Somebody's Costume Museum Photos

[Saionji Shonagon]

The shaku is especially important if you are processing or sitting in state. The shaku lends a dignified air to the proceedings.

Does it have a specific function other than making the holder look dignified? Is it a symbol of something other than "I Get To Hold A Big Stick Because I Am Important?"

Saionji

[Abe Akirakeiko]

Ii-dono can clarify this, but I believe he used to make shaku out of those paint stirrer things you can get for free at Home Depot. He would cover them with paper and make notes on the backside for when he was heralding in court.

-Abe

[Saionji Shonagon]

Sensibilities differ. We've all grown up in an age and culture where we began mugging for the camera as soon as we realized it meant attention. (Well, some of us. Mom has an album full of me trying to hide. Camera shy, don't ya know?)

This was shot by a professional. Click on the link at your own risk (ninth row down): www.keradwc.com/2004_sca/0103_w12/index2.htm
Frankly I was appalled when I saw it. Could he possibly have picked a more unflattering angle?

Me, same outfit, not looking like I want to kill someone. Lousy background, lighting isn't great, but I like it a lot better. Then again, it's a casual shot.
www.wodefordhall.com/monkeydress.jpg

The best photos of me on my website (i.e., the ones in which I don't look like I want to run screaming out of frame) are either candid shots taken without my being conscious of them at the time or all things Gaius took. Tellingly, my personal favorite is one in which I have my back to the camera!

Now, for those of you who haven't met me in person, I've had people walk up to me and ask if I was upset when I wasn't or if I was angry when I wasn't. At rest but not smiling looks like "angry" on me. Serious concentration looks REALLY angry on me.

Now Gaius, knowing this, capitalized on the fact when he shot me, usually by dropping some joke bomb as he was getting ready to hit the shutter. Now you know where the "Dammit-don't-make-me-laugh-now!" smirk comes from, which at least means I don't look like I want to kill something. Hey, it worked for Mona Lisa!

Interestingly, I've observed that many SCA Nihonjin tend NOT to smile in photos. There's no smiling in chambara. Unless you're Ii-dono. ;->

Saionji

[AJBryant]

Does it have a specific function other than making the holder look dignified? Is it a symbol of something other than "I Get To Hold A Big Stick Because I Am Important?"

It's generally believed that they developed from "notepads" used WAY long ago (early Nara period). There are actually some surviving wooden panels that bear the names and offices of people found at the remains of an early palace, and they were believed to have functioned in that instance as "calling cards" so the folks would know who was coming.

Effingham

[Saionji Shonagon]

It figures, 24 hours after you posted this, I hit a footnote in "The Clear Mirror" describing shaku with crib notes written on them....

Saionji

[solveig]

Baron Edward!

Greetings from Solveig!

ajbryant said:

It's generally believed that they developed from "notepads" used WAY long ago (early Nara period). There are actually some surviving wooden panels that bear the names and offices of people found at the remains of an early palace, and they were believed to have functioned in that instance as "calling cards" so the folks would know who was coming.Effingham

Louis Frederic says that a bunch of surviving examples of the things appear to have cerimonial crib notes on their back side.

As for the calling cards presented at the gate when you were applying for some sort of appointment or other, I recall those being called something else.

To the person questioning their use. The Japanese were also into wearing caps and robes of prescribed colours denoting rank. Regardless, carrying a shaku is a way to say "I rank!" That should be more than enough for someone of baronial rank or above to want to carry one of the things around at court.