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Kimono & Wafuku :: Archives :: Decorative Motifs :: Japanese motifs
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AuthorTopic: Japanese motifs (Read 1,175 times)
Kiyoaki
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Re: Japanese motifs
« Reply #20 on Jun 19, 2002, 7:52pm »
Himiko,

A number of your questions are dealt with in Liza Dalby book, Kimono. There is a complete reference under the heading Bibliography and References, and descriptions of the book's contents, which you might find useful.

In general, though, the motifs are usually in step with the season. When a particular plant flowers or buds is the time when it would be appropriate to wear a kimono that features such a motif.

However, the truly fashionable, always attempt to anticipate the seasons. It's somewhat trite to wear a blizzard of sakura on a kimono during the time it is in full bloom on the trees. Before the season arrives is the time to make the statement.

For another thing, sometimes the type of fabric of the kimono itself will dictate when it should be worn. Linen and gauze weaves, for instance, are only appropriate at the height of summer (late June), and even lined and unlined garments have their seasons as well.

Selecting motifs that are appropriate for the fabric and season they are intended to be worn, is a complex problem, but when you add to that equation the factor of formality, the question becomes mind boggling.

I know I haven't answered your question directly. It is nearly impossible to capsualize the experience required to properly select and coordinate an outfit for a given occasion. At a minimum, Liza's book will start you on that road.

Kiyoaki
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Himiko
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Re: Japanese motifs
« Reply #21 on Jun 20, 2002, 12:04am »
Kiyoaki Sensei:
Yes, indeed, seasons the word. In fact, being aware of the seasons is always the main theme, especially in haiku, Japanese foods, wagashi and stuff. I can never write a nice letter in Japanese without an appropriate
seasonal greeting, regrettably, copied from letter-writing guidebooks.
Of course, I will safely stick to maple leaves for the pre-Fall season, hope I won't go wrong here. Flower motifs can be really tricky.
I used to live in Okinawa where cherry blossoms start out in early March, way before the mainland blossoms.
However, I never did get the chance to wear bingata kimono. They looked so cool and tropical with the gradation of colors, almost like Sarawakian motifs/batik.
And the Okinawan big hair piled on top, like an inverted cone. I saw some of my classmates do their portraits in bingata gear, in cheery yellows and reds, with full regional flavor!
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Kiyoaki
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Re: Japanese motifs
« Reply #22 on Jun 20, 2002, 12:42pm »
Himiko,

Deciduous trees are a slightly different matter than flowers. They have both a leafing stage and one when they drop their leaves. With the maple, there is the green leafing of sping and the dying ones of fall. Even pines have their season, with new growth at the begining of the year. This motif subject is not easily mastered.

Kiyoaki
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Himiko
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Re: Japanese motifs/Trying to find a gd book
« Reply #23 on Jun 20, 2002, 2:19pm »
Hello! I think I have to look at all the kimono I have and take into the account their color, texture and motifs before considering the seasons all together. I need to consult a good reference book, I am trying to look for one in Japanese. Also, different obi, obiage and obijime combinations also make a difference to the whole ensemble. I have this neat reference book with a nice section on the different Japanese colors with samples, and also types of flowers. It's not a kimono-oriented page though, but it helps me identify the colors, and their various shades.
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bawsin
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Re: Japanese motifs
« Reply #24 on Sept 18, 2003, 12:41pm »
As a latecomer to this topic, I thought I'd offer a few links to webpages on Japanese motifs that I have personally found helpful ;D

Yamatoku's "topics review"
http://www.yamatoku.jp/classic/topic.asp
This webpage is dedicated to Japanese motifs. Note that the topics aren't arranged in any discernable order, so you'll have to scroll (or do Edit>Find) to discover kiku, noshi, or whatever other topic may interest you. But, it's tremendous fun just to browse ... and the best part is that every topic is illustrated with examples! This is often my first port of call when looking up a specific design element.

Cloth Patterns (from A History of Japanese Clothing, by Anthony J. Bryant)
http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/garb/ClothPat.html
An illustrated page on Japanese cloth patterns - in this case, "abstract" ones. Can't tell your jimon from your tatewaku? Mr. Bryant explains.

And a smattering of websites dedicated to mon/kamon (family crests):

Japanese Family Crest
http://www.netpersons.co.jp/kamon/index.html
Includes: Origin of Family Crests, 10 Major Family Crests, and my favourite - Selected Cool Family Crests.

Hidaka Family Emblems
http://www.asgy.co.jp/anglais/index.html
Lots of sections to this site dedicated to kamon. A good place to start is the Classifications page at http://www.asgy.co.jp/anglais/classify/classify.html.

Julia
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alien333
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Re: Japanese motifs
« Reply #25 on Dec 6, 2003, 12:07am »
Hi:
Ive been searching for one mon in paticular.. and didnt find it.. but i did find this link for a book you might like.
http://store.yahoo.com/doverpublications/0486422739.html

another on family crests.
http://www.bugei.com/product_63_detailed.htm

i hope this might help you some.

alien333
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Alien333
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:o Flock!

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Re: Japanese motifs
« Reply #26 on Jan 12, 2005, 4:31am »
'tis a bit late for a reply maybe, but I found a really good site (in japanese) with high quality pictures of thousands of diffirent mon all in catagorys.
http://www.otomiya.com/kamon/index.htm If you can't read it, either run it through a translator (quite a few catagorys and sub catagorys of flower types) or just click the links on the left side of the bit that says TIPS at the top.
it also says about the history or reason for each mon.
I am quite partial to the ume variations :D
It's a really useful site if you want to know what the mon is on your kimono (some aren't too obvious)
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Flock :o :o :o :o
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