桐
THE MEANINGS WOVEN IN
kiri
A wish for fortune that grows tall, and good things that come to rest.
Paulownia
Fortune that grows →01
Where it comes from
Kiri is drawn from the paulownia tree, most often as three broad leaves with three upright sprays of pale purple flowers above them. An old tale from China says the phoenix comes to rest in the paulownia, and so the two were paired as a sign of good fortune. Paulownia, bamboo, and phoenix together became a pattern for the emperor's robes, and the paulownia crest was later given as an honor to those who served with distinction. The tree grows quickly, and it was said that a paulownia was planted when a daughter was born, so that a chest of drawers could be made from it when she married.
02
On the cloth
Paulownia, bamboo, and phoenix are thought to have been woven into the emperor's robes from the early Heian period. In the Edo period the paulownia spread into stencil dyeing and small repeating prints as a pattern of good fortune. On obi it has appeared as a lively dancing paulownia in heavy karaori brocade, wound through arabesque vines on summer silk gauze, and paired with bamboo.
03
To give
Paulownia suits the birth of a daughter, a wedding, or a step up in someone's work. It is a gift for someone you hope will grow tall, with good things coming to rest beside them.
A word to keep
桐竹鳳凰
kiri-take-hōō
Paulownia, bamboo, and phoenix. A pattern for the emperor's robes, from the tale that the phoenix lives in the paulownia and feeds on bamboo seeds.
Two questions
What does the Paulownia (桐) pattern mean?
A wish for fortune that grows tall, and good things that come to rest. Paulownia suits the birth of a daughter, a wedding, or a step up in someone's work.
Where does the 桐 pattern come from?
Kiri is drawn from the paulownia tree, most often as three broad leaves with three upright sprays of pale purple flowers above them. An old tale from China says the phoenix comes to rest in the paulownia, and so the two were paired as a sign of good fortune.
