the surface. In ornamental figures such as dragons, hawks and Buddhist statues, these carving techniques are used to express even the finest details.
Step-by-Step Polishing
Polishing proceeds in stages: rough grinding, medium grinding and finish grinding. The grains of the abrasive used become finer, from 0.5 mm to 0.05 mm and then 0.005 mm in diameter. Finally, the stone is polished with chromium oxide to bring out the transparency and luster unique to crystal.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Ishidori (Stone Selection)
A raw stone suited to the work is chosen, and the part to be used is determined.
- 2
Cutting the Raw Stone
The raw stone is cut out to match the size of the work.
- 3
Drawing on the Raw Stone
A rough sketch of the shape to be carved is drawn on the surface of the stone.
- 4
Kirikomi and Kakikomi (Cutting and Chipping)
Cuts are made along the sketch, and unneeded parts are chipped away to bring out the shape.
- 5
Rough and Medium Grinding
Abrasives are used in order, starting with coarse grains, to refine the shape and surfaces.
- 6
Finish Grinding
The surface is made smooth with a fine abrasive about 0.005 mm in diameter.
- 7
Polishing
The stone is polished with chromium oxide to bring out transparency and luster.
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Artisans & Workshops
山梨県水晶美術彫刻協同組合
A cooperative of Koshu Crystal and Gemstone Carving craftsmen. Members certified as Traditional Craftsmen use valuable raw stones that the cooperative has kept, finishing each work by hand, one piece at a time.
Hands-on Experiences
山梨ジュエリーミュージアム
山梨県甲府市丸の内1-6-1 山梨県防災新館1階
A prefectural facility that introduces the history and techniques of Yamanashi as a jewelry production area. Crystal accessories, works by craftsmen and other items are exhibited on changing themes. Admission is free; open from 10:00 to 17:30, closed on Tuesdays. About a 7-minute walk from the south exit of Kofu Station.
昇仙峡クリスタルサウンド
山梨県甲府市猪狩町312
A crystal museum opened in 2009. It exhibits about 300 items, mainly crystal, and introduces the history of polishing and traditional crafts. Admission is free; open from 9:00 to 17:00. Mineral accessories and birthstones are also sold.
FAQ
Q. Why did Yamanashi become a jewelry production area?
A. In the late Edo period, crystal polishing techniques came from Kyoto, and crystal carving flourished around Kofu. The techniques developed along two lines, crystal art carving and gemstone polishing, and in the Meiji period cutting crystal for brooches also began. This accumulation led to Yamanashi becoming one of Japan's leading jewelry production areas.
Q. Is crystal still mined in Yamanashi today?
A. In Yamanashi, crystal was mined around Mt. Kinpu in the northern part of the prefecture until the Meiji period. From the early Taisho period, raw materials came to be imported from South America and African countries, and together with the electrification of equipment, more precise processing became possible.
Q. How does it differ from 'Yamanashi Kihoseki'?
A. Yamanashi Prefecture has also designated Yamanashi Kihoseki, in which gemstones are polished and made into accessories and other items, as a Local Traditional Craft. Both are techniques that began with crystal carving and developed by specializing into crystal art carving and gemstone polishing. Koshu Crystal and Gemstone Carving is an art craft centered on carving.