FAN AND FLOWING WATER Cotton and Linen Aloha Shirt

$200.00

Color / Lavender With Black　 Size Chart

Japanese name/ 流水うちわ (Ryusui uchiwa)

-About-

Fans or “uchiwa” were introduced from China during the Nara era (710-794). In China the fan was said to belong to “Han Zhongli” one of the Eight Immortals and had divine power, therefore used to symbolize the authority of the ruler.

In Japan, at first introduction only powerful people were allowed to use fans to ward off evil spirits, or for ceremonial and decorative purposes in the imperial court. Much later, at the end of the Heian-era common people were also allowed to use “uchiwa”.

Various elegant patterns are often drawn on the uchiwa; a goldfish pattern would create a summer atmosphere, as well as dragonflies which come with the arrival of summer and end their life as autumn deepens. Nadeshiko, a type of autumn plant is also used, called “everlasting summer” because of its beautiful flowers that bloom for a long period from spring to summer.

A “kanze” pattern that expresses the flow of water, with added swirls, is a prestigious water pattern that received its name from the official text of the Kanze school of Noh theater.

These traditional patterns commonly used for summer kimono give one a refreshing sense of summer in Kyoto.