By Tachibana Museum
By : Kokura Castle Japanese Garden
Folding and Wrapping
When the political and cultural center of Japan shifted in favour of the more rugged warrior classes (Samurai) during the Kamakura period, the use of paper flourished and transformed. The Samurai required thicker and stronger paper, and it was around the Kamakura and Muromachi periods that paper also became suitable for practical everyday use.
Gift wrapping was one such example of this transformation.
Wrapping
Left/Flowering Tree Wrapping
Right/Flowering Plant Wrapping (Gyō of Gyō; 6th degree)
Shin・Gyō・Sō: Shin is used to refer to the basic form. Sō is used to denote an efficient form, one which eliminates the unnecessary, and is a result of diligent practice. Gyō is the form that sits between Shin and Sō.
Ori-sue
Ori-sue: A folding box that holds slips with names of certain scents written on them; used in Kodo.
A Black Pepper Wrapping
Top/Sō of Sō
Bottom/Gyō of Sō (6th degree)
Chopsticks Wrapping
Gyō of Gyō; 6th degree
Taru-no-kuchi Wrapping
Taru-no-Kuchi: A keg of sake used on celebratory occasions.
In-no-shiki
Male (right) and female (left) butterflies from Heiji
In-no-shiki, Yō-no-shiki: Two parts of a wedding ceremony, with In-no-shiki being a dedication to the gods, and Yō-no-shiki being the ceremony for men. Butterflies in the ceremony symbolize fertility.Heiji: Earthenware vessel containing sake.
Aigyo-no-mamori Wrapping
Good luck charm that a newlywed bride brings when she marries into a family.
Arrangements used for Engagements/ Kokura Castle Japanese GardenTachibana Museum
Modesty and heart-felt intentions are highly esteemed in Japanese culture, and the slightest gesture can convey great meaning and beauty. This is why, depending on the object, time of year, and occasion, appropriate forms of folding are used to transmit an aesthetic sense of beauty.
Ogasawara style bow and arrow. Betrothal items (replicas). A scroll describing Ogasawara etiquette. A video of Kyuba Archery（a traditional style of archery done by mounted samurai), can be viewed at the permanent exhibition in the Japanese Garden within Kokura castle.
Kokura Castle Japanese Garden
Bibliography
『Ogasawara-ryū Musubu Oru, Tsutsumu』
Author：Kiyotada Ogasawara, 31st generation head of Ogasawara-ryū
Photographed by : Hoshino Tatsuro
Publishing Agency : HEARST Fujingaho Co. (Previously Asset Fujingaho Co.)
Curated by
TATEHATA Atsuko(Kokura Castle Japanese Garden )
OHIRA Midori (TACHIBANA MUSEUM)
Photo by
HOSHINO Tatsurou
