{"title":"Buddhist Textiles","description":"\u003cp\u003e The\u003ci\u003e kesa\u003c\/i\u003e is the classic garment            of the Japanese Buddhist clergy. The origin of the term \u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e is from            the Sanskrit word, \u003ci\u003ekashaya\u003c\/i\u003e, meaning colorless or of neutral            coloration, signifying asceticism on the part of the wearer. The Japanese            \u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e is an iteration of this 'colorless' mendicant garb which was originally            meant to be a garment of rags. Over time the Indian\u003ci\u003e kashaya\u003c\/i\u003e            was transformed into a luxuriously crafted, silk brocade \u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e,            whose piece construction is a reference to its ragged origins.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","products":[{"product_id":"fine-japanese-buddhist-kesa-7-jo-7-column","title":"Fine Japanese Buddhist kesa, 7-jo (7 column)","description":"mid to late 19th century \u003cbr\u003e 45\" x 80\" \u003cbr\u003e 114 1\/2 cm x 203 cm \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e In rare color combination of green, orange and light colored figured brocade silk. The border and column-dividing brocade silk show phoenixes amid paulownia flowers, the paulownia being the only earthly plant upon which the legendary phoenix will alight. The green corner stations and two central flanking ones show small gold dragons within a foliated form. Phoenix refers to 'feminine energy' while dragon is 'masculine energy.' Orange brocade silk shows arabesques and bird forms.","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":87478292,"sku":"74","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/jp.kesa.01.01.pd.jpeg?v=1571438516"},{"product_id":"japanese-buddhist-kesa-7-jo-7-column","title":"Japanese Buddhist Kesa, 7-jo (7 column)","description":"late 19th century\u003cbr\u003e 43\" x 76\" \u003cbr\u003e 109 cm x 193 cm \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This kesa is attractive for its four corner guardians who protect and exalt the four directions. This kesa is silk damask rather than the formal silk brocade and its stylized, geometric configuration of gold against blue is stark, modern and appealing. Its lining fabric is a lightweight silk dyed in botanical safflower (benibana).","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":87478302,"sku":"75","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/jp.kesa.02.01.pd.jpeg?v=1571438516"},{"product_id":"a-silk-buddhist-altar-dressing-elaborately-couched-and-embroidered-details","title":"A Silk Buddhist Altar Dressing: Elaborately Couched and Embroidered Details","description":"\u003cp\u003eca. mid to late nineteenth century\u003cbr \/\u003e\n43 1\/2″ x 44″, 110 cm x 101.5 cm \u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis magnificently shimmering and festive textile is a dressing for a  Buddhist altar that has been fashioned from elaborate silks taken from  formal kimonos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe silks--\u003ci\u003echirimen\u003c\/i\u003e or crepe silks  embroidered with silk floss and damask silks that have been embellished  with gold couching--are luxurious textiles which were donated by a  patron to the temple where this dressing was displayed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwenty  four streamers of various silks comprise this dressing; each one is hand  sewn with a paper backing for strength, support and for the ease of  stitching.\u0026nbsp; \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote the marvelous terminals of each of the  streamers, the zig zag design suggesting the \u003ci\u003ematsu kawabisihi\u003c\/i\u003e or  pine bark motif.\u0026nbsp; \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of the silks have degraded over time to  reveal the lining paper underneath, which can be seen in the photos  attached.\u0026nbsp; In some cases, a streamer will be quite bald of silk and the  paper is quite apparent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe showed this fantastic textile \u003ca href=\"%22http:\/\/threads.srithreads.com\/2011\/01\/08\/recycled-19th-century-embroidered-and-couched-silks-buddhist-temple-cloth\/%22\" target=\"\u0026quot;_blank\u0026quot;\"\u003eon  our blog here. \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\nWonderfully unusual, very beautiful and very  recommended. \n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":87483842,"sku":"2626","price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/MultiBan1.jpeg?v=1571438518"},{"product_id":"a-very-long-19th-century-boro-buddhist-altar-cloth-silk-and-cotton","title":"A Very Long 19th Century \"Boro\" Buddhist Altar Cloth: Silk and Cotton","description":"\u003cp\u003eca. late nineteenth, early twentieth century\u003cbr \/\u003e\n39\" x 100\", 99 cm x 254 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis long textile is an \u003ci\u003euchishiki\u003c\/i\u003e, an altar dressing that was used in a Buddhist temple.\u0026nbsp; As \u003ci\u003euchishiki\u003c\/i\u003e serve a high purpose--adorning a sacred space--they\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eare usually sewn from sumptuous, elegant fabrics, in this case a brocade silk which is backed by cotton.\u0026nbsp; This is quite usual for this kind of Buddhist textile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday we are giving the backing of the cloth as much attention as the front of the cloth, mainly because of the rich, red color of the backing cotton which has a \u003ci\u003eboro\u003c\/i\u003e look created by its pieced cloth construction, its many holes and its small mending patches.\u0026nbsp; This is visually interesting, especially for those who appreciate and understand the aesthetic of Japanese rural textiles.\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhereas the back of this altar cloth is a fire-engine red, the front is deeply colored, quite somber, quietly elegant and very restrained in its tonality.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The rich brown silk shows a woven repeat of stylized peach images.\u0026nbsp; In Chinese poetry the peach was thought of as beautiful and fresh, so it was likened to a young girl.\u0026nbsp; It is also associated with immortality, as is widely known.\u0026nbsp; But there is darker and more powerful aspect to the peach: in China it was a tool of exorcism, and in Japanese mythology, the god \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Izanagi\"\u003eIzanagi\u003c\/a\u003e is said to have driven devils away with this fruit.\u0026nbsp; \u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe silk is split at the points where it was folded and stored, but overall it is still very supple and lustrous.\u0026nbsp; The white cotton apron at the top of the textile is hand woven from very lovely hand spun cotton yarns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely, curious, and beautiful old textile.\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":99562192,"sku":"","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/UchishikiBoro1a.jpg?v=1571438524"},{"product_id":"a-rustic-hemp-shinto-priests-coat-beautiful-details","title":"A Rustic Hemp Priest's Coat: Beautiful Details","description":"\u003cp\u003eca. late nineteenth century\u003cbr \/\u003e\n25\" x 48\", 63.5 cm x 122 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat a lovely, lovely garment this is: wonderful cloth, wonderful details and wonderful design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis jacket, with its split back and full sleeves, was a Buddhist priest's coat.\u0026nbsp; It is made of beautifully woven hemp fiber which may or may not have been dyed with \u003ci\u003ekaki shibu\u003c\/i\u003e or green persimmon tannin.\u0026nbsp; It seems to have been dyed with something as the proper, left sleeve has some variation in its color which indicates light fading.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe construction of this old vestment is interesting: the two back panels are not sewn shut.\u0026nbsp; Instead, they are closed by a tab to each of the panels, the tabs bearing really lovely stitching and are meant to be tied together.\u0026nbsp; Please see the accompanying photographs for a closer look.\u0026nbsp; The same type of closure is affixed to the front of the jacket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hemp cloth is crinkly and well used and on the proper back, left you will see an area of loss; this area was eaten by an insect.\u0026nbsp; The loss also is shown on the inner, white cotton lining fabric.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jacket could also have belonged to a practitioner of \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eShugendo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, a mystical and syncretic aspect of Japanese Buddhism that is concerned with highly disciplined asceticism, magic and the power drawn from the spirit of nature.\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rustic and simply beautiful garment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":127066692,"sku":"","price":425.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/HempPriest1.jpg?v=1571438530"},{"product_id":"an-intensely-pieced-buddhisttemple-pillow-silks","title":"An Intensely Pieced Buddhist Temple Pillow: Silks","description":"\u003cp\u003edated Taisho 12, approximately 1924\u003cbr \/\u003e\n7″ x 12″\u0026nbsp; diameter, 18 cm x 30.25 cm diameter.\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis kaleidoscope of multi-colored, muliti-patterned pieced silks is a stuffed pillow upon which a \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/tenguhouse.typepad.com\/tengu_house\/2007\/06\/the_humble_bell.html\"\u003ebrass, bowl-shaped bell \u003c\/a\u003eor a kind of carved, wooden bell was placed; \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/threads.srithreads.com\/2012\/04\/an-intricately-pieced-silk-bell-pillow-dated-taisho-12\/\"\u003eit was made for use in a Buddhist temple.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis type of intricately piece constructed textile can be seen in Buddhist temples, and often they are hand stitched from donated silks from congregants: these donated, luxurious silks can be transformed into altar cloths, priest's kesa, or other ecclesiastical textiles or garments used for ritual purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis pillow is especially beautiful for its size, its composition and for its good condition.\u0026nbsp; As noted above, we can see from the handwriting on the bottom of the pillow that it dates from Taisho 12 or approximately 1924.