～E-kagami: Handheld Mirrors～
information
A traditional mirror frequently seen in Japanese historical settings and historical dramas, the e-kagami has been cherished since ancient times as an essential tool for applying makeup and grooming.
Shape and Materials
It features a round or rectangular mirror plate and a long, slender handle. Unlike modern glass mirrors, it was crafted primarily from bronze. The surface was polished to a brilliant, mirror-like sheen to reflect the user's face.
The reverse side was adorned with intricate carvings of auspicious motifs such as cranes, turtles, the "Three Friends of Winter" (pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms), the mythical Mount Horai, as well as breathtaking landscapes, making these mirrors highly prized works of art.
History and Transition
While the history of mirrors in Japan runs deep, it was during the late Muromachi period through the Edo period that e-kagami became widely accessible to the public.
During its golden age from the Muromachi to the Edo periods, the e-kagami became an absolute sensation because it allowed people to hold it freely at any angle to check their face and hairstyle. By the Edo period, it became an indispensable makeup tool for common women and a staple item in a bride's dowry. From the Meiji era onward, however, it was gradually replaced by Western glass mirrors, which were cheaper and offered a sharper reflection, eventually bringing its era as a practical everyday tool to a close.
