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Unknown Maker, Japanese

Semi-formal Buddhist vestment (7-column kesa)

Maker

Unknown Maker, Japanese

Culture

Japanese, Edo

Title

Semi-formal Buddhist vestment (7-column kesa)

Period

Edo Period, 1615-1868

Year

mid 1700s

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

silk, gilt paper

Geography

Place Made: Japan

Dimensions

Length: 191.8 cm (75 1/2 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich

Object Number

35.295

Type

Publications

Exhibition History

Japanese Buddhist Priest Robes from the Lucy T. Aldrich Collection
Sep 01, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011

Label copy

The lively pattern of repeating, interlocking circles featured in this kesa and the one to the right alludes to the “seven treasures” of Buddhism (most often interpreted as gold, silver, coral, crystal, agate, pearl, and lapis lazuli) and is regarded as highly auspicious for both sacred and secular use. When the pattern was introduced to Japan from China, it was thought to sparkle like a gem; thus it was called shippo, after the Japanese word for the seven treasures. Part of the shippo pattern’s expressive energy here comes from the fact that these two kesa are clearly patchworks. Little attempt was made to preserve the repeat of the woven design, creating an unruly disruption of the original woven pattern’s formality.

Buddhist Vestments
Japanese Kesa
Apr 30, 1993 – Jul 31, 1993

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Japanese
Semi-formal Buddhist vestment (7-column kesa), mid 1700s
Silk, gilt mulberry paper; compound weave, supplementary weft patterning
Length: 191.8 cm (75 1/2 inches)
Gift of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich 35.295

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