\u0026nbsp; Almost all of the silks seem to be chemical dyed, however there are some exceptions in that some of the small slivers of silk on the top of the pillow are from the 19th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mesmerizing top of the pillow is completely hand stitched, with each small fragment of silk wrapped around a slip of paper for ease of stitching.\u0026nbsp; \u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003cbr \/\u003e\nThe sides of the pillow show lotuses in a pond, an allusion to the Buddhist meaning of the lotus, the following quote \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/buddhists.org\/buddhist-symbols\/the-meaning-of-the-lotus-flower-in-buddhism\/\"\u003efrom this website:\u003c\/a\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u003ci\u003eThe lotus flower represents one symbol of fortune in Buddhism. It \ngrows in muddy water, and it is this environment that gives forth the \nflower’s first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the \nmurk to achieve enlightenment.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe second meaning, which is related to the first is purification. It\n resembles the purifying of the spirit which is born into murkiness. The\n third meaning refers to faithfulness. Those who are working to rise \nabove the muddy waters will need to be faithful followers.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderfully good looking thing and one that exhibits extremely good hand craft from gifted Japanese stitchers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery recommended.\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":226370104,"sku":"","price":365.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/YosePillow7.jpg?v=1571438547"},{"product_id":"a-beautifully-unfinished-pieced-silk-altar-cloth-repurposed-paper-backing","title":"A Beautifully Unfinished Pieced Silk Altar Cloth: Repurposed Paper Backing","description":"\u003cp\u003e1920s-30s\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e62″ x 33″, 157.5 cm x 84 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an unfinished, piece-constructed silk cloth that was destined for use as an altar cloth or \u003ci\u003euchishiki\u003c\/i\u003e, at a Buddhist temple. \u0026nbsp;The silks, all chemical dyed, most of them machine-made, are freely yet intricately pieced together.\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis cloth is entirely hand stitched as will be seen very clearly when the back is seen as it is based on paper squares. \u0026nbsp;But first a bit about pieced cloth in Buddhist textiles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn Japan there was a tradition of patrons donating fancy silks to temples, often the silks were taken from elaborate kimono. \u0026nbsp;These silks would be used to create ecclesiastical cloth of the type seen here. \u0026nbsp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo achieve the intricate piecing for each of the sixty squares which compose this piece, the silk fragments were hand stitched to pieces of recycled paper, which can be seen in the accompanying detail photos.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe advantage for us that this piece is unfinished is that it allows us to see the back, which is lovely. \u0026nbsp; Eventually this cloth would have been backed, probably in cotton, and likely there would have been a hand written inscription on the blank cotton backing. \u0026nbsp;The inscription would have noted the date. \u0026nbsp;It would have possibly have mentioned the occasion for which this cloth was made, and, even, it may have listed the names of the donors of the silks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA really marvelous, somewhat delicate piece, which shows a great deal of handwork and dedication.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":271077590,"sku":"","price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/UchishikiPaper23.jpg?v=1571438560"},{"product_id":"a-boro-silk-oohi-buddhist-priestly-vestment-accessory","title":"A Boro Silk Oohi: Buddhist Priestly Vestment Accessory","description":"\u003cp\u003eca. mid twentieth century\u003cbr \/\u003e\n63\" x 12\", 160 cm x 30 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking at this \u003ci\u003eoohi\u003c\/i\u003e you can see that the silk has split and has been repaired in places. \u0026nbsp;Also there is some ingrained dirt to the piece,primarily on its edges and on the two, short ends. \u0026nbsp;There are a few, faint stains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill, this is a lovely, relatively old, Japanese Buddhist vestment that has certainly been witness to a good deal of ecclesiastical work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":273694872,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/YellowOohi2.jpg?v=1571438561"},{"product_id":"a-fragment-from-a-shrine-banner-resist-dyed-hand-spun-cotton","title":"A Fragment from a Shrine Banner: Resist Dyed Hand Spun Cotton","description":"\u003cp\u003eca. early twentieth century\u003cbr \/\u003e\n70\" x 13\", 178 cm x 33 cm\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the title of this posting says, this length of resist dyed indigo cotton was cut from a larger piece, the entire thing being a banner which was hung outside Shinto shrines for commemorative purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cotton is beautifully hand spun and hand woven and is deeply dyed in indigo. \u0026nbsp;The \u003ci\u003ekanji,\u003c\/i\u003e or Chinese characters, were resisted using a stencil. \u0026nbsp;Really lovely to look at.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat can be seen on this fragment by looking at the accompanying detail photos is that there is some damage to this length: there is an area composed of small holes, and then there are some light colored stains to the surface which are also illustrated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese shrine banners are usually flown to honor a contribution made to the shrine or in commemoration of a festival day. \u0026nbsp;Almost always the date of this event is noted on the banner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeautiful.\u0026nbsp;\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":280490106,"sku":"","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/ShrineBanner34.jpg?v=1571438562"},{"product_id":"a-refashioned-brocade-19th-century-silk-kesa-two-wonderful-sides","title":"A Refashioned Brocade 19th Century Silk Kesa: Two Wonderful Sides","description":"\u003cp\u003emid to late nineteenth century\u003cbr \/\u003e20 1\/2\" x 21\", 52 cm x 53.25 cm\u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eThis shimmering, beautifully figured and colored square of gold and blue silk brocade cloth is a kind of mat that is fashioned from antique\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kasaya_(clothing)\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, which is a luxurious Buddhist priest's robe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Japan,\u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.imamuseum.org\/collections\/artwork\/buddhist-priests-robe-noh-e-kesa-7-jo\"\u003ekesa\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eare often stitched from sumptuous brocade silks with golden threads as is this example, however the origins of the\u003cem\u003e kesa\u003c\/em\u003e is much more humble.  Its origin is in Buddhist India where it was a ragged, mendicant's garb made from uncut cloth.  It was a simple garment for someone who renounced the material world.  Of course, as Buddhism became established and as temples and Buddhist hierarchy became more elaborate, the \u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e was made from expensive silks, often donated from congregants, to honor the Buddha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis square is hand stitched from fragments of a\u003cem\u003e kesa\u003c\/em\u003e.  It is beautiful in color: glossy gold-covered threads, deep indigos, cream and sage colored threads are hand woven to compose this elaborately decorated cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe base cloth shows stylized chrysanthemums and peonies. There are hand applied bars of another similarly colored cloth which are affixed the surface.  Note as well a large off-square of ochre and gold cloth that shows a wonderful, small repeat of peonies within a field of arabesque.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, since this \u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e is old and was worn by a Buddhist priest (or several generations of them), there is surface wear, abrasion, and some loose threads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill, this is a stunningly beautiful cloth, rich in history and one that was witness to beautiful, high-minded rituals in honor the Buddha.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust lovely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":331730439,"sku":"","price":235.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/ShimmeringKesaFragment09.jpg?v=1571438568"},{"product_id":"a-stamped-cotton-pilgrim-s-coat-contemporary","title":"A Stamped Cotton Pilgrim's Coat: Contemporary","description":"\u003cp\u003econtemporary\u003cbr \/\u003e28 1\/4\" x 52\", 71.5 cm x 132 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a Japanese Buddhist pilgrim's coat, a contemporary one, or one that may be around 20 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is machine stitched and the white cotton is power loomed.  The black writing is screened onto the cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever the vermilion cinnabar stamps are all hand applied.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis coat is a record of a pilgrimage: each stamp on the coat was placed there by a priest who presided over one of the temples visited by the pilgrim.  In this case, this pilgrimage was one of the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shingon_Buddhism\"\u003eShingon sect\u003c\/a\u003e of Buddhism as this coat shows an image of \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/K%C5%ABkai\"\u003eKukai or Kobo Daishi, \u003c\/a\u003ethe ascetic who introduced this type of Buddhism to Japan from China.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote the coin sized stain to the proper, right back of the garment, near the shoulder.