Folding screen of tale of the sun and moon

A folding screen depicting the moon gradually changing to the sun and reflected by a body of water, employing a technique traditional to Kawatsura lacquerware known as chinkin (lit., “sunken gold”). In this gorgeous technique, designs are carved into the surface of the lacquerware, then filled with gold or platinum. The inky blackness of the surrounding lacquer is a perfect ground for the stately silver and gold of the moon and sun—resulting in a richly lyrical work in which one may sense a uniquely Japanese aesthetic.