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Purveyors of Power: Artisans and Political Relations in Japan’s Late Medieval Age

Curtis, Paula Renée
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306860342

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, East Asian Studies.
This thesis explores the socioeconomic and political significance of artisans in late medieval Japan from roughly the fifteenth to the sixteenth centuries. Despite their varied representation in historical, literary, and artistic works as skilled individuals ranging from performers and religious figures to manual laborers and craftsmen, artisans are primarily perceived as producers and traders of commercial goods. However, many artisans in late medieval society fulfilled a far more consequential role as bridges between local and central authorities; recognizing the importance of artisans and their services, provincial warlords and the court aristocracy utilized artisans to navigate political relationships to their benefit. To demonstrate the extent to which figures of authority valued and used artisans within medieval polity, I examine the investiture of provincial carpenters and other artisans as well as the courtier Matsugi Hisanao’s efforts to gain control over taxation of provincial metal casters. I focus on carpenters because regional lords utilized those with prestigious appointments to manipulate political competitors and create ties with the aristocracy. Aristocrats like Hisanao also negotiated with provincial lords for control over metal casters to gain influence over taxation and material sources of income located in the provinces. Beyond serving as mere purveyors of goods, artisans functioned as an effective medium through which various rulers communicated with and controlled one another during the late medieval age.
Philip C. Brown, PhD (Advisor)
Shelley Fenno Quinn, PhD (Committee Member)
Julia Andrews, PhD (Committee Member)
54 p.
Art History; Asian Studies; History; Medieval History
Japan; medieval Japan; artisans; power; political relations; carpenters; metal casters

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Curtis, P. R. (2011). Purveyors of Power: Artisans and Political Relations in Japan’s Late Medieval Age [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306860342

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Curtis, Paula. Purveyors of Power: Artisans and Political Relations in Japan’s Late Medieval Age. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306860342.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Curtis, Paula. "Purveyors of Power: Artisans and Political Relations in Japan’s Late Medieval Age." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306860342

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1306860342
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.