Information:
"Tsuchiguruma-mon
(hammer-wheel pattern)" is a pattern based on a waterwheel
with dippers attached. The dippers look something like hammers.
Hence, this design came to be called tsuchiguruma, from tsuchi
(hammer) and kuruma (wheel). This design was combined with
a wave pattern to create this original chiyogami. There are
blue, green, 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. |
