KOTE-E PLASTER ART IN AJIMU, OITA, JAPAN

摘要

Kote-e relief carving is performed on walls and window casings. It was developed in Japan and the reliefs are made from plaster and mortar. Using kote, craftsmen heap colored plaster and mortar on the window casings and outer walls of houses and warehouses. The art form is called kote-e because it uses kote. Kote-e is a symbol of wealth. It is also used to express the various wishes of clients, such as family safety, protection from fire, protection from illness, prosperity, perpetual youth, and longevity. There are various patterns, including gods (Ebisu, Daikoku, etc.), beauties of nature, scenes from legends, dragons, tigers, lions, and fantastic creatures. Kote-e may also be created as gratitude which was indebted until the plasterer has completed the house for a long time. In this research, we surveyed kote-e of Ajimu in Japan. We analyzed the kote-e itself, the relationship between kote-e and its building, and the relationship between kote-e and the town in order to clarify the spatial characteristics of kote-e and its influence on the people, the town, and the townscape.