450 Years of Tradition - Kanazawa Gold Leaf
Kanazawa: Producing Over 98% of Japan's Gold Leaf
Gold leaf has been widely used in Japan for centuries, adorning historically significant temples and shrines such as Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion) and Nikko Toshogu. It is also a key material in various traditional crafts, including lacquerware and pottery.
Alongside the 36 traditional crafts passed down from the era of Kaga Domain's founder, Maeda Toshiie, gold leaf production has also flourished. This article explores how Kanazawa's gold leaf industry developed despite the shogunate's prohibition on gold leaf production.
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[The History of Gold Leaf]
- The Origins of Gold Leaf
The exact time when the first gold and silver leaf was produced in Japan remains unclear. However, accessories adorned with gold leaf from the Kofun period (tumulus period) have been excavated. Since ancient times, gold has symbolized eternity and permanence, making it a preferred material for temple architecture and Buddhist statues.
As Buddhism spread through Japan during the Heian, Muromachi, and Azuchi-Momoyama periods, gold leaf production evolved, influenced by techniques introduced from China and subsequently adapted to Japan's unique culture.
Although the precise period when Kanazawa began producing gold and silver leaf is unknown, historical records indicate that Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain, ordered the production of gold and silver leaf in Kaga and Noto during the Bunroku era (1592–1596) to decorate spears for a military campaign on behalf of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
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- Gold Leaf in the Sengoku Period
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, known for his love of gold, used gold leaf extensively for decorating castle towers and furnishings. Archeological findings near Jurakudai and Fushimi Castle, where the Maeda clan had residences, have unearthed numerous gold-leafed roof tiles bearing the Maeda family crest, a plum blossom design.
Gold leaf became a symbol of power, with feudal lords using it to embellish roofs and interiors. Under Tokugawa Ieyasu, however, the production of gold and silver leaf was strictly regulated as part of the shogunate's economic policies. The "Prohibition of Gold Leaf Production" decree banned its manufacture outside Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Kyoto. Despite this restriction, gold leaf production secretly continued within Kaga Domain's workshops.
During this period, the Kaga Domain also promoted traditional crafts such as Kutani ware, Wajima lacquerware, Yamanaka lacquerware, and Kaga maki-e. These efforts laid the foundation for Ishikawa's reputation as a hub for traditional crafts.
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- The Development of Gold Leaf in Kanazawa
In 1864, during the Genji era, Kanazawa gold leaf production saw significant progress when the Kaga Domain obtained an official license for gold leaf production. The abolition of domain-run workshops and the collapse of the Edo shogunate during the Meiji Restoration further enhanced Kanazawa's dominance in the gold leaf industry as Edo's production dwindled.
Kanazawa’s gold leaf industry experienced remarkable growth during World War I, when Germany, Europe's largest producer of gold leaf at the time, suffered devastating damage. With deep roots in religious practices, Kanazawa's gold leaf industry has continued to thrive, supplying materials for Buddhist altars, ceremonial items, and decorative cords.
Today, Kanazawa remains synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship and the enduring legacy of gold leaf.
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