2007/10/14

Paperweight (bunchin)

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Paperweight (bunchin 文鎮)

When writing with brush and ink, the writer uses a paperweight to fix the paper on the top of the page. This heavy metal bar prevents paper from moving.

Japanses paper weights come in many shapes and of many materials, some are rather artistic and collector's items. Most are rather long to make sure the paper is kept securely in place.




Here are some of my collection, with three or four Daruma sitting side by side to keep the paper steady.




writing letters in spring -
the heavy weight of
my Daruma



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Look at more bunchin from this store !

Look at more types of paperweights from this store !
© www.santaken.com

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Made from iron, 4,5 cm high. Diameter 4,1 cm.


Photo from my friend Ishino.


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CLICK for more paperweight photos !



. MORE bunchin with Daruma



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夜寒なお文鎮光る武家屋敷
yosamu nao bunchin hikaru buke yashiki

this cold night -
a paperweight still sparkles
in the samurai residence

Kawakami Tokiko 川上登喜子


. Samurai Residence, buke yashiki 武家屋敷  

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keisan ga fukuro ni iru to kan ga deki

the paper weight -
just when it returns to its sheath
warm sake is ready  


Munetake

ーーーーー Makoto Ueda, page 17
source : books.google.co.jp


. senryu, senryū 川柳 Senryu in Edo .  


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1 comment:

Gabi Greve said...

Comment by Larry Bole on facebook

ezooshi ni shizu oku mise ya haru no kaze

絵草紙に鎮おく店や春の風
--Kito 几董 (1741-1789)

Here are two different translations of Kito's haiku, both translations by Blyth:

A shop
With weights on the picture-books,---
The spring breeze!

The paper-weights
On the picture-books in the shop:
The spring wind!

My note:
'Bunchin' does not appear in this haiku. Blyth speculates that the 'paper-weights' may be nothing more than stones, rather than something that has been made.
.