The Meanings Woven In
Patterns on kimono and obi have long carried wishes. Here they are gathered by wish, and each page tells where a pattern comes from, how it appears on cloth, and when it might be given.
Find a pattern by wish
A long life
菊ChrysanthemumA wish for a long life, lived with grace.
藤WisteriaA wish for a long life, and ties that grow deep.
松PineA wish for a strength that stays green through the winter.橘橘Tachibana OrangeA wish for a long life, still green under the frost.
紅葉MapleA wish for years that deepen in color.
鶴CraneA wish for a long life, and a love that lasts.
波WavesA wish for a long life that keeps rolling on, wave after wave.
松皮菱Pine Bark DiamondA wish for days stacked one on another, lasting like the pine.
亀甲Tortoise ShellA wish for a long life, and steady protection.兎兎RabbitA wish for long, bright years, like the rabbit in the moon.
松竹梅Pine, Bamboo, PlumA wish for a life that stays strong and bright through the cold.
Bonds that hold
杜若IrisA wish to keep someone dear close at heart, however far apart.蔦蔦IvyA wish for ties that hold fast and keep on climbing.
萩Bush CloverA wish for someone dear to watch the autumn with.雀雀SparrowA wish to stay close to the ones you love, through the cold days too.
鴛鴦Mandarin DucksA wish for a love that stays, for two who belong together.
貝ShellsA wish for two who fit together, like the halves of one shell.
格子LatticeA wish for lives that cross and hold together, like warp and weft.
襷Crossed LinesA wish for ties that cross and keep reaching outward.
七宝つなぎLinked Seven TreasuresA wish for bonds that keep joining, circle to circle.
鹿の子Fawn SpotsA wish for bonds to be tied, one small knot at a time.源氏香源氏香Genji IncenseA wish to find, among many, the ones that belong together.
業平菱Triple Lattice DiamondA wish for thoughts that cross, even far apart, to open into flower.
水引・結びKnotA wish for ties that bind two fates together.
A new beginning
梅Plum BlossomA wish for hope, and the courage to bloom first.
桜Cherry BlossomA wish for a good beginning, and a season to share.葵葵Aoi LeavesA wish to look up to the sun, and toward a good beginning.水仙水仙NarcissusA wish for a first flower, fragrant in the snow.蝶蝶ButterflyA wish to change and begin again, as a butterfly does.
扇Folding FanA wish for a future that widens as it goes.
雲取りDrifting CloudsA wish for good things to drift in, one after another.
矢絣Arrow FeathersA wish to keep going forward, without turning back.
花の丸Flower RoundelsA wish for each season of life to open in flower.
Kept safe
椿椿CamelliaA wish to be kept safe through the cold, until spring comes.瓢箪瓢箪GourdsA wish to be watched over, like a small gourd charm worn at the waist.薄薄Silver GrassA wish to be watched over, as the silver grass sways in the autumn wind.
孔雀PeacockA wish to be kept from harm, and to shine.獅子獅子Guardian LionA wish to be guarded from harm, and to stand strong.
鱗ScalesA wish to be kept from harm, and to begin again.
毘沙門亀甲Triple Tortoise ShellA wish to be guarded, as if by armor linked piece by piece.
籠目Woven BasketA wish to keep bad things at a distance.
霰HailstonesA wish for quiet protection to stay beside a young person in their first formal dress.南天南天NandinaA wish for troubles to turn aside, and good to find its way in.鹿鹿DeerA wish to walk gently, watched over by the gods.
孔雀PeacockA wish to be kept from harm, and to shine.獅子獅子Guardian LionA wish to be guarded from harm, and to stand strong.鱗ScalesA wish to be kept from harm, and to begin again.毘沙門亀甲Triple Tortoise ShellA wish to be guarded, as if by armor linked piece by piece.籠目Woven BasketA wish to keep bad things at a distance.霰HailstonesA wish for quiet protection to stay beside a young person in their first formal dress.南天南天NandinaA wish for troubles to turn aside, and good to find its way in.鹿鹿DeerA wish to walk gently, watched over by the gods.
Fortune that grows
牡丹PeonyA wish for a life that opens full and rich.桐桐PaulowniaA wish for fortune that grows tall, and good things that come to rest.
