THE MEANINGS WOVEN IN
杜若
kakitsubata
A wish to keep someone dear close at heart, however far apart.
Iris
Bonds that hold →01
Where it comes from
Kakitsubata is an iris of marshes and the water's edge, so it is most often drawn with water. Its name is said to come from kakitsukebana, a flower rubbed onto cloth, since its petals were once used to dye. It is also written with characters meaning swallow flower, a Chinese name that first belonged to another plant; the flower was thought to look like a swallow resting in flight. After the eight bridges of The Tales of Ise made it famous, it became a favorite subject of painting and pattern, and its purple flowers and green leaves were loved together as a pairing of colors in court dress.
02
On the cloth
On obi, irises often grow beside plank bridges and flowing water, and their long leaves may be drawn as smoothly as the water itself. Irises have also been made in gold lacquer and embroidered on Noh robes. Here, on pale blue, irises and chrysanthemums meet flowing water, crossed by diagonal bands.
03
To give
Kakitsubata suits early summer, a farewell, or a letter to someone far away. It is a gift for someone you keep close at heart, however many miles lie between.
A word to keep
書付花
kakitsukebana
A flower rubbed onto cloth. Said to be the old form of the name kakitsubata, from the days when its petals were used to dye.
Two questions
What does the Iris (杜若) pattern mean?
A wish to keep someone dear close at heart, however far apart. Kakitsubata suits early summer, a farewell, or a letter to someone far away.
Where does the 杜若 pattern come from?
Kakitsubata is an iris of marshes and the water's edge, so it is most often drawn with water. Its name is said to come from kakitsukebana, a flower rubbed onto cloth, since its petals were once used to dye.
