Evan Ramsey - The Spinsters of Japan
After opening their ports for trade to the western world, Japan’s social and economic well-being became largely dependent on the fate of the silk industry. The hand tinted photograph pictured below, titled “Spinning Silk from the Cocoons” aptly captures the sentiment of silk producers circa 1897-98—the time in which photograph was taken. While the photographer is unknown, the color highlights were done by Francis Brinkley.
Brinkley purposefully highlighted the clothes of the women spinning silk. Not only does it immediately bring attention to the jaded expressions of the three spinsters, but it develops some commentary on the historical time period. Thirty years before this photograph was taken, Japan signed a treaty that “surrendered tariff autonomy and significant legal jurisdiction over [eight] treaty ports” to the United States (Gordon 51, Howell Lecture 9/29). This was the beginning of a difficult road for the Japanese silk industry. By 1860, “foreign demand [caused] silk prices to triple for both domestic and foreign purchasers”, leaving the Japanese peasants who were dependent on silk unable to continue consuming the commodity (Gordon 51, Howell Lecture 9/29). Such high increases in silk prices inevitably led to higher levels of inflation in Japan. Ultimately the Japanese domestic economy – and therefore the Japanese people – were left in disarray.
This disarray continued well into the end of the 19th century. By 1884, “raw silk prices [had fallen] to roughly half of their 1880 levels”, sparking several peasant rebellions (Gordon 87). Silk was undoubtedly one of Japan’s most integral exports in the late 19th century. These three women represent the thousands of silk spinners in Japan at that time who are not pictured. Furthermore, they represent the generations of Japanese women who participated, and made an impact in the labor force. Looking closely at the faces of the women, the relationship between the women goes deeper than just their business.
The woman on the far left is very young, likely a teenager. The woman on the far right is slightly older, and the woman in the back is middle aged. It is likely that this particular silk operation is a family business, with the mother supervising her two daughters. It was a common practice for “silk cocoons [to be] raised in small sheds on family farms” (Gordon 95). Interestingly, Brinkley chose to provide the two daughter’s clothing with more vibrant coloring, and the mother’s clothing with a dull red. Perhaps this was to encourage the viewer of the photograph to take note that the two younger women still have a life of work ahead of them, whereas the mother has already worked for years.
The picture is an interesting representation of life in Japan in the late 19th century, the silk trade, and Japanese economics and society. However, it skews the vision of the silk trade in that time period, emphasizing the role of women, but divulging nothing about the role of men. Therefore, more context—such as a historical record of the labor force, and other photographs—are necessary in order to truly understand the entirety Japan’s historical landscape.
Gordon, A. 2003. A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to Present. Pg 50-
100. Print.
Howell, D. 2014. “Societies of the World 43: Japan’s Samurai Revolution”. Emerson Hall,
Harvard University. 2014. Lecture.