沿革　岡倉天心について

岡倉天心は、文久2年12月26日 ( 西暦1863年2月14日 ) 、福井藩士岡倉覚右衛門 ( 勘右衛門 ) の次男として生まれました。出生地は横浜本町とされていますが、江戸馬喰町との説もあります。幼名は角蔵、または覚蔵、のち覚三と改めました。父覚右衛門は、藩命により開港まもない横浜で横浜商館「石川屋」を営み、天心は幼少の頃より英語、漢籍を学びました。また女流画家奥原晴湖に南画の手ほどきも受けています。

明治13年、東京大学を第1期生として卒業した天心は、文部省に入省し、学事視察や古社寺の調査を行います。明治18年に図画取調掛が設置されると、委員として美術学校創立の準備に携わり、明治19年から20年には、美術取調委員として浜尾新やフェノロサとともに欧米各国の美術事情を視察しました。明治22年、帝国博物館が開設されると理事および美術部長の任に就き、美術雑誌『国華』を創刊し、明治23年、東京美術学校長となりました。この間、東洋美術の伝統に西洋画の写実性を取り入れた新しい日本絵画の創造を推進して、明治17年にフェノロサらと鑑画会を組織し、明治24年、日本青年絵画協会を発足させ、会頭となります。また、明治29年には古社寺保存会の委員に任命され、古社寺保存法の制定に努めました。

明治31年、天心を中傷する怪文書が配布され、いわゆる東京美術学校騒動が起こります。天心は、東京美術学校長の職を退き、橋本雅邦、横山大観、菱田春草、下村観山らと日本美術院を創設して、近代日本美術の指導者としての新たな活動を展開しました。明治34年から35年にかけてはインドを歴遊し、明治37年にはボストン美術館のエキスパートとなり ( 明治43年、中国日本部長に就任しました ) 、同館コレクションの調査、整理、蒐集を行うため、日本とアメリカを行き来します。大正2年4月、病気のためボストン美術館に休職願いを提出して帰国しましたが、病状が悪化して9月2日、新潟県の赤倉山荘で逝去します。岡倉天心は、東洋美術の理想を軸に、美術行政家、美術教育者、美術指導者として、すぐれた国際感覚で近代日本美術の基礎を構築しました。

著書に、 “ The Ideals of the East ” ( 1903年、『東洋の理想』) 、 “ The Awakening of Japan ” ( 1904年、『日本の覚醒』) 、 “ The Book of Tea ” ( 1906年、『茶の本』) があります。

Okakura Tenshin was born on February 14, 1863, as the second son of Okakura Kakuemon, a samurai who served the Fukui feudal domain. He was given the name Kakuzo at birth. As an adult, he took “Tenshin” as his artistic name. [Okakura Tenshin is the name by which most Japanese know him, but he is better known in the West as Okakura Kakuzo.]

Kakuzo’s father, at the request of his Fukui domain leaders, operated a trading company in the recently opened port of Yokohama. Kakuzo, growing up in that newly international and forward-looking environment, studied English and Chinese classics from a young age. He also took painting lessons from Okuhara Seiko, who taught him the basics of “Nanga” literati ink-painting techniques.

In 1880, Okakura Kakuzo at age 17 was in the first graduating class from the University of Tokyo. He then joined the Ministry of Education where he began to conduct research regarding art education, as well as research on old shrines and temples. In 1885 the Ministry of Education established a department to survey drawings and paintings. As a committee member, Okakura became deeply involved in preparations to establish a government funded art school. From 1886 to 1887, he was also part of a research team which included Hamao Arata and Professor Ernest Fenollosa. This team travelled abroad on an extensive survey of art in Europe and America.

In 1889, the Imperial Museum (now Tokyo National Museum) opened, and Okakura served on its board of directors as well as headed its Department of Fine Arts. That year he founded and began to publish the art periodical “Kokka.” In 1890, he was appointed head of the newly established Tokyo Fine Arts School (which later became Tokyo National University of FIne Arts and Music, now Tokyo University of the Arts), which he had helped to found. Earlier, in 1884, Okakura, Fenollosa, and others, established the “Kanga-Kai” (Society for the Appreciation of Paintings). In 1891, the “Nihon Seinen Kaiga-Kai” (Japan Youth Painting Association) was inaugurated and Okakura was appointed its head.

In 1896, Okakura was appointed to be a committee member of the “Association for the Preservation of Ancient Temples and Shrines” which worked to enact a law to protect cultural properties.

In 1898, an anonymous letter began to circulate, which contained defamatory accusations against Okakura. Okakura resigned as head of the Tokyo Fine Arts School and established the Nihon Bijutsuin, together with Hashimoto Gaho, Yokoyama Taikan, Hishida Shunso, Shimomura Kanzan, and other artists. Nihon Bijutsuin provided him a new platform for activity, this time as a leader in Japan’s modern art development. From 1901 to 1902, Okakura toured India, studying its art and history. In 1904, he was invited by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to become its consultant, and in 1910 the Museum officially appointed him as Head Curator of its Chinese and Japanese Department. He researched and organized the existing collections, and expanded them by acquiring new items. Thus for several years Okakura divided his time between America and Japan. In February 1913 Okakura fell ill, resigned from his position in Boston, and returned to Japan. His illness worsened however, and on September 2nd of that year he passed away at his mountain cottage in Akakura, Niigata prefecture.

Okakura Tenshin was an outstanding art administrator, art educator, and visionary leader who, while always grounded in and guided by a deep appreciation for the ideals of traditional Eastern art, also had keen international sensibilities and awareness. He established the foundations upon which Japan’s modern art has developed.

Okakura Tenshin’s published writings include “The Ideals of the East” (1903), “The Awakening of Japan” (1904), and “The Book of Tea” (1906).

Translation: Joy Yonebayashi