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":365806863,"sku":"","price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/StampedOhenrogi09.jpg?v=1571438574"},{"product_id":"a-richly-stamped-cotton-pilgrim-s-coat-shikoku-pilgrimage-circuit","title":"A Richly Stamped Cotton Pilgrim's Coat: Shikoku Pilgrimage Circuit","description":"\u003cp\u003emid twentieth century\u003cbr \/\u003e25 1\/2\" x 25\", 64.75 cm x 63.5 cm\u003cbr \/\u003e\u003cbr \/\u003eThis white cotton sleeveless garment is stamped on front and back with many red colored emblems, each of them belonging to a Buddhist temple on a circuit of 88 on Shikoku Island, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003ethe home to a pilgrimage\u003c\/a\u003e dedicated to \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/kannon.shtml\"\u003eKannon\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avalokite%C5%9Bvara\"\u003eAvalokiteshvara\u003c\/a\u003e, a merciful bodhisattva which embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe amount of stamps is impressive and this indicates that the pilgrim who owned this garment visited many, if not all, the temples on this pilgrimage route as each temple will imprint the garment with one or more of its seals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cotton is nice and gauzy and the vest is hand stitched.  The overall condition of the lovely jacket is good; there are no visible stains and only the slightest suggestion of wear due to age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA marvelous thing to own which is imbued with earnestness of purpose and which has passed through the portals of some very sacred spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":386994186,"sku":"","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/UPilgrim09.jpg?v=1571438574"},{"product_id":"a-yellow-dyed-hemp-or-ramie-buddhist-kesa-7-column","title":"A Yellow Dyed Hemp or Ramie Buddhist Kesa: 7 Column","description":"\u003cp\u003emid twentieth century\u003cbr \/\u003e41\" x 68\", 104 cm x 173 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.oldphotosjapan.com\/photos\/421\/buddhist-priest#.UyiIZ6hdV8E\"\u003ekesa\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the classic garment of the Japanese Buddhist clergy. The origin of the term \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is from the Sanskrit word, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kasaya_(clothing)\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ekashaya\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, meaning colorless or of neutral coloration, signifying asceticism on the part of the wearer. The Japanese \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an iteration of this 'colorless' mendicant garb which was originally meant to be a garment of rags.  The pieced construction of a kesa may be a way to reference the original intention of this garment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOften the Japanese \u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e is hand stitched of luxurious, brocade silks, much like Catholic priests' vestments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis \u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e is not showy like many can be, it is hand stitched of flat woven hemp or ramie cloth that has been dyed a beautifully soft yet rich yellow color.  It is beautiful, and it is even more beautiful when seen hanging against the light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis vestment has been worn and shows some light patina from its years of use, as well as some small snags and one or two tiny holes.  As well, there are a few short areas where some of the stitching has loosened, but these are minor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA simple and beautiful Japanese Buddhist garment, and one which is steeped in a rich cultural legacy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery recommended.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":622568153,"sku":"","price":345.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/YellowKesa32.jpg?v=1571438583"},{"product_id":"a-skein-of-handmade-rope-pilgrims-accoutrement","title":"A Skein of Handmade Rope: Pilgrim's Accoutrement","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly to mid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003ebundled, as shown: 3 1\/2\" x 16\" x 6\", 9 cmx 40.5 cm x 5.25 cm\u003cbr\u003eapproximately 128\", 325 cm long\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis bundle of hand made rope was part of a group of personal effects that once belonged to a Japanese Buddhist pilgrim, so it is assumed that this rope has some significance during pilgrimage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt seems to be hand made of white cotton and from the patina and ingrained dirt it also appears to be well-used.  Charcoal-based ink writing can be seen on one of the unfurled, loose ends of the cotton twine, and this simple object is interesting to look at, and it is also a curious object to contemplate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust lovely.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1184457416,"sku":"","price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/RopePilgrim222a.jpg?v=1571438598"},{"product_id":"a-tattered-19th-century-buddhist-oohi-silk-vestment","title":"A Tattered 19th Century Buddhist Oohi: Silk Vestment","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth century\u003cbr\u003e56 1\/2\" x 11 1\/2\", 143.5 cm x 29 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis distressed silk textile is part of the Japanese Buddhist priest's raiment: it was worn draped over the priest's arm.  Those of you who are familiar with \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.oldphotosjapan.com\/photos\/421\/buddhist-priest#.VUC-3Y5VhBc\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/a\u003ewill recognize that this accessory is hand stitched in the same manner as the larger vestment, the \u003cem\u003ekesa.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cem\u003eoohi\u003c\/em\u003e is hand stitched from a beautifully colored, delicate and now fragile brocade silk which is figured with chrysanthemums and peonies in shimmering, metallic gold, green, blue and white on a dull orange\/ochre colored ground. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking at this \u003ci\u003eoohi\u003c\/i\u003e you can see that the silk has split in many areas on its surface and it shows some loss to one of its four corners, on the proper, lower right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill, this is a really lovely, Japanese Buddhist vestment with good age that has certainly been witness to a lifetime of Buddhist ritual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":1376282436,"sku":"","price":165.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/SilkOohi2.jpg?v=1571438600"},{"product_id":"a-stamped-and-resist-dyed-pilgrims-kimono-esoteric-buddhism","title":"A Stamped and Resist Dyed Pilgrim's Kimono: Esoteric Buddhism","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e52\" x 48\", 132 cm x 122 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a very well-used, resist dyed and stamped cotton pilgrim's kimono which shows a great deal of wear from its service in cloaking a \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003eJapanese Buddhist pilgrim\u003c\/a\u003e who visited sacred mountain temples, performing austerities which were essential to his form of worship.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pilgrimage route had to do with the esoteric, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shingon_Buddhism\"\u003eShingon sect of Buddhism\u003c\/a\u003e whose sites are located in the Kii Mountains. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the back of the coat are three, resist dyed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ebonji,\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/a\u003eor Sanskrit letters which probably relate to seed-syllables of mantras.  In kanji, in the center of the coat is written and read from right to left: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.jnto.go.jp\/eng\/location\/spot\/natuscen\/mtomine.html\"\u003eOmine (a sacred mountain)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003cspan\u003eleft side: Ryuu-Oo (Dragon King), right side: Hachi-dai  (8th generation) which may refer to a certain group of mountain pilgrims.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn top of this are large, black stamps showing ascetics and deities relevant to this pilgrimage circuit and who are revered by the Shingon sect of Buddhism, including \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/En_no_Gy%C5%8Dja\"\u003eEn no Gyoja\u003c\/a\u003e, the famous and fierce historical ascetic who founded a form of mountain asceticism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed stamps can also be faintly seen and these were received from various temples visited on this pilgrimage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coat is entirely hand stitched and shows a great deal of abrasion and fading, the beautiful residue of hard-driving Buddhist worship in old Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":4418433477,"sku":"","price":345.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/SumizomeOhenrogi2.jpg?v=1571438605"},{"product_id":"an-edo-period-temple-banner-dated","title":"A Mid-19th Century Temple Banner: Dated Ansei 7","description":"\u003cp\u003edated Ansei 7 or 1859\/60\u003cbr\u003e96\" x 13 3\/4\", 244 cm x 35 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a beautiful, old temple banner which is, understandably, made from hand spun, hand woven cotton and which is dyed in a resist technique, the result being white \u003cem\u003ekanji\u003c\/em\u003e or Chinese characters on an indigo blue ground. The indigo is natural, of course, as synthetic dyes were not developed or imported to Japan at the time this banner was made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe banner is related to a temple dedicated to \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/monkey-koushin-p3.html#shomen-kongo\"\u003eShomen Kongo\u003c\/a\u003e, a fierce-looking protective deity that is said to ward off disease. The date of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ansei\"\u003eAnsei\u003c\/a\u003e 7, which is roughly equivalent to the date of 1859 or 1860, is noted on the bottom of the banner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece is in absolutely wonderful condition for its age and there is no apparent sun fading, holes or stains. Each of the twelve white cotton tabs which are hand stitched to the banner are completely intact as they were when it was made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe banner was hoisted and flown outside the temple in the mid-nineteenth century when Japan was still a feudal country: quite amazing to imagine the sights this beautiful thing has witnessed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe condition of this banner married