Patterns
Karahana Socho Chohan-kin(Brocade with Pattern of Flowers and Paired Birds)
"Chohan" is a term for stripe pattern fabric woven with the warp yarn in two or more colors, and the brocade of this pattern is called "Chohan-kin". The original design of this fabric with flowers and paired birds placed in the "Chohan-kin" is from the fabric kept at Shosoin repository in Todai-ji templ ein Nara, Japan since the 8th century which was originally used on the cover of an Emperor’s arm rest.
This colorful brocade is woven with our sophisticated warp patt erned weaving technique in a modified design with a new addition of g old and silver threads between the stripes.
Oshidori Karakusa-mon Nishiki(Brocade with Mandarin Ducks and Arabesques Pattern)
On such occasions as the inauguration of the Todaiji Daibutsu or on the anniversary of Emperor Shomu’s death, a large number of banners of all sizes were hung on the temple pillars and elsewhere. These banners were decorated with precious brocade as shown by numerous examples still preserved in the Shosoin Repository. The original brocade from which this fabric was reproduced is the one used as the end decoration of one of the streamers a ttached to a banner.
The design consists of a pair of mandarin ducks facing each other on a lotus blossom, the whole being surrounded by a floral scroll forming a circular pattern not symmetrical but in a pleasing balance. Strewn between circular patterns are floral scrolls in lozenge form.
Our brocade is woven with a warp cloth weaving technique,l eaving richness of the original textile.
Shishikari-mon Nishiki(Brocade with Design of Lion Hunter)
This is a modified design from a brocade of the "Beaded Medallions Enclosing Four Mounted Lion Hunters", designated as the National Treasure, preserved in Horyu-ji temple in Nara, Japan since the 7th century. The original design consists of two pairs of kings mounting on horsebacks and shooting lions which are symmetrically placed on each side of a flowering tree in a pearl roundel that is the characteristic of Sassanian Dynasty of Persia.
We have attempted to transfer the ambitious theme of the ancient brocade to a warp-patterned brocade in a new design eliminating the flowering tree, and depicting only one hunter and a lion, but adding gorgeous blossom design surrounding the roundels.
Zui-ka Karakusa-mon Nishiki(Kasuga-ōchō Brocade with Auspicious Flowers and Arabesques Design)
Design of this brocade is modeled after a pattern of brocade, consisting of small auspicious flowers and arabesques beautifully arranged, pasted on "Ya-kubari-kusi-ita" (partition part of a quiver) of "Hira-yana-gui" (a flat quiver), which was recorded to have been made in 1131 and dedicated to Wakamiya Jinja, a subordinate shrine of Kasuga Taisha, when it was founded in 1135. Thus, the original brocade is valuable as the date of its production is accurate. "Ya-kubari-kusi-ita" was placed in "Hōdate" (mullion box of a flat quiver) of "Hira-yana-gui" to separately contain the arrows.
The original brocade was made in bluish yellow and light indigo colors, but we have used our original color and woven into warp-patterned brocade with our exquisite technique.
The Source:National Treasure owned by Kasuga Taisha "Hira-yana-gui" "Ya-kubari-kusi-ita" Heian Period (12th C.)