Japanese Collections by Anna E. Gluskina in the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography

Abstract

Anna Evgenievna Gluskina (1904–1994) is known as an outstanding translator of Japanese poetry, teacher and educator, expert on Japanese culture, author of numerous academic articles and monographs. There are many well-known publications devoted to her life, her research and poetic work. However, her activities as a museum Japanologist, as well as her contribution to the formation and description of the Japanese collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography RAS (MAE), are still little known and underestimated. Meanwhile, Anna Evgenievna's debut as a professional Japanologist is connected with her work at the MAE; she spent almost 9 years of her life in the museum (1925–1933). During her academic trip to Japan in 1928, she acquired over 700 pieces that characterize various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, for the museum: Shinto cult objects, a variety of theatrical accessories including marionette puppets and kageboshi shadow theatre items, numerous traditional agricultural implements and fishing gear, peasants’ costumes and agricultural instruments as well as about 400 photographs and negatives. All these items were organized into 7 material and 6 photographic collections; the descriptions were made by Anna Evgenievna at a very high professional level and are distinguished by great accuracy; each item is provided with a detailed attribution and ethnic designation supplied with its Japanese character writing and indication of the circumstances of their acquisition. By the early 1930s, Anna Evgenievna had fully established herself not only as a professional Japanologist, but ethnographer and museum researcher, too; however, the dramatic circumstances intervening into the life of the MAE in 1933 had interrupted her activities in this field.