March 12 (Sat) − April 24 (Sun), 2022

Minomushi Sanjin (1836−1900), otherwise known by his given name Toki Gengo, was born in Musubu village in Mino Province’s Anpachi district. Upon the death of his mother in 1849, Gengo left his hometown at the young age of 14. Taking on a nomadic lifestyle, he traveled all throughout Japanese archipelago―spending much time in the northeast. At age 21, he began to use the name Minomushi.

Minomushi Sanjin often painted during his travels. Although he is said to have studied “Nanga”, a southern school of Chinese painting popularized in the Edo period, his works lack the technical maturity of a professional painter. However, the unrefined and casual characteristics of his paintings are also what make them charming. At this exhibition, the allure of Minomushi’s works are shared through a collection owned by the museum.

The image above depicts Minomushi painting at Choshoji Temple―a Soto Zen temple located in what’s currently Aomori Prefecture’s Hirosaki City. The image below was painted during a visit to the Motosu district in his later years. Minomushi’s works are valued as historical records as they showcase the landscapes of his time.

January 22 (Sat) – March 6 (Sun), 2022

There were three types of currencies used: kinka, ginka and senka (gold coins, silver coins, and small coins). In addition to those 3 types, there were various types of paper money issued by the daimyo (feudal lords), merchants, temples, etc. This exhibit explains how money was used back then,through looking at currencies used in and around Gifu and household account books.

November 28 (Sun), 2021 – January 16 (Sun), 2022

In the summer of 2021, the second Summer Olympic Games were held in Japan and many people enjoyed watching them live on TV.

Sports were introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, after they were developed and integrated based on the rational ideas of modern Europe. The rules and equipment are standardized beyond races, religions and borders. Track and field, rowing, baseball, etc. became popular. The foundation for club activities and sports festivals were established, while sporting events were gradually developed, which still to this day.
In this exhibition, we introduce a history of sporting events that took root over a wide range of generations, focusing on the two Gifu National Sports Festivals (known as Kokutai) held in 1965 and 2012.

July 31 (Sat) – August 29 (Sun), 2021

This exhibition showcases Yoro monogatari emaki (Illustrated Scroll of the Tale of Yoro) owned by the Gifu City Museum of History. Based on “Koshi Monogatari” (The Tale of Koshi) concerning Yoro Falls, the scroll is thought to have been produced during the early and middle Edo period (17th – 18th century).

Costumes for Noh chant “Yoro” are currently displayed at the special exhibition. The chant “Yoro” was produced by Zeami based on the Tale of Koshi. The story in the scroll is not exactly the same as the one in “Yoro” (The Nochi-Shite* of the mountain god does not appear), however you will enjoy Noh's world even more comparing them.

Unlike other illustrated scrolls, this only consists of illustrations. It does not have “kotobagaki” (text) to explain the illustrations, which implies that the Tale of Koshi was so well-known that text was unnecessary. Even though the author is unknown, the painting style implies that it was someone who had studied the Tosa School of painting which focused mainly on “Yamato-e” (a traditional style of Japanese painting).

*Nochi-Shite: leading role in the latter half of a Noh play

June 5 (Sat) – July 25 (Sun), 2021

People in the Mino region during the Edo period valued family lineage and history. It is believed that this was because of “kashira-bun-sei,” the class system unique to the Mino region. The “Kashira-bun-sei” class system divides hyakusho (peasants) into the ranks of kashira-byakusho (high-ranking peasants) and waki-byakusho (low-ranking peasants). In the mid-Edo period, however, some waki-byakusho tried promoting themselves to kashira-byakusho, and this led to checking family history.

The special featured exhibition showcases the family trees and family history records, focusing on the background of creating those records, and the Mino-region’s cultural characteristics.

April 10 (Sat) – May 30 (Sun), 2021

The works of “Mino carving” among our collection are displayed.
A sword mounting (koshirae) includes fittings such as a sword guard (tsuba), hilt ornaments (menuki), and a small tool (kogai) attached to the sword sheath for hairdressing and ear cleaning. In the Edo period, sword fittings called “Mino-bori (Mino carving)” were created mainly in Gifu. Etching deeply into red copper on a black background, autumn plants and insects are frequently used for design, decorated with gold. Despite the garishness of the decoration, many of them create a subtle and melancholic atmosphere which is another feature of Mino-bori. These elaborate fittings do not stand out when wearing a sword, however, one can say that it was a way for samurai to demonstrate dandyism.