Information:
"Chikurin-mon (Bamboo forest pattern)" is an original chiyogami design depicting a forest of bamboo. Since ancient times, bamboo has been especially loved by the Japanese people, along with pine and Japanese apricot trees. Since bamboo grows straight, it has been viewed as a sacred plant. Since it is difficult to break, it has come to represent endurance and strength of spirit. Because bamboo is an evergreen, it also symbolizes permanence and fidelity.
There are purple, green, and gold versions available for download.
Chiyogami had its beginnings in Kyoto during the Edo period (1603 - 1867). It began with flowers, birds, and other patterns from nature, popular subjects in the Yuzen* patterns, drawn onto Japanese paper. Such paper came to be printed using the woodblock printing technology of Edo (present-day Tokyo), and incorporated other patterns used in colored prints of the day. The paper soon became popular throughout Japan.
*Yuzen: Japanese traditional dyeing technique that originated in the 8th century created by painter Yuzen Miyazaki. |
