THE MEANINGS WOVEN IN
毘沙門亀甲
bishamon kikkō
A wish to be guarded, as if by armor linked piece by piece.
Triple Tortoise Shell
Kept safe →01
Where it comes from
Three hexagons of the tortoise-shell pattern are drawn together into one shape, and that shape is linked on and on. The name comes from Bishamonten, one of the four guardian kings who protect the Buddha, whose armor of linked mail is drawn much like this pattern. In Japan, Bishamonten is also counted among the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. It belongs with the tortoise shell, and as a crest it is called mitsumori kikkō.
02
On the cloth
On obi, bishamon kikkō has been woven into karaori maru obi as a firm, orderly geometric pattern, and it also appears among the stencils of an old book of komon designs. Here, the linked shapes run in red, sky blue, green, yellow, and gold, each ringed again and again with lines of black and gold, with a little pale purple showing here and there.
03
To give
Bishamon kikkō suits someone taking on a hard task, or setting out on something bold. It is for a person you hope will be well guarded along the way.
A word to keep
三つ盛亀甲
mitsumori kikkō
Three tortoise-shell hexagons heaped together. The name of this shape as a crest.
Two questions
What does the Triple Tortoise Shell (毘沙門亀甲) pattern mean?
A wish to be guarded, as if by armor linked piece by piece. Bishamon kikkō suits someone taking on a hard task, or setting out on something bold.
Where does the 毘沙門亀甲 pattern come from?
Three hexagons of the tortoise-shell pattern are drawn together into one shape, and that shape is linked on and on. The name comes from Bishamonten, one of the four guardian kings who protect the Buddha, whose armor of linked mail is drawn much like this pattern.
