Mirror, Mirror on the wall? Where did you come from?
Mirrors are everywhere and such a part of our lives that I have never imagined a world without them. But when did the mirror first come to be? And , what did people use to see themselves before the glass mirror? These are a few of the questions, which became the catalyst for this post.
Turns out, long before the modern glass mirror, ancient people most likely used the reflective surfaces of ponds and bowls of water as mirrors to look at their reflection. According to Ancient Greek Myth, Narcissus, a Laconian hunter, loved his appearance so much that he fell into the water and drowned.
The earliest known mirrors were found in modern day Turkey; Made of highly polished obsidian, they are estimated to be over five thousand years old. The second type of early mirror was made of metal so highly polished that one could see their own reflection in it. The Romans succeeded in making small portable metal mirrors, which gradually lead to the production of glass mirrors. However, with the fall of the Roman Empire, glass mirrors were lost, and it would not be until glass making was rediscovered in the 13th century before glass mirrors would again be possible.
Like so many things in Japan, the bronze magic mirror came to Japan via the silk road originating in China during the Tang dynasty. However, as Japan officially cut ties with China after the 890s, the mirror like ours today, had developed for centuries in Japan without outside influence thus resulting in a truly unique Japanese magic mirror. In Japan, the mirror, as in many cultures, has various meanings. In some cases, mirrors are said to ward off evil spirits, but in other cases, to attract them. Therefore, in some traditional houses, mirrors are still covered when not in use. On the other hand, the Japanese Emperor who is considered the descendent of the Sun God Amaterasu, is enthroned with three magical items, one of which is indeed a mirror.
Today, I would like to introduce you to an old bronze Japanese mirror made during the beginning half of the Edo period. The mirror comes with its case and original box which also includes a letter. The mark on the mirror indicates that it was made by Fujihara Shigetsugu. The mirror also has “One under heaven” inscribed on it. According to my research, the inscription started being in use during the Momoyama period, 16th century, until its use was banned by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1682.
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