with its very good age makes for a remarkable treasure from old Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":7693591109,"sku":"","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/TempleBanner3.jpg?v=1571438608"},{"product_id":"a-pilgrims-stamped-cotton-accessory-neck-towel","title":"A Pilgrim's Cotton Accessory: Red Temple Stamps","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly to mid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e38\" x 13\", 96.5 cm x 33 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a \u003cem\u003etenugui-\u003c\/em\u003esized pilgrim's cotton accessory, something which would have been carried by a pilgrim \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003ewhile traveling a prescribed route of Buddhist temples\u003c\/a\u003e as he traveled, perhaps on foot, visiting each one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs can be seen the cloth bears many stamps received at various temples, some of them able to read and let us know they were from Yoshino Zaodo, Ominesan Kizoin, Nigatsudo and Tamukeyama Hachimangu, among others, each of which are located in the Western part of Japan, around Nara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHalf the towel is shows a good deal of staining from its use on the road while the other half is fairly free of stains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":7983738053,"sku":"","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/UsedPilgrimsCloth3.jpg?v=1571438609"},{"product_id":"a-contemporary-pilgrims-coat-red-temple-stamps-and-handwriting","title":"A Contemporary Pilgrim's Coat: Red Temple Stamps and Kanji","description":"\u003cp\u003econtemporary\u003cbr\u003e24 1\/2\" x 18\", 62 cm x 46 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis white cotton sleeveless garment is stamped on front and back with many red colored emblems, each of them belonging to a Buddhist temple: this is a pilgrim's garment and as the pilgrim made his or her way to each temple on a prescribed route, a red stamp would be imprinted on this spiritually protective vest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe amount of stamps is impressive and this indicates that the pilgrim who owned this garment visited many, if not all, the temples on this pilgrimage route as each temple will mark the garment with one or more of its seals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cotton is commercially woven and the vest is machine stitched.  The overall condition of the lovely jacket is good; there are no visible stains and only the slightest suggestion of wear due to age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA marvelous thing to own which is imbued with earnestness of purpose and which has passed through the portals of some very sacred spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":8348132933,"sku":"","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Vest3_701213df-8101-4ffe-a989-4e33c079d68d.jpg?v=1571438609"},{"product_id":"a-length-of-katazome-cotton-buddhist-bonji-text","title":"A Length of Katazome Cotton: Buddhist Bonji Text","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly to mid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e13 3\/4\" x 58\", 35 cm x 147.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a length of resist dyed cotton which shows two rows of resist-dyed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, an old written form of Sanskrit which is still used in Japan in the Shingon and Tendai sects of Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e characters are arranged in such a way that it appears this length was meant to be cut in half lengthwise and then the narrow, cut lengths were meant to be folded, probably to create some form of belt or rope for use in the temple, or perhaps during a temple festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis length seems not to have been used and is quite stiff in texture and there is no discernible wear to this length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusual and beautiful\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36631023440,"sku":"","price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Sanskrit3b.jpg?v=1571438674"},{"product_id":"a-buddhist-pilgrims-accessory-cloth-stamped-record-of-temples-visited","title":"A Buddhist Pilgrim's Accessory Cloth: Stamped Record of Temples Visited","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e46\" x 12 1\/2\", 117 cm x 31.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis marvelously beautiful cotton cloth is a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003etenugui (\u003c\/em\u003eor traditional hand towel) sized pilgrim's cotton accessory, something which would have been carried by a a Buddhist devotee\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003ewhile traveling a prescribed route of Buddhist temples\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003eas he or she traveled, perhaps on foot, visiting each one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs can be seen the cloth bears the soulful wear, fading and surface patina of a good deal of use by a faithful pilgrim: there are many, overlapping and fascinatingly enigmatic and pictorial stamps received at various temples, each in various degrees of clarity or blurring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery often, depending on the type of pilgrimage undertaken, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/shugendou.html\"\u003etough ascetic practices were performed by the pilgrim \u003c\/a\u003ein the form of ritual baths sometimes in natural waterfalls, meditating in remote and wild areas and other harsh exercises meant to attune the spirit to a rarefied state of mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular accessory with its symmetrical desgin was more than likely carried on the arm and is remarkably beautiful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":345307512848,"sku":"","price":165.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Tenugui3e.jpg?v=1571438705"},{"product_id":"a-beautifully-stamped-pilgrims-coat-hand-spun-cotton","title":"A Beautifully Stamped Pilgrim's Coat: Hand Spun Cotton","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e25\" x 45\", 63.5 cm x 114.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched jacket made of hand spun, hand woven undyed cotton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003etype of jacket worn by Buddhist pilgrims\u003c\/a\u003e as they travel a prescribed pilgrimage route and as they make their way from one temple to the other along the route. Often, especially in the old days, this pilgrimage was done on foot and was an arduous and time-consuming act of devotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt each temple visited a red stamp(s) particular to that temple would be imprinted directly onto the coat. In this case we see at least twenty-five of these. Also stamped on the coat in black ink are large, sacred images of what appear to be \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guanyin\"\u003eKannon \u003c\/a\u003ea \u003cem\u003eboddhisattva\u003c\/em\u003e of compassion venerated in Japan and to whom countless temples are dedicated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coat shows a good amount of wear and the gauzy, clingy hand spun cotton is wonderful to feel in the hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a really beautiful cotton pilgrim's coat and has good age and wonderful, imagistic stamps. One can only imagine the personal history contained within the threads of this \u003cem\u003eohenrogi\u003c\/em\u003e or pilgrim garb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12427557797947,"sku":"","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/StampedJacket4c.jpg?v=1571438733"},{"product_id":"a-pictorial-resist-dyed-19th-century-pilgrims-coat-hand-spun-cotton","title":"A Pictorial Resist Dyed 19th Century Pilgrim's Coat: Hand Spun Cotton","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth century\u003cbr\u003e37\" x 48\", 94 cm x 122 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a beautiful--and a beautifully unusual--resist dyed coat which was used by a pilgrim whose pilgrimage place was \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mount_%C5%8Cmine\"\u003eOmine san\u003c\/a\u003e, a sacred site in Japan because its monastery was founded by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/En_no_Gy%C5%8Dja\"\u003eEn no Gyoja, \u003c\/a\u003ea historically important Japanese ascetic and mystic and the founder of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003eShugendo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShugendo is a religious practice that requires a great deal of physical endurance as it is usually performed in mountain forests and rivers. Many of the exercises tests one's physical and mental limits in the service of finding truth and enlightenment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis jacket was worn by a pilgrim or \u003cem\u003eyamabushi,\u003c\/em\u003e a practitioner of Shugendo and its blue color and its many colored resisted image (that includes hand painted details) makes it a very unusual type of pilgrim's coat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe image at top seems to be a conch which was used to make noises during religious rituals; there is a delightfully drawn tasseled cord which embellishes this image. The name of the mountain, Omine san, is shown in resist dyed kanji or characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coat is hand woven from beautiful hand spun cotton yarns. Two red stamps, probably received at a temple on Mt. Omine, are applied to the coat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs can easily be seen there is wear to the coat in the form of small holes (shown) and a spray of rust-colored stains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA truly beautiful pilgrim's jacket and one of type that is rarely seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":12768991084603,"sku":"","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/TestsumugiOhenrogi3.jpg?v=1571438735"},{"product_id":"a-stamped-hemp-pilgrims-coat-buddhist-temple-stamps","title":"A Stamped Hemp Pilgrim's Coat: Buddhist Temple Stamps","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly to mid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e40\" x 50\", 101.5 cm x 127 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched jacket made of woven, hemp fiber cloth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003etype of jacket worn by Buddhist pilgrims\u003c\/a\u003e as they travel a prescribed pilgrimage route and as they make their way from one temple to the other along the route.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften, especially in the old days, this pilgrimage was done on foot and was an arduous and time-consuming act of devotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt each temple visited a red stamp(s) particular to that temple would be imprinted directly onto the coat. In this case we see just a few of these. Important to note are the hand-drawn, black charcoal ink-based \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/a\u003eor Sanskrit seed syllables which can be seen on the front and the back of the coat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coat shows a fair amount of wear and as is quite obvious there are water stains on the jacket which are detailed on the accompanying photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is quite nice hemp cloth pilgrim's coat, lightly worn and lightly stamped. One can only imagine the personal history contained within the threads of his\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eohenrogi\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor pilgrim garb.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":14793414606907,"sku":"","price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/StampedCoat3.jpg?v=1571438739"},{"product_id":"a-cotton-pilgrims-jacket-stamped-history-of-pilgrimage","title":"A Cotton Pilgrim's Jacket: Stamped History of Pilgrimage","description":"\u003cp\u003emid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e36\" x 51\", 91.5 cm x 129.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a hand stitched, white cotton \u003cem\u003eohenrogi\u003c\/em\u003e or a pilgrim's coat. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis coat is of a type that was worn by pilgrims who visited a prescribed series of Buddhist temples: there are several such pilgrimage routes in Japan and there is more about this practice to be found \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vam.ac.uk\/content\/articles\/b\/buddhist-pilgrimage-sites-japan\/\"\u003ehere.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cotton of the coat is commercially loomed and the coat is rich in stamped images and writing. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMuch of the stamped writing on the upper half of the jacket is done in \u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e a type of Sanskrit. This \u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e indicates that the pilgrimage route was to esoteric Buddhist temples whose practices and origin relate to the ritualistic Tibetan Buddhist strain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottom half of the coat shows stamped \u003cem\u003esutras\u003c\/em\u003e or scriptural Buddhist texts while the center of the back of the coat shows hand written \u003cem\u003ekanji,\u003c\/em\u003e probably taken from a \u003cem\u003esutra.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pictorial stamps on the proper front of the coat show \u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e seed syllables resting on lotuses while there are two holy men also shown in a similar format, at least one of them being \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/K%C5%ABkai\"\u003eKukai\u003c\/a\u003e, which is a popular name for the monk who brought esoteric Buddhism to Japan in the ninth century. The back shows \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guanyin#Names_in_other_Asian_languages\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eKannon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and two attendants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are a few red stamps that were received at a temple the pilgrim visited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Please note: the white cotton shows a spray of what can be called \"foxing\" or slight discoloration. The bottom half of the proper left hand side of the front of the coat shows significant darkening which on the photos may appear as a shadow but in fact is ingrained into the fabric of the cotton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA beautifully designed coat worn by a person who intended to visit and pray at several well-established Buddhist temples in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":20258030551099,"sku":"","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/StampedCoat4.jpg?v=1571438758"},{"product_id":"a-vintage-silk-buddhist-kesa-priests-garment","title":"A Vintage Silk Buddhist Kesa: Priest's Garment","description":"\u003cp\u003emid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e46\" x 78 1\/2\", 117 cm x 199.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the classic garment of the Japanese Buddhist clergy. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe origin of the term \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is from the Sanskrit word, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekashaya\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, meaning colorless or of neutral coloration, signifying asceticism on the part of the wearer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Japanese \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an iteration of this 'colorless' mendicant garb which was originally meant to be a garment of rags. Over time the Indian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ekashaya\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was transformed into a luxuriously crafted, silk brocade \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekesa\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose piece construction is a reference to its ragged origins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a brocade silk \u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e which has been entirely hand stitched and has been worn. This is evidenced from the worn-away silk in a few areas (shown on the detail photos that accompany this post) as well as faint discoloration to the body of the piece, virtually unnoticeable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe light colored brocade silk shows a repeat pattern of woven folding fans and hollyhock leaves. There are six silk emblems showing a gold-thread phoenix against a bright orange silk ground.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe back of the kesa is lined in a very pale pink colores silk; one of the hand-applied straps has been damaged.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wonderful opportunity to acquire a Buddhist priest's \u003cem\u003ekesa\u003c\/em\u003e, one that has been witness to many ecclesiastical rituals over time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21263878979643,"sku":"","price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/SilkKesa5.jpg?v=1571438765"},{"product_id":"a-hand-stitched-cotton-pilgrims-kimono-hand-writing-in-sumi","title":"A Hand Stitched Cotton Pilgrim's Kimono: Hand Writing in Sumi","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly to mid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e43\" x 47\", 109 cm x 119.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis beautiful and visually powerful simple cotton pilgrim's kimono is a completely hand stitched and shows a vertical row of hand writing down the center of the proper back of the garment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of jacket worn by Buddhist pilgrims as they travel a prescribed pilgrimage route and as they make their way from one temple to the other along the route.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften, especially in the old days, this pilgrimage was done on foot and was an arduous and time-consuming act of devotion. Therefore coats such as these show a good deal of wear; this one shows ingrained dirt and some stains which make it clear that this garment was worn in the service of a pilgrimage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe red colored stamps also indicate that temples were visited as a stamp was received from each temple the pilgrim prayed in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hand writing on the back seems to read \"Namu Amida Butsu\" which can be translated to mean \u003cspan\u003e\"total reliance upon the compassion of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ngv.vic.gov.au\/essay\/japanese-amida-buddha\/\"\u003eAmida Buddha\u003cspan\u003e.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e This indicates that the pilgrim was part of or practiced \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.jodo.org\/about_plb\/what_plb.html\"\u003eJodo Shu Buddhism.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very good looking garment and one that has served its wearer well--and must have good vibes, which are especially important now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":33717197373499,"sku":"","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/SacredCoat5.jpg?v=1610403574"},{"product_id":"a-pilgrims-kimono-hand-spun-heavily-woven-cotton-and-magical-stamps","title":"A Shugenja Kimono: Hand Spun Heavily Woven Cotton and Magical Stamps","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e47 1\/4\" x 48\", 120 cm x 122 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched kimono made of hand spun, hand woven cotton dyed in a medium-to-dark grey tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of garment worn by the practitioners of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003eShugendo\u003c\/a\u003e, a syncretic religion based in ancient, mystical folk practices that includes elements of mountain worship, Shinto, Taoism and esoteric Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\"\u003eThose who practice Shugendo\u003c\/a\u003e put themselves through physically arduous training practices that include all sorts of austerities in nature, such as meditating under waterfalls and tirelessly--and using superhuman physical exertion--encircling sacred mountains on foot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso stamped on the coat in black ink is large, sacred images of what appears to the founder of Shugendo, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/En_no_Gy%C5%8Dja\"\u003eEn no Gyouja\u003c\/a\u003e, a kind of ascetic superman. This image is on the proper left, back of the coat. On the proper right, back of the coat we see an image of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Acala\"\u003eFudo Myoo.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand drawn on the back of the coat are three characters written in Bonji, a kind of proto-Tibetan syllabery for lack of a better description, maybe a better one being it is a form of Sanskrit or an ancient Indian writing system. The syllables here are probably seed syllables for a mantra.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe coat shows a good amount of wear and the heavily woven hand spun cotton is wonderful to feel in the hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a really beautiful cotton shugenja kimono and has good age and wonderful, imagistic stamps. One can only imagine the personal history contained within the threads of this\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epowerful garb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":33923326836795,"sku":"","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/StampedPilgrim5.jpg?v=1591733915"},{"product_id":"a-pilgrims-sleeveless-garment-hand-writing-on-hand-stitched-cotton","title":"A Pilgrim's Sleeveless Garment: Hand Writing on Hand Stitched Cotton","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly to mid twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e30\" x 13\", 76 cm x 33 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis beautiful and simple cotton pilgrim's sleeveless garment is hand stitched and shows a vertical row of hand writing down the center of the proper back of the vest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of jacket worn by Buddhist pilgrims as they travel a prescribed pilgrimage route and as they make their way from one temple to the other along the route.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften, especially in the old days, this pilgrimage was done on foot and was an arduous and time-consuming act of devotion. Therefore garments such as these show a good deal of wear; this one shows some lightly ingrained dirt and some stains, possibly foxing (shown on detail photos here) which make it clear that this garment was worn in the service of a pilgrimage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe red colored stamps also indicate that temples were visited as a stamp was received from each temple the pilgrim prayed in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hand writing on the back seems to read \"Namu Amida Butsu\" which can be translated to mean \u003cspan\u003e\"total reliance upon the compassion of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ngv.vic.gov.au\/essay\/japanese-amida-buddha\/\"\u003eAmida Buddha\u003cspan\u003e.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e This indicates that the pilgrim was part of or practiced \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.jodo.org\/about_plb\/what_plb.html\"\u003eJodo Shu Buddhism.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very good looking garment and one that has served its wearer well--and must have good vibes, which are especially important now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso, written on the inside, bottom of the vest is the name of the owner, \"Arahori Mie.\"  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince the name Mie is written with a character that was made officially obsolete in 1947 we can assume this garment dates to around that time or before, placing it somewhere in the first half of the 20th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":34780494856347,"sku":"","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Vest5_61febdf7-6852-4ea7-88f2-f86be8c6a327.jpg?v=1594130974"},{"product_id":"a-meiji-era-temple-banner-beautiful-calligraphy-to-kannon","title":"A Meiji era Temple Banner: Beautiful Calligraphy to Kannon","description":"\u003cp\u003eMeiji era, 1868-1912\u003cbr\u003e45\" x 12\", 114.5 cm x 30.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a brown colored cotton \u003cem\u003enobori\u003c\/em\u003e or banner with absolutely beautiful handwriting. The \u003cem\u003enobori\u003c\/em\u003e was displayed in a Buddhist temple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe writing is in honor of and deference to Kannon as the written phrase reads \u003cem\u003enamu kanzeon bosatsu \u003c\/em\u003eor \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/kannon.shtml\"\u003e\"I place my trust in Bodhisattva Kannon.\"\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not necessary to describe the beauty and powerful visual impact of the written words and their placement on this length of cloth--what a stunning visual treat!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClearly this banner hung in a temple for quite some time as can be noted by the staining and the discoloration and holes to the bottom of the length. No doubt this darkening of the cloth came from candle smoke and incense--it seems, however, as stated above that the cloth itself was already dyed a brown tone and the deep shading on the bottom are the result of exposure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA slim bamboo holds the length; the top, right hand part of the cloth has slightly pulled away from the bamboo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is wonderful and beautiful to behold--such power in the force of writing and in the words the characters form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":34941374267547,"sku":"","price":245.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/TempleBanner4.jpg?v=1595172862"},{"product_id":"a-shugenja-coat-an-esoteric-religion-practitioners-jacket","title":"A Shugenja Coat: An Esoteric Religion Practitioner's Jacket","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e35\" x 48\", 89 cm x 122 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched jacket made of hand spun, hand woven cotton dyed in a medium-to-dark grey tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt is the\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of garment worn by the practitioners of\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003eShugendo\u003c\/a\u003e, a syncretic religion based in ancient, mystical folk practices that includes elements of mountain worship, Shinto, Taoism and esoteric Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\"\u003eThose who practice Shugendo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eput themselves through physically arduous training practices that include all sorts of austerities in nature, such as meditating under waterfalls and tirelessly--and using superhuman physical exertion--encircling sacred mountains on foot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAlso stamped on the coat in black ink is large, sacred images of what appears to the founder of Shugendo,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/En_no_Gy%C5%8Dja\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/En_no_Gy%C5%8Dja\"\u003eEn no Gyouja\u003c\/a\u003e, a kind of ascetic superman. This image is on the proper left, back of the coat. On the proper right, back of the coat we see an image of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Acala\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Acala\"\u003eFudo Myoo.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHand drawn on the back of the coat are three characters written in \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003ebonji\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e a kind of proto-Tibetan syllabery for lack of a better description, maybe a better one being it is a form of Sanskrit or an ancient Indian writing system. The syllables here are probably seed syllables for a mantra.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe coat shows a good amount of wear and pay special attention to the front of the coat where you can see a good amount of very obvious light fading, ingrained wear from use and staining, all evidence or traces of the ascetic practices done by the original owner of this magical body covering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a really beautiful cotton \u003cem\u003eshugenja\u003c\/em\u003e kimono and has good age and wonderful, imagistic stamps. One can only imagine the personal history contained within the threads of this\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epowerful garb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37605497897146,"sku":"","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Shugenja543.jpg?v=1606246986"},{"product_id":"an-ohenrogi-or-stamped-pilgrims-coat-hard-worn","title":"An Ohenrogi or Stamped Pilgrim's Coat: Hard Worn","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e38 1\/2\" x 50\", 98 cm x 127 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis visually powerful simple cotton pilgrim's kimono is a hand stitched from fairly lightweight cotton and shows a rather dramatic, large stamp on the center of the back of the piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of jacket worn by Buddhist pilgrims as they travel a prescribed pilgrimage route and as they make their way from one temple to the other along the route.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOften, especially in the old days, this pilgrimage was done on foot and was an arduous and time-consuming act of devotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTherefore coats such as these show a good deal of wear; this one shows deeply ingrained dirt, some stains and a rather prominent, horizontal line of loss through the black stamp on the back of the coat, illustrated on the detail photos attached.  Please be aware of these condition issues if you are considering acquiring this coat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese areas of loss and wear make it clear that this garment was worn in the service of a pilgrimage and through this they imbue the coat with a kind of richness that is a record of an episode in someone's life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe red colored stamps also indicate that temples were visited as a stamp was received from each temple the pilgrim prayed in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front of the coat shows beautifully elaborate black stamps: on the proper right is the Buddha in the midst of bodhisattvas; on the proper left we see an image of the Buddhist monk,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/K%C5%ABkai\"\u003eKukai,\u003c\/a\u003e who founded the esoteric Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan. Above him is a circle of \u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e or a kind of Sanskrit Siddham script.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA richly stamped and heavily worn garment, it is one that has no doubt served its wearer well--and must have good vibes, which are especially important now.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":37897855336634,"sku":"","price":295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/StampedCoat5.jpg?v=1610907226"},{"product_id":"a-shungenjagi","title":"A Shungenja gi: An Esoteric Religion Practitioner's Robe","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e47 1\/2\" x 49\", 120.65 cm x 124.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched kimono made of hand woven cotton dyed in a medium-to-dark grey tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt is the\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of garment worn by the practitioners of\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003eShugendo\u003c\/a\u003e, a syncretic religion based in ancient, mystical folk practices that includes elements of mountain worship, Shinto, Taoism and esoteric Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\"\u003eThose who practice Shugendo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eput themselves through physically arduous training practices that include all sorts of austerities in nature, such as meditating under waterfalls and tirelessly--and using superhuman physical exertion--encircling sacred mountains on foot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eResist dyed on the back of the coat are five characters written in \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003ebonji\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e a kind of proto-Tibetan syllabery for lack of a better description, maybe a better one being it is \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003ea form of Sanskrit\u003c\/a\u003e or an ancient Indian writing system. The syllables here are probably seed syllables for a mantra. Two resist \u003cem\u003ebonji\u003c\/em\u003e also appear on the front of the garment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe garment shows a fair amount of wear but there are no obvious stains or ingrained dirt and it is still in fine, sturdy condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a beautiful cotton \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eshugenja\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ekimono and has good age. One can only imagine the personal history contained within the threads of this\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epowerful garb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39804050178234,"sku":"","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Sugenja5.jpg?v=1622566176"},{"product_id":"a-folk-or-rustic-wood-carving-seated-buddha","title":"A Folk or Rustic Wood Carving: Seated Buddha","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth, early twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e8 1\/4\" x 4\" x 2 1\/2\", 20.9 cm x 10.1 cm x 6.35 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a rustic, hand carved wood image of Buddha seated on a lotus and presented against a beautifully large mandorla or halo like enclosure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis type of unschooled, country carving may have been made in the home by one of the members of a family in order to place it in their home shrine--or it could have been made a country person to sell for profit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hand carving of lucky gods destined for home shrines was encouraged by the local governments in Japan's Tohoku or Northeastern region as a way to stimulate income for those living there. This might have been carved by someone doing the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is of a goodsize and it has a rich, dark patina which indicates it spent a good amount of time inside a home being exposed to the smoke and soot that old fashioned Japanese interiors were known for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not often that one sees an image of Buddha in this rustic form and therefore it piques interest that someone would tackle such a profoundly important subject. What is often found as rustic sculpture in Tohoku are the lucky gods Ebisu and Daikoku; there is also a tradition of carving beautifully abstract, seated hawks. Buddhas are rarely seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis piece has a commanding presence and no doubt was hand crafted with great care knowing it was meant to guard the welfare of a family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39923971981498,"sku":"","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Wood5.jpg?v=1624383656"},{"product_id":"a-hand-written-shrine-banner-dated-meiji-23-or-1891","title":"A Hand Written Shrine Banner: Dated Meiji 23 or 1891","description":"dated 1891\u003cbr\u003eincluding tabs on each side: 55\" x 15 1\/4\",\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is an old textile, a hand painted Shinto shrine banner which is dated to Meiji 23 or 1891--it is hand stitched from hand woven cotton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis banner would have been attached to a vertical bamboo pole and would have been exhibited outside a shrine; banners like this commemorate a special day and they often honor donations and endowments from a patron.  The\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ekanji\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor Chinese characters are hand drawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis banner is in good condition for its age but there are ingrained dirt and creases, scuffing a stain to the lower left hand corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40399383003322,"sku":"","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/ShrineBanner5.jpg?v=1631539662"},{"product_id":"a-commemorative-shinto-shrine-banner-dated-1891","title":"A Commemorative Shinto Shrine Banner: dated 1891","description":"\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003edated 1891\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eincluding tabs on each side: 55\" x 15 1\/4\",\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is an old textile, a hand painted Shinto shrine banner which is dated to Meiji 23 or 1891--it is hand stitched from hand woven cotton.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis banner would have been attached to a vertical bamboo pole and would have been exhibited outside a shrine; banners like this commemorate a special day and they often honor donations and endowments from a patron.  The\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ekanji\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eor Chinese characters are hand drawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis banner is in used and stained condition which is not unusual for its age and for the fact that it was hung outdoors over 100 years ago--there are ingrained dirt and creases, scuffing and a spray of stains to the surface of this banner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40485066408122,"sku":"","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/ShrineBanner52.jpg?v=1632249500"},{"product_id":"a-pilgrims-stamped-hand-town-buddhist-temple-circuit","title":"A Pilgrim's Stamped Hand Town: Buddhist Temple Circuit","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e12 1\/2\" x 36\", 31.5 cm x 91.5 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etenugui-\u003c\/em\u003esized pilgrim's cotton accessory, a cloth which would have been carried by a pilgrim\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhile traveling a prescribed route of Buddhist temples\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eas he or she traveled, perhaps on foot, visiting each one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAs can be seen the cloth bears vermillion colored stamps which were received at various temples which were the guideposts and the reason for the pilgrim to have set out on this monumental and memorable act of devotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe towel is shows some ingrained staining and naturally formed pleats from its use on the road and the concentration of stamps is in the center of the \u003cem\u003etenugui\u003c\/em\u003e, which makes sense if you can imagine the act of the pilgrim offering this \u003cem\u003etenugui\u003c\/em\u003e to a priest at a temple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a beautiful, soulful and faith-charged cloth with what must be a rich personal history embedded in its fibers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41496236130490,"sku":"","price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Tenugui5_c8895f41-cb29-4d7d-9931-b41a7d203366.jpg?v=1654536392"},{"product_id":"a-buddhist-pilgrims-kimono-stamps-wear-and-faith","title":"A Pilgrim's Kimono: Stamps, Wear and Faith","description":"\u003cp\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr\u003e52\" x 47\", 132 cm x 119.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched kimono made of undyed, hand spun, thickly hand woven cotton which is studded with beautiful black and red stamps of different sizes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of garment worn by the practitioners of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003eShugendo\u003c\/a\u003e, a syncretic religion based in ancient, mystical folk practices that includes elements of mountain worship, Shinto, Taoism and esoteric Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\"\u003eThose who practice Shugendo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eput themselves through physically arduous training practices that include all sorts of austerities in nature, such as meditating under waterfalls and tirelessly--and using superhuman physical exertion--encircling sacred mountains on foot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular garment was worn by someone who was engaged in the worship of Ontake san, a mountainous volcano held in great esteem and worshipped by the practitioners of Shugendo, the mountain is depicted on the back of this garment in the form of black stamps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA marvelously detailed report on the worship practices around Ontake san \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/elementaljapan.com\/2018\/03\/03\/shugendo-now-a-winter-pilgrimage-on-mt-ontake-japan\/\"\u003ecan be seen on this website\u003c\/a\u003e and which is quote from here:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShugendo has been practiced on Mt Ontake for centuries. It is a highly syncretic and ancient religion that originated in Japan. Shugendo practices and teachings draw on Shinto, Esoteric Buddhism, Taoism and shamanism, and the rituals incorporate both godai (the five Buddhist elements) and gogyo (the five Chinese elements). Nature and the elements are a fundamental part of the religion and way of life of the practitioners who seek spiritual power and enlightenment through ascetic training in the mountains.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e...until the late 1700s, Mt Ontake was the exclusive reserve of Shugendo ascetics who undertook severe austerities before their annual pilgrimage.  