Kimono
1688-1703
| Place of origin |
This boldly patterned kimono would have been worn on a hot and humid summer day. The characters on the upper part of the kimono are taken from the Collection of Gleanings of Japanese Poems (Shūi Wakashū), compiled by Emperor Kazan in about 1005:
Were even a single blossom
on the double-flowered yamabuki
in my garden
to remain,
it would be a reminder of spring
The flower described in the poem, yamabuki (mountain rose) also features in the design. For both wearer and viewer, the motifs allude to the pleasures of cooler weather. By choosing to have characters on her kimono, the woman who wore this garment was demonstrating her taste and literary discernment.
Were even a single blossom
on the double-flowered yamabuki
in my garden
to remain,
it would be a reminder of spring
The flower described in the poem, yamabuki (mountain rose) also features in the design. For both wearer and viewer, the motifs allude to the pleasures of cooler weather. By choosing to have characters on her kimono, the woman who wore this garment was demonstrating her taste and literary discernment.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Ramie; freehand paste-resist dyeing (<i>yūzen</i>); stencil imitation tie- dyeing (<i>surihitta</i>); embroidery in silk and gold- wrapped silk threads |
| Brief description | Kimono for a woman (kosode), ramie with freehand paste-resist dyeing (yūzen), stencil imitation tie-dyeing (surihitta), and embroidery in silk and gold-wrapped silk threads, Kyoto, 1680-1705 |
| Physical description | Kimono for a woman (kosode) of ramie, with freehand paste-resist dyed (yūzen), stencil imitation tie-dyed (surihitta), and embroidered decoration of characters and mountain roses (yamabuki). The garment is lined with plain weave red silk which is revealed at the wadded hem. A summer kimono of ramie would usually be unlined, so it is highly likely that the red lining and wadding were added at a later date. |
| Gallery label | This boldly patterned kimono would have been worn on a hot and humid summer day. The embroidered characters relate to a poem about the mountain rose (yamabuki). This flower also features in the design. For both wearer and viewer, the motifs allude to the pleasures of cooler weather. By choosing to have characters on her kimono, the woman who wore this garment was demonstrating her taste and literary discernment.
(29/02/2020) |
| Literary reference | Collection of Gleanings of Japanese Poems (Shūi Wakashū), compiled by Emperor Kazan in about 1005 |
| Summary | This boldly patterned kimono would have been worn on a hot and humid summer day. The characters on the upper part of the kimono are taken from the Collection of Gleanings of Japanese Poems (Shūi Wakashū), compiled by Emperor Kazan in about 1005: Were even a single blossom on the double-flowered yamabuki in my garden to remain, it would be a reminder of spring The flower described in the poem, yamabuki (mountain rose) also features in the design. For both wearer and viewer, the motifs allude to the pleasures of cooler weather. By choosing to have characters on her kimono, the woman who wore this garment was demonstrating her taste and literary discernment. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.163-2019 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2019 |
| Record URL |
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