# Arabesque scroll

唐草 karakusa

![Arabesque scroll](https://www.furoshiki.com/swatches/karakusa.svg)

Scrolling vines spread endlessly in every direction, symbolising long life and the prosperity of the family line; famous as the classic green furoshiki pattern.

West and Central Asia via the Silk Road and China; in Japan from the 8th century

Scrolling-vine motifs with roots in Greece, Egypt, Persia and India reached Japan through China; the earliest Japanese examples are among the 8th-century Shōsōin treasures. In the Heian period native plants such as plum, wisteria and chrysanthemum replaced exotic ones. From the 17th century karakusa spread to everyday cotton futon covers and furoshiki and became the standard household furoshiki design.

The green karakusa furoshiki became the cartoon image of a burglar's bundle, a popular gag rather than history.

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Source: https://www.furoshiki.com/patterns/karakusa/