Diamonds

菱 hishi

Diamonds

A diamond lattice named after the water-chestnut (hishi) leaf, associated with fertility and prosperity; spread through samurai crests such as Takeda-bishi.

Prehistoric (Jōmon pottery); court yūsoku pattern in the Heian period

Diamonds appear on Jōmon pottery, and the lozenge became a yūsoku court pattern: grouped forms such as tōbishi and shigebishi lined court robes and the gauze of the kanmuri headdress. Samurai adopted single diamonds as crests (the Takeda's being the best known) and used them on armour. In the Edo period saiwai-bishi, made of flower-diamonds, was a favourite for girls' clothing.

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.