#Becky Mitsui | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tanuki-kimono · 1 year

Link

A peculiar kimono find by Becky Mitsui related on her blog Silk&Bones. And I say peculiar as in “who, why, and WHERE DID THEY WEAR THAT???”.

(go read article, have a laugh because Becky is a gem, and then come back)

I can’t see any setting where butsunehan (death of Buddha) would be appropriated as a kimono pattern... Maybe it’s something about butsunehan services (15th of 2nd month, now 15th of 3rd month), more probably as Becky supposes something related to a Buddhist sect (and they are many so its totally on the table).

Or, past owner was simply a fantastic individual not giving a single fuck (because, yes this kimono was worn as Becky found traces of ohashori folds).

If you know anything, please share your thoughts as we are all super puzzled about this piece!

(But tbh, passive-agrressive mother/mother-in-law does sound the most hilarious option xD + plus bonus dramaphant™, such a mood)

#japan #fashion #fashion history #fashion mystery #Becky Mitsui #butsunehan #Buddha #buddhism #shakyamuni buddha #kurotomesode #death of Buddha #着物 #帯

97 notes · View notes

tanuki-kimono · 5 months

Note

Hi! First off your blog is such an important resource for me in kimono patterns, thank you for keeping it! Secondly, a question. What patterns are associated with death? I know of spider lilies, and pure black kimono accessories for funeral wear, but otherwise not much else. I suspect that kind of pattern would be more of a novelty item print than an estabilished and used pattern.

Hi and thanks for your kinds words! Off the top of my head, they are several patterns associated with death, mostly linked to Buddhism.

Tbh, mourning attire for women are for me more an affair of colors (black/muted) and discreet not-celebratory patterns (it also depends of ones means). Novelty "death-themed"patterns are more and more present in modern kimono, yet you can also find "traditional" ones - even if they are on the rarer side.

Formal mourning garb, as you note, asks for mofuku (black kimono and obi with a few white accessories). Obi usually have very traditional woven ground patterns - for example ryuusui (running water) which kinda symbolize "the flow of life".

For the Buddhist anniversary of one's death and rememberance services, ladies would (when they can afford it) go from all black to half-mourning dress in muted colors like dull greys or ashen purple. For such occasions, you can find Buddhist patterns like sutra (Heart sutra especially), lotus flowers, gorintô (stylized stupa), etc.

More seasonal items could reference Buddhist Obon (festival of the dead) or Higan (more especially autumn equinox Shûbun), but such patterns for very specific events are on the rarer side, and more a matter of taste and style.

Patterns can include higanbana (spider lilies) for Higan, and for Obon: lanterns, cucumber or eggplant "spirit horse", hozuki (ground cherry), nod to Kyoto’s Daimonji kanji, or memento mori-themed motifs (like skeletons, nozarashi or graveplates).

As a step further into morbid imagery, another pattern which can sometimes be found, especially on men juban or haori lining, are decaying corpses (referencing Buddhist meditation on kusôzu or "nine stages of decay"). This was a subject in Japanese art, you can find an example here (cw: corpse depiction).

Hinting at Buddhist concept of impermanence and search for enlightment, Hell courtesan (jigoku dayû) with uchikake coats depicting hellish torments could also enter the death patterns category. Same goes for Buddhist hell imagery of Hell king Enma, or Hell guardians Gozu and Mezu (I believe I saw them on men juban/haori linings + on netsuke).

Finally, because we are talking of death, have a look at this super unsual and puzzling kimono depicting butsunehan (death of Buddha). Becky Mitsui's article is a wild ride xD

123 notes · View notes