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(July 2005)
New Additions:
A Buddhist Nun Called Rengetsu
 The Japanese Buddhist nun Rengetsu was a fascinating woman and a gifted poet,
painter, potter and calligrapher. Over the past
few years, Pacific Asia Museum has
been building an important collection of her pottery, calligraphy and poetry. In the
following months, one of the museum’s longtime members will be gifting a fine
group of ceramics and calligraphy by Rengetsu to the museum, enhancing the
collection considerably.
Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born in Kyoto and was sent as a young woman to
serve at Kameoka Castle in Tamba, where she trained in Japanese traditional arts.
Her adult life was full of love and loss. She married twice and bore three children, all
of whom died. At the age of 33, after these tragedies, she became a nun, adopting
the name, Rengetsu, or “Lotus Moon” and lived with her elderly stepfather, who had
also taken vows, in the Chion’in temple in Kyoto. After his death in 1832, Rengetsu
began making pottery and decorating it with her poetry, inscribed in delicate,
feminine calligraphy. Her ceramics, which are primarily hand built tea utensils, sake
bottles and cups, were extremely popular in her day, and orders from tea masters and
other admirers of her work kept her very busy. Today, her work is highly prized by
both Japanese and foreign collectors. She is considered one of Japan’s finest female
calligraphers.
Thanks to the generosity of
the Pacific Asia Museum
Collectors’ Circle in 2002 and
2004, the Museum has been
able to purchase a pair of
tanzaku (narrow poetry cards)
inscribed with her fine
calligraphy and an elegant hanging scroll bearing her calligraphy on a floral background (see image at lower
left). Thanks to our member’s promised gift, we will receive another fine tanzaku and several important utensils used in the traditional Chanoyu (powdered tea) tea
ceremony and in the Sencha (steeped tea) tea ceremony. We are very excited that our
collection of Rengetsu material is growing at such a steady pace. Ultimately, we hope
to have enough of her ceramics, calligraphy and poetry to mount an exhibition of
her work here at Pacific Asia Museum. For more information about this artist and to
contribute to Pacific Asia Museum's collection of her work, please contact Meher
McArthur at ext. 19.
Library Adds to Collection
The museum’s research library, located on the second floor of the building in what
was Grace Nicholson’s “basket room,” is a significant resource for museum staff and
volunteers and is also open to the public. With over 8,000 volumes, the library
offers a range of books and periodicals supporting the major collecting areas of
the museum.
Recent acquisitions have been made possible by the generous support of the
museum’s Docent Council and a gift from long time member and donor, Dr. George
Housner. We invite you to visit the library Wednesdays and Fridays from 12pm to
4pm and by appointment to explore some of the recent acquisitions which include
among others:
- Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet by Ulrich von Schroeder
- Collecting Japanese Antiques by Alistair Seton
- Kawase Hasui: Complete Woodblock Prints by Kendall Brown
- Chinese Silk: A Cultural History by Shelagh Vainker
- Southeast Asian Textiles by Robyn Maxwell
Sally McKay, Librarian
Thank You
Pacific Asia Museum Collectors’ Circle wishes to thank
Janis Lipson for holding a tour of her wonderful home
on May 7th. For more information on how you can
participate in the 2005 Collectors’ Circle, please
contact the Membership Department at ext. 37.
Serenade in the South Pacific!
The 28th Annual Festival of the
Autumn Moon is Calling You
Join us as we celebrate the art and culture of the South Sea Islands at the 28th
Annual Festival of the Autumn Moon on Saturday, October 1, 2005. The
Festival is the largest fundraiser of the year and includes music, dancing, dinner
and Live and Silent Auctions. Sip a Mai Tai and dance the night away with all
proceeds going to support the museum’s education and outreach programs for
children and adults.
There are many ways in which you can help to make this important event a
success. We are actively seeking donations of auction items such as art
objects, sports memorabilia, antiques, jewelry, tickets to performances or
other interesting items. You may also purchase advertisement space for a
business or congratulatory museum message in our Auction Catalogue and
Tribute book. Donations to the
Auction and purchase of an ad show your
support of the museum and its programs. To make your donation, please
call ext. 37. To place an advertisement, please call ext. 12.
We look forward to seeing you on October 1st!
  
Members
News
Pacific Asia Museum is pleased to partner with Orientations Magazine to offer a 15% subscription
discount. This offer is only available to Pacific Asia Museum members, and we hope that you will
take advantage of this wonderful opportunity! Please see the enclosed form for more information.
Orientations, the essential magazine for connoisseurs and collectors, covers the many and varied
aspects of the arts of East, South and Southeast Asia. Informative, lavishly illustrated, superbly
produced and printed on high-quality art paper, each issue is a collector’s item in itself.
Recent Development
News (May 2005)
(March 2005)
(January 2005)
(November 2004)
(September 2004)
(July 2004)
(May
2004)
(March 2004)
(December 2003)
(November 2003)
(August 2003)
(June 2003)
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