Kesa
1700-1850 (kesa) (made), 1580-1620 (fabric) (woven)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a kesa’, the rectangular garment worn by Japanese Buddhist priests. Kesa are made of a sewn patchwork of cloth, the arrangement of the sections of fabric into columns surrounded by a border serving as a mandala, a symbolic rendering of the universe. The central column represents the Buddha, the two columns either side his attendants, and the four patches at the corners the cardinal directions. The act of sewing the garment is in itself a devotional pursuit.
During the Edo period (1603-1868) kesa fabric was often specially woven in Kyoto, but kesa were also made from cloth donated to temples. The fabric of this kesa was originally fashioned as a theatrical robe worn by the Komparu troup of No actors and dates to the late sixteenth-early seventeeth century. The Tokyo National Museum has such a robe made of identical fabric.
During the Edo period (1603-1868) kesa fabric was often specially woven in Kyoto, but kesa were also made from cloth donated to temples. The fabric of this kesa was originally fashioned as a theatrical robe worn by the Komparu troup of No actors and dates to the late sixteenth-early seventeeth century. The Tokyo National Museum has such a robe made of identical fabric.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Polychrome figured silk |
| Brief description | Buddhist priest's mantle (kesa), polychrome figured silk, fabric probably woven in Kyoto between 1580-1620, kesa made in Japan, 1700-1850. |
| Physical description | Buddhist priest's mantle (kesa) of woven silk with decoration of crests (mon) against a geometric ground with additional patches with floral motif. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label | Buddhist robe (kesa)
1700–1850; woven 1580–1620
Kesa were sometimes made from secular garments donated to temples. This example was fashioned from theatrical robes worn by a troupe of Nō actors in the late 16th or early 17th century. The roundels that make up the pattern include the triple hollyhock crest (mon) of the ruling Tokugawa family, indicating their patronage of the actors and perhaps also of the temple.]
Kyoto
Figured silk
Given by Mr T.B. Clark-Thornhill
Museum no. T.140-1927
(04/11/2015) |
| Credit line | Given by T.B. Clarke-Thornhill |
| Object history | Registered File number 1927/3502. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a kesa’, the rectangular garment worn by Japanese Buddhist priests. Kesa are made of a sewn patchwork of cloth, the arrangement of the sections of fabric into columns surrounded by a border serving as a mandala, a symbolic rendering of the universe. The central column represents the Buddha, the two columns either side his attendants, and the four patches at the corners the cardinal directions. The act of sewing the garment is in itself a devotional pursuit. During the Edo period (1603-1868) kesa fabric was often specially woven in Kyoto, but kesa were also made from cloth donated to temples. The fabric of this kesa was originally fashioned as a theatrical robe worn by the Komparu troup of No actors and dates to the late sixteenth-early seventeeth century. The Tokyo National Museum has such a robe made of identical fabric. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.140-1927 |
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| Record created | February 20, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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