Japanese magic mirror

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Not on view. The image is only revealed under special lighting conditions. Made in China from very early on, they also became popular in Japan for both religious and secular use. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. As part of the Met's Open Access policy , you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left.

Japanese magic mirror

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The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. The image is only revealed under special lighting conditions.

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Mirrors are usually considered primarily as implements for personal grooming but, in Japan, mirrors were used for far more than reflecting one's image. Within Japanese culture, mirrors are one of the most potent symbols of power, revered as sacred objects representing the gods. Mirrors are also admired as artistic objects, as they have intricate pictorial designs on their backs. The technology needed to cast metal mirrors was introduced to Japan from China around the Yayoi period ca. During the Heian period — , the mirror was included as part of the elaborate toiletry sets used by aristocrats. Though the earliest mirrors were fashioned after Chinese mirrors, in time mirror makers began to depict Japanese style designs and motifs from the Japanese natural world. In ancient times, round mirrors typically had a knob in the center of the back, through which a cord would be strung.

Japanese magic mirror

In a magic mirror, unevenness on the polished surface—too subtle to be detected by the naked eye—reproduces patterns on the back when light reflects off the front. At the time, mirrors were a valued gift between members of the court and were often used as diplomatic gifts to bind political alliances. Yamatai is said to have controlled some 30 other countries making up the Japanese islands, although its actual location has never been proven. Murakami, an expert in historical materials science, used a 3D printer to produce a replica of a Sankakubuchi Shinjukyo mirror from materials used in the originals, such as copper and tin powder. Its back features a relief engraving of wizards and mythical creatures. The experiment revealed that the mirror could indeed project the images engraved on the back. Chinese archaeologists have also shown great interest in the Wei mirrors. Although they are clearly linked stylistically to other Chinese mirrors, no similar examples have been recovered from China.

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About this article Cite this article A. Author information Authors and Affiliations Edinburgh T. In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. Open Access. Date: 19th century. Close banner Close. Japanese Magic Mirrors. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item. Asian Art at The Met. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Comments By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. Accession Number: