A Boro Silk Oohi: Buddhist Priestly Vestment Accessory

ca. mid twentieth century
63" x 12", 160 cm x 30 cm

This very used and distressed, silk textile is part of the Japanese Buddhist priest's raiment and it was worn draped over the priest's arm.

It is hand stitched from a butter/champagne colored silk which is figured with dragons and clouds in gold, red, pink, green and rust colored silk yarns. 

Looking at this oohi you can see that the silk has split and has been repaired in places.  Also there is some ingrained dirt to the piece,primarily on its edges and on the two, short ends.  There are a few, faint stains.

Still, this is a lovely, relatively old, Japanese Buddhist vestment that has certainly been witness to a good deal of ecclesiastical work.