The World of Nüshu, February 2010

The Existential Assertion of Nüshu

 

As of February 2010, Jiangyong county has postponed the symposium scheduled to be held next month (March 2010) to this May. The original plan was for October 2009, but it was moved to March of this year to coincide with San-ba Jie (International Women’s Day) on March 8^th. I thought surely there would be no more changes after that, but it has been postponed once again. Cries to “protect nüshu,” or “petition to make it a world heritage asset” are noble indeed, but after the symposium has been postponed this many times, they become rather empty. This is precisely what is meant when it is said that nüshu is underrepresented in its own native land.

Since the summer of last year, the script has suddenly begun to attract attention throughout Japan. As a result, opportunities to display Endo’s small collection have increased.

From December 14^th to 24^th, a modest exhibition was held at Ochanomizu University’s library. Books related to nüshu were placed on exhibit, along with several volumes of sanzhaoshu (“third day letters”) and accompanying embroidery work, research performed in China, a European magazine with an introductory article on the script, a fictional novel about nüshu that depicts the women who used it, published by American publisher Random House, and more. Voices of surprise came from those who saw the exhibition, saying they were once again moved by the beauty of the delicate women’s script.

 

 

 

In addition, from January 20^th to 24^th, 2010, the “Cultural Heritage of Nüshu Exhibition” was held at Shizuoka City’s Citizens’ Gallery. The exhibition was done in collaboration with calligrapher Maseko Kinoshita, a Shizuoka resident, and during the 5 days, approximately 400 people came to view the display. Many earnest voices could be heard at the exhibition, such as “They look like the precursors to Chinese characters!” “Is this a secret code language?” “What’s happening to the script now?”

From January 1^st until February 28^th, an exhibit at the 1^st floor exhibition room of Musashi Ranzan’s National Women’s Education Center was held as a part of their archive collection. Many people have given their impressions on the exhibit so far: “I never knew such beautiful characters existed,” “The women of Jiangyong were really something,” “It’s a witness to modern history,” “I’m very interested in it being from the perspective of women’s history research,” etc.

　

In March, at Gallery ef in Asakusa, an exhibition will be held in collaboration with artist Yuka Ishizuka to inform people about nüshu.

From April 1^st-3^rd, at Colby College in Maine, USA, an exhibition and lecture will be held. Following that will be a panel discussion and exhibition at Smith College in Massachusetts, from April 6^th-8^th. On the 12^th and 13^th, an exhibition will be held at Maryland University’s McKeldin Library.

Nüshu is about to make its way to America. It may be the first and last time that Americans have a chance to see Chinese women’s characters in person.

As people able to carry on the tradition of nüshu have almost completely disappeared, reaching its final stage, these characters will shine their last spark of life to Japanese and Americans who will come to know and be moved by their “splendor” and “greatness.”

 

Past and Future Exhibitions/Lectures

 

・November 19^th, 2009, Shizuoka City, Futaba Gakuen, lecture at Parents’ Association

“Spellbound by Chinese Women’s Characters”

・December 14^th-24^th, 2009, Exhibition at Ochanomizu University’s Library

・December 18^th, 2009, Ochanomizu University, Women’s Leadership Training Program, Speaker at the 2009 6^th annual public lecture hosted by the Graduate School of Education’s Reform Assistance Program/Comparative Japanese Education Research Center

“Women and Characters—Hiragana/Hangul/Chinese Women’s Characters”

・January 20^th-24^th, 2010, Shizuoka City, Citizen’s Gallery

“Cultural Heritage of Nüshu Exhibition”

・January 27^th-February 28^th, 2010, National Women’s Education Center

“~My Archive Collection~The World of Chinese Women’s Characters—The Creativity of Women—“

・March 26^th-May 9^th, 2010, Gallery ef

“Nüshu: A Poetic Dialogue between Art & Learning”

・April 1^st-3^rd, 2010, USA, Colby College, Exhibition & Lecture

・April 6^th-8^th, 2010, USA, Smith College, Exhibition & Lecture

・April 12^th-13^th, USA, Exhibition at Maryland University’s McKeldin Library

・    April 18^th, 2010, Lecture at Japanese Association, Setagaya Ward

 “Rapurasu”

 “Vanishing Script—The Lament of Nüshu”