Special Exhibition The Aesthetics of Edo Attire

In the rigid feudal society of the Edo period, members of the warrior class were expected to dress at times solemnly and at times lavishly in accordance with detailed conventions dictated by their status and age, the season, ceremonial reasons, and other factors. While samurai men wore traditional court attire for formal occasions, such as public ceremonies, the haori jackets and sword fittings that constituted their casual everyday wear as well as the specialty gear worn for firefighting and on the battlefield all demonstrated an attention to stylish refinement that was distinctive of the warrior class. Women chose kimonos of different fabrics and patterns to reflect differing levels of formality according to the occasion. They also kept exquisitely decorated purses and furnishings close at hand and through their makeup became the embodiment of beauty themselves. This exhibition presents the clothing and personal accessories custom-made for the Owari Tokugawa family in fully coordinated ensembles and examines the aesthetics of samurai-class attire as seen in all their individual components.