Clouds (scrolling)

雲 kumo

Clouds (scrolling)

Scrolling ruyi-style clouds (zuiun 瑞雲, "lucky clouds") are a sign of good fortune.

Chinese auspicious-cloud (xiangyun) imagery, in Japan from the Nara period; zuiun named in Heian court design

Scrolling, mushroom-headed clouds come from Chinese auspicious-cloud designs, which entered Japan with other cloud patterns in the Nara period. Heian court (yūsoku) design named 'auspicious clouds' (zuiun) as their own type, and more elaborate fungus-shaped clouds (reishiun) arrived later on imported Chinese textiles.

Still used on formal kimono, obi and celebratory goods as a sign of good fortune.

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.