時代箪笥／薬箪笥【KUSURIDANSU - medicine chest】 [j1217]Japanese Antique Furniture

計73杯の抽斗が整然と並ぶ総桐の薬箪笥。抽斗裏には『文政十三寅天　三月大吉祥日　求之』と力強く墨書きが残されており、約200年前にこの箪笥を手にした漢方医の矜持が垣間見える箪笥です。

薬箪笥は、生薬などを収め、日々の診療に用いられた道具。その性格上、頻繁に抽斗が開閉されるうえ、湿度を調整するために用いられた桐材は柔らかく傷みやすいことから、良好な状態で今日まで伝わるものは決して多くありません。

その中に於いて本体や仕切り枠の歪みが僅かで、抽斗は整然と収まり、正しく整った線が美しい。二百年近い年月の風合いも確かに纏いながらも、一方で今なお凛とした姿を保っています。

文政十三年、西暦一八三〇年。

これほどの薬箪笥を備えることができたのは、多くの生薬を扱う知識と技術を持った御殿医や藩医だったのかもしれません。

「大吉祥日」に求めたことを記した力強い筆跡からは、新たな道具を迎えた喜びだけでなく、それを使いこなす者としての矜持までもが伝わってくるようです。

At last, we have come across an Edo-period medicine chest.

Backside one of its drawers remains an ink inscription:

“Acquired on an auspicious day in the third month of Bunsei 13 (1830).”

Medicine chests such as this were used to store medicinal herbs and other remedies for daily medical practice. Because the drawers were opened and closed constantly, and because the paulownia wood used to regulate humidity is relatively soft and easily damaged, examples that survive in such fine condition are exceptionally rare.

Yet the moment I saw this chest, one word came to mind: *refined*.

The case shows little distortion, the drawer dividers remain true, and each drawer sits neatly in place. Its lines are remarkably elegant. Nearly two centuries have passed, yet it retains a quiet dignity and presence.

Over more than 25 years of handling and studying traditional Japanese chests, I have encountered only a handful that made me instinctively straighten my posture. This is one of them.

Bunsei 13 — the year 1830.

A medicine chest of this quality may once have belonged to a court physician or a domain doctor, someone entrusted with both the knowledge and responsibility of handling a wide range of medicinal materials.

The bold inscription recording its acquisition on an “auspicious day” conveys more than simple delight at obtaining a new tool. It seems to reveal the pride of a practitioner preparing to put it to worthy use.