唐草Arabesque VineA wish for good things to keep growing, without a break.
唐花Flower RosetteA wish for good fortune to open, petal by petal.
熨斗Noshi RibbonsA wish for joy that stretches out long.宝尽くし宝尽くしScattered TreasuresA wish for good fortune, gathered in from near and far.
宝船Treasure ShipA wish for good fortune, sailing in to you.
稲妻LightningA wish for a rich harvest, the kind lightning was said to bring.
菱・花菱Diamonds and Flower DiamondsA wish for good things to flourish and multiply.
市松CheckerboardA wish for things that keep growing, square by square.
紗綾形Key FretA wish for good fortune to gather and run on, unbroken.
A child grows
Calm days
桔梗桔梗BellflowerA wish for clear, quiet days, like an autumn field.
観世水KanzemizuA wish for days that keep flowing, and stay clear.
青海波Blue Sea WavesA wish for calm days and good fortune, without end.
雪輪Snow RingsA wish for a rich harvest after a snowy winter.
蜀江Octagons and SquaresA wish for calm that spreads out to the four corners.
檜垣Cypress FenceA wish for modest, steady days, woven close like a fence of thin boards.几帳几帳Court CurtainsA wish for a quiet place of your own, with light coming through.
観世水KanzemizuA wish for days that keep flowing, and stay clear.青海波Blue Sea WavesA wish for calm days and good fortune, without end.雪輪Snow RingsA wish for a rich harvest after a snowy winter.蜀江Octagons and SquaresA wish for calm that spreads out to the four corners.檜垣Cypress FenceA wish for modest, steady days, woven close like a fence of thin boards.几帳几帳Court CurtainsA wish for a quiet place of your own, with light coming through.
Rising higher
Journeys and returns
柳柳WillowA wish to take root wherever the road leads.千鳥千鳥PloverA wish to fly out over wide water, and find the shore again.雁雁Wild GeeseA wish to travel far, and come back with the turning season.燕燕SwallowA wish for a safe return, spring after spring.御所車御所車Court CarriageA wish for a graceful road, wherever it leads.八橋Eight BridgesA wish for a long road crossed safely, and someone dear to come back to.
縞StripesA wish for good things to reach you from far shores.
巴Swirling CommasA wish to come round and meet again, even after parting.
八橋Eight BridgesA wish for a long road crossed safely, and someone dear to come back to.縞StripesA wish for good things to reach you from far shores.巴Swirling CommasA wish to come round and meet again, even after parting.
Patterns by kind
Plants
梅 Plum Blossom · 桜 Cherry Blossom · 菊 Chrysanthemum · 牡丹 Peony · 桐 Paulownia · 藤 Wisteria · 葵 Aoi Leaves · 松 Pine · 竹 Bamboo · 柳 Willow · 杜若 Iris · 椿 Camellia · 橘 Tachibana Orange · 水仙 Narcissus · 蔦 Ivy · 瓢箪 Gourds · 撫子 Dianthus · 桔梗 Bellflower · 萩 Bush Clover · 薄 Silver Grass · 紅葉 Maple · 唐草 Arabesque Vine · 唐花 Flower Rosette · 南天 Nandina · 花の丸 Flower Roundels · 松竹梅 Pine, Bamboo, Plum
Animals
鶴 Crane · 雀 Sparrow · 千鳥 Plover · 雁 Wild Geese · 鴛鴦 Mandarin Ducks · 孔雀 Peacock · 燕 Swallow · 蝶 Butterfly · 鯉 Carp · 貝 Shells · 獅子 Guardian Lion · 竜 Dragon · 鳳凰 Phoenix · 兎 Rabbit · 鹿 Deer
Objects
扇 Folding Fan · 熨斗 Noshi Ribbons · 御所車 Court Carriage · 宝尽くし Scattered Treasures · 宝船 Treasure Ship · 八橋 Eight Bridges · 几帳 Court Curtains · 水引・結び Knot
Nature
雲取り Drifting Clouds · 稲妻 Lightning · 観世水 Kanzemizu · 波 Waves · 青海波 Blue Sea Waves · 雪輪 Snow Rings
Fourteen of these patterns are also a coloring book, The Wishes Woven In (paperback, on Amazon). All prints →