Information:
"Shikishi-mon
2 (poetry paper pattern)" is an original chiyogami
design which shows a scattering of shikishi,
a heavy calligraphy paper used in ancient Japan for writing poems.
On these papers are written poems from Hyakunin Isshu,
a classical collection of tanka poems,
one each from 100 different poets. There are gold, light blue, and
purple 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. |
