Folding, a jinmaku decorated with the Ka-Mon of the Oda, Japan Edo 18th century

Folding screen representing a jinmaku decorated with the Ka-Mon of the Oda family, Japan, Edo, 18th century.

Rare Japanese six-leaf screen representing a jinmaku decorated with the Ka-Mon of the Oda family, Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Ink and pigments on paper, wooden structure, black lacquered wooden frame.
172 x 364 cm

A jinmaku is a traditional Japanese camp curtain used on battlefields and in military camps during feudal times to provide privacy and protection. It was installed around the perimeter of a camp or used to separate spaces within the camp. Made of several strips of sturdy fabric tied together for easy transport, the jinmaku was practical for protecting samurai and their leaders from view.

Screens representing jinmaku are relatively rare. This rarity can be attributed to the specific use of jinmaku in military rather than domestic contexts. Screens were typically used in homes or temples for decoration or to divide rooms and were often decorated with scenes of nature, court life or mythology rather than specific military equipment such as jinmaku.

The Oda family crest features the mokk? motif, a simple emblem that resembles a stylized melon or flower. This coat of arms is made up of curved lines forming a rounded shape with a hollow center, which symbolizes openness and strength.

The Oda family, particularly under Oda Nobunaga, played a crucial role in Japanese history during the Sengoku period, the Warring States era. Nobunaga was a powerful daimyo known for his ambitious efforts to unify Japan under central rule, which he pursued through military innovations and strategic alliances. His use of firearms and tactical reform radically changed Japanese warfare. Although Nobunaga was assassinated before he could complete the unification of Japan, his policies and actions laid the foundation for his successors, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu, to eventually achieve this goal. The influence of the Oda family marked a significant transition in Japanese history, from constant military conflict to centralized, stable governance.
In the 18th century, the Oda family no longer had as much historical involvement but was considered one of the great families of Japan.

This screen depicting a jinmaku with the Oda family crest is not only decoratively spectacular but is also a culturally rich object reflecting the military might and historical importance of the Oda clan. It highlights the martial heritage of the Oda family and its historical role, capturing the essence of the turbulent but transformative Sengoku period.