Cannabis Japonica: Shinto & the Spirit of 麻
June 24, 2023 – March 17, 2024
Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum
Oudezijdsachterburgwal 130, Amsterdam
Open daily: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
A new exhibition at the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum in Amsterdam showcases the close relationship between hemp and traditional Japanese culture.
What does the Japanese kanji character 麻 (ma) mean? It can refer to the cannabis plant itself. For thousands of years, hemp has been used in Japan for textiles, food, and medicine. However, it can also signify an object made with hemp fibers used in Shinto rituals. Shinto is considered the spiritual heart of Japan, closely intertwined with the national identity and history. The multifaceted nature of this character reflects the versatility and long history of hemp fiber in Japanese culture.
The exhibition, “Cannabis Japonica: Shinto & the Spirit of 麻” (June 24, 2023 – March 17, 2024), curated in collaboration with guest curator Yuko Ogino, reveals how hemp continues to hold a special spiritual position in Japan today.
The purifying role of hemp
Shinto encompasses a wide range of Japanese ritual traditions and ceremonies aimed at material and spiritual purification to establish a connection with kami, the vital forces in nature. It is understood that prosperity and well-being depend on maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature, of which humans are an integral part. 麻 (ma) plays a significant role in this worldview, as hemp plants and products made from their golden fibers are attributed with purifying properties. It is a paradoxical reality that in a country where cannabis is socially taboo and illegal, this plant also holds a spiritual function.
A blessed exhibition
At the heart of the presentation is a small Japanese home shrine (kamidana) from the most prestigious Shinto shrine, Ise Jingu. The museum provides a temporary home for kami, represented through amulets (kamifuda) from three Japanese Shinto shrines. The shrine was inaugurated during a private ceremony at the beginning of the exhibition, led by Paul de Leeuw, the shinto master of Yamakage Shinto Holland Saigu in Amsterdam. Throughout the exhibition, it will be maintained through weekly offerings. By honoring Japanese Shinto practices, the museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience them up close.
Unique Japanese collection pieces
Especially for this exhibition, several hemp objects traditionally found in Japanese Shinto shrines were created by Yamakawa, a specialized atelier in Kyoto. Above the entrance of the exhibition, a shimenawa, a thick braided rope traditionally made from hemp fibers, will be hung to mark a sacred space for the kami. Adjacent to the shrine in the exhibition space, a special hemp cord (suzuo) with a bell attached will be suspended. This is used to purify visitors and draw the attention of the kami. The presentation provides a unique experience in the heart of Amsterdam, offering insights that people who may never visit a Shinto shrine in Japan can appreciate.
Collaboration
The exhibition, “Cannabis Japonica: Shinto & the Spirit of 麻,” was created in collaboration with guest curator Yuko Ogino, founder and director of the NPO Society for Rebalance Kyoto and chairperson of Project Japan, an organization dedicated to integrating traditional Japanese culture into modern life. Thanks to this remarkable collaboration, we broaden our perspective on the collection and the global history of cannabis, fulfilling a long-held dream of museum director Ben Dronkers to shed light on this fascinating subject.