Around this time two ascetics – Kakumei and Fukan – opened pilgrimage paths on Mt Ontake. These are referred to as the Kurosawa and Otaki routes, respectively. By opening access for lay people to Ontakesan the nature of worship changed, leading to the formation of numerous and widespread pilgrim groups (kou). Fukan was a great Shugendo master and has special significance for Wani-ontakesan. The Mt Ontake faith they practice differs from Ontakekyo, a Shinto sect with which other pilgrim groups are associated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs is fairly obvious, the symbols and amulets pressed as stamps into the body of this garment are magical and are meant to imbue the coat with spiritual association to the object of veneration. We also see red stamps among the black ones which indicate that a pilgrimage route was followed, each stop on it a red seal was granted as a way of marking progress along the route.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course this piece is well-worn and shows ingrained dirt from wear; these are traces of the austerities performed by the person who wore this garment and, as such, give the coat a sense of the special history it has both witnessed and participated in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42150371164346,"sku":"","price":545.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/WhiteOhenrogi53.jpg?v=1674155147"},{"product_id":"a-shugenjagi-hand-spun-heavily-woven-cotton-kimono-with-magical-stamps","title":"A Shugenjagi: Hand Spun Heavily Woven Cotton Kimono with Magical Stamps","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eearly twentieth century\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e52 1\/2\" x 47\", 133.5 cm x 119.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a completely hand stitched kimono made of hand spun, hand woven cotton dyed in a medium-to-dark grey color tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt is the\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003etype of garment worn by the practitioners of\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shugend%C5%8D\"\u003eShugendo\u003c\/a\u003e, a syncretic religion based in ancient, mystical folk practices that includes elements of mountain worship, Shinto, Taoism and esoteric Buddhism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamabushi\"\u003eThose who practice Shugendo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eput themselves through physically arduous training practices that include all sorts of austerities in nature, such as meditating under waterfalls and tirelessly--and using superhuman physical exertion--encircling sacred mountains on foot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHand drawn on the back of the coat are characters written in what the Japanese call \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siddha%E1%B9%83_script\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBonji or Siddham \u003c\/em\u003escript\u003c\/a\u003e a kind of ancient Indian writing system. The syllables here are probably seed syllables for a mantra.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhat can also be seen on the back of the coat are faint, reddish-toned stamps. This indicates that this coat was worn when the Shugendo practitioner made visits to Buddhist temples during the course of a prescribed pilgrimage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe coat shows a good amount of surface wear and the heavily woven hand spun cotton is wonderful to feel in the hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a really beautiful cotton \u003cem\u003eshugenja\u003c\/em\u003e kimono and has good age. One can only imagine the personal history contained within the threads of this\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epowerful garb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42239116640442,"sku":"","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/products\/Shugenjagi52.jpg?v=1676914489"},{"product_id":"a-shrine-banner-beautifully-gestural-handwriting","title":"A Shrine Banner: Beautifully Gestural Handwriting","description":"\u003cp\u003elikely mid-to-late nineteenth century\u003cbr\u003e61\" x 12 1\/2\", 155 cm x 32 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat gloriously gestured calligraphy is shown on this Shinto shrine banner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is undated (except for naming it as \"the second month\") but judging by the type of hand spun cotton yarns used to weave the cloth it is pretty safe to say this dates to the mid-to-late nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe writing has spirit and force and there is great nuance to be seen in the brushwork: it is easy to visualize the way the calligrapher lifted the brush after making a stroke or the way the arm gestured in order to fashion a certain line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe banner was seemingly made to commemorate a donor, which is often the case, and the power to be found in the drawing of the \u003cem\u003ekanji\u003c\/em\u003e or Chinese characters, is more than impressive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease note the red marks, one on the top tab and two near the bottom, left hand corner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44822917349562,"sku":"","price":165.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/ShrineBanner5555.jpg?v=1747755554"},{"product_id":"a-hand-written-temple-banner-to-kannon-bosatsu-1816","title":"A Very Tall Hand Written Temple Banner to Kannon Bosatsu: 1816","description":"\u003cp\u003edated 1816 or Bunka 12\u003cbr\u003e113\" x 24\", 287 cm x 61 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis very tall, hand written banner is said to be inscribed in devotion to the Kannon Bosatsu, the \u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bodhisattva\"\u003ebodhisattva\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eof compassion, or as is known in Sanskrit, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avalokite%C5%9Bvara\"\u003eAvalokitesvara.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cloth is dated to the what can be translated in the Western calendar to 1816.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMagnificently hand spun, hand woven cotton is the base for the banner and it is very soft and drapey in the hand--almost gauzy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSince this thing is 210 years old and had been used hard when it was made we see some overall, subtle discoloration to the cotton cloth and, of course, some stains and ingrained dirt near the two long edges.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe inscription is written by hand using \u003cem\u003esumi\u003c\/em\u003e or soot\/charcoal-based ink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottom edge, especially, is tattered as is to be expected on something so ancient. The banner is so tall that it needed to be photographed with the bottom edge pooling on the floor a bit, which accounts for what might look like distortion on the photos that show this part of the flag.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is a remarkable thing that has seen more than two centuries of history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 id=\"firstHeading\" class=\"firstHeading mw-first-heading\"\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45802715906234,"sku":null,"price":345.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Tall53b.jpg?v=1777407040"},{"product_id":"a-hand-carved-gilt-finished-wooden-base-buddhist-accessory","title":"A Hand Carved, Gilt Finished Wooden Statue's Base: Buddhist Accessory","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth, early twentieth century\u003cbr\u003eoverall size: 5 1\/4\" x 7 1\/4\" x 3 1\/2\", 14 cm x 18.5 cm x 9 cm\u003cbr\u003esize of area to place statue: 2 1\/2\" x 4\", 6.5 cm x 10 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis small, beautifully formed and finished sculpture base is made of four, stacked individual pieces: two lacquered pieces on the bottom and two, carved gilt pieces on top of them. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe topmost piece is carved in the shape of a lotus signifying that a Buddhist deity was meant to be placed on this base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dark tone of the base is somber: its presence has a mood of respect and this is very much what is necessary for whatever image of whatever deity is placed here. It is meant to be venerated and this base casts the perfect feeling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIts condition is used but good and even by itself this is a wonderful thing to look at--and its history is a wonderful thing to imagine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45824170787002,"sku":null,"price":145.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Stand54.jpg?v=1777986522"},{"product_id":"a-buddhist-altar-cloth-hand-painted-lotuses-on-hemp-or-ramie-cloth","title":"A Buddhist Altar Cloth: Hand Painted Lotuses on Hemp or Ramie Cloth","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth century\u003cbr\u003e24 1\/2\" x 47\", 62 cm x 119.5 cm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis triangle-shaped, white colored cloth is hand woven from hemp or ramie and it is backed with similar cloth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is a \u003cem\u003euchishiki\u003c\/em\u003e or a cloth used in Buddhist temples as a covering or decoration for a table within the confines of the altar area.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShown on this is a charmingly hand painted scene are two lotus blooms and three leaves which are rising up from the still water under them. The treatment of the subject matter is naive or unschooled-seeming, which is where the charm of this image is held.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs can be easily seen, the surface is lightly stained and in large areas, and the original banding to the top of the \u003cem\u003euchishiki\u003c\/em\u003e is missing. On one of the small points on either side of the top of the cloth is a spray of loss, pictured here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe painting, done in \u003cem\u003esumi \u003c\/em\u003eor charcoal-based ink--is slightly gradient and beautifully unselfconscious. You could call it folk painting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJust wonderful.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45849891766458,"sku":null,"price":325.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Triangle34.jpg?v=1778967462"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.srithreads.com\/collections\/kesa-and-buddhist-textiles.oembed?page=3","provider":"Sri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}