Chinese lion

唐獅子 karajishi

Chinese lion

A curly-maned guardian lion that wards off evil. Paired with the peony (karajishi-botan), the king of beasts with the king of flowers, it is a protective and celebratory design used on wedding goods.

China (Tang dynasty), with Buddhist art

The curly-maned lion came from China as a Buddhist guardian (Monju bosatsu rides one) and is linked to the komainu at shrine gates. A Buddhist tale says the lion's only fear, a parasite in its mane, dies in peony dew, so the lion rests under peonies; the pair, karajishi-botan, became a favourite of Momoyama and Edo decoration. The Hayashibara Museum's lacquer wedding set (綾杉地獅子牡丹蒔絵婚礼調度, Important Cultural Property, 17th century) is covered in lions and peonies for an Ikeda-family bride.

Used on wedding goods, festival costume and furoshiki as a protective, auspicious pairing; see the botan (peony) motif.

Technique catalog · draft for review

Every way to wrap, carry and wear a furoshiki.

The furoshiki.com archive, sliced into annotated steps with plain directions, plus techniques found in research.