The Rakuchu Rakugai folding screens represent one of the most brilliant genres of medieval Japanese painting. This article studies the growing significance attributed to such objects from the past, the plurality of messages they convey to people, the increase in meanings, readings and uses they have and the beginning of their new life as ‘heritage’. It is demonstrated that through acquiring a ‘heritage status’ they grow out of the proportions of isolated artistic objects that are silently housed in designated museums, and transform to become an integral part of the city itself, its contemporarity in space, spirit, people and activities, attesting to history of place and local distinctiveness. When would art grow to such dimensions? What is the reason behind this astonishing metamorphosis? We answer these questions, discussing Rakuchu Rakugai from a new heritage perspective that is theoretically grounded in the Heritage Studies literature.
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