A Contemporary Pilgrim's Coat: Red Temple Stamps and Kanji

contemporary
24 1/2" x 18", 62 cm x 46 cm

This 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.

The 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.

The 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.

A marvelous thing to own which is imbued with earnestness of purpose and which has passed through the portals of some very sacred spaces.

Recommended.