Illustrated Book of Japanese Armor by Arai Hakuseki (Honchō gunkikō zu), 4 Volumes Possibly 1740

Curator: Here we have Hachiya Hironari's "Illustrated Book of Japanese Armor by Arai Hakuseki," or "Honchō gunkikō zu," a set of four volumes now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The muted blues and the aged paper give off a quiet, contemplative mood. I wonder what stories of conflict are contained within these pages. Curator: It is fascinating how Arai Hakuseki, a prominent Confucian scholar and advisor to the shogunate, would commission such a detailed record. It speaks to the importance of military history and the symbolic power of armor in Japanese society. Editor: Absolutely. And the detail suggests a desire not only to record but to understand and perhaps even legitimize power structures. Who had access to this knowledge, and how did it reinforce existing hierarchies? Curator: Indeed, the illustrations would have provided valuable insights to those in positions of power, while the very creation of this book reinforced the authority of the shogunate. Editor: This makes me think about how the book itself becomes a tool in the theatre of power, and how even representations of armour play a role in identity and militarization. Curator: A perfect consideration. Thank you. Editor: Thanks. It's a powerful reminder that art is never truly separate from politics.