Bamboo grass

MOTIF

This obi is covered by a small quincunx motif repeated upside down all over it. It is composed of a crane flying before a stem of bamboo grass and surrounded pine needles. None of these elements is at a scale, which makes the motif kind of abstract.

Bamboo grass (sasa 笹) is different from the tall bamboo that can be observed in forests. It’s thinner and its leaves are lusher. Bamboo grass is considered an auspicious motif on kimono since ancient times.

The crane (tsuru 鶴) is also a very auspicious motif. Japanese cranes are considered mystical birds and are praised for their noble elegance. In the wild, the cranes live by clear water rather than gathering in the woods with other birds. This is probably what led them to be designated “Lord of the feathered creatures” in Chinese culture. In China, the image of cranes flying among the clouds can represent outstanding personalities who have elevated higher than ordinary people.

In Japan, cranes remain a strong symbol of longevity, as it was believed they lived up to hundreds of years. It is a beautiful symbol to have it appear on this black obi, which would be worn for funeral celebrations.

FABRIC