The *Unshu Kuracho* is the inventory in which Matsudaira Fumai (Harusato, 1751–1818), lord of the Matsue domain in Izumo, classified and recorded the utensils he owned. It is a first-rank source for the early modern system of celebrated utensils, and the ranking made through Fumai's eye — known as Unshu meibutsu — remains a reference standard in utensil scholarship.
Composition
Fumai founded the Fumai branch of Sekishu-ryu and, while restoring his domain's finances, assembled a very large collection. The *Unshu Kuracho* records his holdings in order of rank — treasures, great celebrated utensils, revived celebrated utensils, celebrated utensils, and upper, middle, and lower divisions — giving a systematic picture of how the early modern period thought about the standing of objects.
Why it matters
Much of what is now treated as settled attribution and ranking for tea utensils passes through this catalogue. Where a modern dealer or museum states that a piece is a chuko meibutsu, the chain of reasoning usually runs back here.
About this article
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