The commemorative plaque made by Lord Nabeshima to empress Meisho's abdication (1643).50x32x0.6 cntms.
Maybe the first japanese ceramic with katakana letters: "ha-ku", meaning "white". This is the commemorative plaque made by Lord Nabeshima for the abdication of Empress Meishoi of Japan (November 14, 1643). She was the sixth of seven empresses in Japanese history. Her personal name was Okiko, although she adopted Meishoo in honor of the two previous empresses: Genmei and Genshoo, mother and daughter. The years of her reign correspond with the development and growth of the Tokugawa shogunate under the leadership of Iemitsu, her uncle. Camellia Japonica and Clematis are represented in the painting. Both plants flower in winter. The first is closely related to the cultural and spiritual life of Japan. It represents a deep, reflective spirit and inner strength. It also symbolizes love, loyalty and humility; Perfect to express gratitude towards family and friends. Her name in Japanese is "Tsubaki". The red camellia has long been a symbol of beauty, grace and perseverance. He is the embodiment of courage, resilience and strength considering his fantastic ability to survive and thrive even in the harshest conditions. It is believed that people who wear a red camellia can show their boldness against adversities with integrity and grace. It definitely represents admiration and appreciation, but also longevity, vigor and eternal youth. During his reign, Meishoo had to face delicate situations and endure harsh pressures. The Clematis flower means moral beauty and intelligence, mental agility, in the Japanese floral language (Hanakotoba). It also represents femininity, refinement (elegance and sophistication) and transformation (personal growth). Additionally, it symbolizes eternal love, devotion, and creativity; Meishoo cultivated and promoted the arts of his country, Japan. On the other hand, the color violet is "reserved" for a high social rank, associated with artists, poets, thinkers, etc. Violet Clematis represents royalty and aspiration for lofty goals. The butterfly, in Japanese cultural symbolism, represents the fragility of life and the beauty of change. A spiritual meaning is rebirth and resurrection, transformation and renewal. It is also associated with spiritual growth and enlightenment, freedom and liberation. The latter must have been felt by Meishoo when he left the imperial throne due to the tension in the environment. Furthermore, the butterfly also alludes to the feminine world, of women. And it evokes metamorphosis, like the change from girl to young woman in Japanese culture. During his reign Meishoo fully went through this vital stage (5-19 years of age). The national flower of Japan, the Sakura, is represented in the print. Around the painting is an orange Buddhist symbol of auspiciousness, the "endless knot", and on each "knot" there are three points representing the Buddhist Trinity: Dharma, Shimboga, Nirmana. On the back is a Hindu-Arabic number, "2105", which is an encryption of the location of the kiln in Arita, Kyushu, where the plate was made. There are also two letters of the Japanese katakana alphabet: "ha-ku", which means "white".