Rising steam

立涌 tatewaku

Rising steam

Pairs of wavy lines that swell and narrow like rising steam, a Heian court (yūsoku) pattern for good fortune and rising status; formal and dignified.

Heian court (yūsoku) pattern, probably from a Chinese honeysuckle scroll

Paired undulating lines that swell and narrow, probably derived from the Chinese nindō (honeysuckle) scroll. It became one of the yūsoku patterns that marked rank on Heian court dress and furnishings. Motifs placed in the swellings give named variants such as kumo-tatewaku (clouds, reserved for high ranks), kiku-, nami- and fuji-tatewaku. It was later used on noh costumes.

Now used on wedding and formal kimono and obi as a dignified, celebratory pattern.

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.