Waves of Tears from Sodden Sleeves

The designs and the length of the sleeve and hem of the Japanese kimono not only speak to the age, marital status, and social position of the wearer, but also may provide a subtle sign of the owner's culture and education. The pictorial images found on many kimono derive from Japanese literature, while the inclusion of Japanese characters may refer to poetry, Noh plays, and auspicious signs. The power of the kimono as a cultural symbol is illustrated by this exhibition's title, a line from an eleventh-century poem that employs the image of a silk sleeve, usually light and gracefully flowing with wearer's movement, now heavy with sad tears.