Lattice / checks

格子 kōshi

Lattice / checks

Crossing vertical and horizontal lines; no fixed symbolism, valued as steady and stylish since Edo times, with many named variants (Benkei-gōshi, Chidori-gōshi and others).

Architectural lattice; named lattice patterns flourished in the Edo period

Lattice (kōshi) was everywhere in Japanese buildings, from temple gables and transoms to the latticed fronts of town houses. As a textile pattern it boomed in the Edo period, when kabuki actors gave their names to lattices: Kikugorō-gōshi hides the characters キ and 呂 between groups of four and five lines for Onoe Kikugorō, and the three-line Danjūrō-gōshi honours Ichikawa Danjūrō. Bold Benkei-gōshi is named after the warrior-monk Benkei.

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.