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Exquisite: The World Of Japanese Kumihimo Braiding

Exquisite: The World Of Japanese Kumihimo Braiding

Akihiko Tokue
2.5/5 ( ratings)
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Japan is truly called a living repository of Asian crafts. Among the more delightful but little recognized Japanese crafts, finding its origin over a millennium ago on the shores of the Asian continent, is the type of braiding known as kumihimo.

There is no exact English equivalent that describes these gemlike silk braids. "Stool braiding" refers to but one of the four major types of "looms" used to make these braids, while "oblique interlacing" conveys technical meaning but still does not encompass all of the kumihimo genre.

For the past hundred years, kumihimo have been associated with Japanese kimono accessories—particularly the cord that secures the woman's obi—the obijime—and the cords that fasten the fronts of both men's and women's haori over-garments. For many centuries before that, however, kumihimo found their main use as the lacings holding together the complex lacquered plates of the high-ranking Japanese warrior's suit of armor, as cords, both practical and ceremonial, used on the Japanese sword, and as equestrian trappings. Though these uses employ the strength and durability of kumihimo, they also take full advantage of the braids' decorative qualities—kumihimo have always been beautiful as well as functional.

The results of the economic and social changes that today have reduced the wearing of Japanese kimono, and thus have threatened the life of the kumihimo art, share aspects with what happened after the wearing of swords and maintenance of armor became obsolete over a century ago. In both cases, the makers of kumihimo have had to find new applications and markets to survive. Today, this need serves to focus attention on these beautiful braids and on the essentially simple techniques of their making, which are now available to the hobbyist and interested amateur.
Language
English
Format
Hardcover
Publisher
Kodansha International
Release
April 01, 1988
ISBN
0870118439
ISBN 13
9780870118432

Exquisite: The World Of Japanese Kumihimo Braiding

Akihiko Tokue
2.5/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
Japan is truly called a living repository of Asian crafts. Among the more delightful but little recognized Japanese crafts, finding its origin over a millennium ago on the shores of the Asian continent, is the type of braiding known as kumihimo.

There is no exact English equivalent that describes these gemlike silk braids. "Stool braiding" refers to but one of the four major types of "looms" used to make these braids, while "oblique interlacing" conveys technical meaning but still does not encompass all of the kumihimo genre.

For the past hundred years, kumihimo have been associated with Japanese kimono accessories—particularly the cord that secures the woman's obi—the obijime—and the cords that fasten the fronts of both men's and women's haori over-garments. For many centuries before that, however, kumihimo found their main use as the lacings holding together the complex lacquered plates of the high-ranking Japanese warrior's suit of armor, as cords, both practical and ceremonial, used on the Japanese sword, and as equestrian trappings. Though these uses employ the strength and durability of kumihimo, they also take full advantage of the braids' decorative qualities—kumihimo have always been beautiful as well as functional.

The results of the economic and social changes that today have reduced the wearing of Japanese kimono, and thus have threatened the life of the kumihimo art, share aspects with what happened after the wearing of swords and maintenance of armor became obsolete over a century ago. In both cases, the makers of kumihimo have had to find new applications and markets to survive. Today, this need serves to focus attention on these beautiful braids and on the essentially simple techniques of their making, which are now available to the hobbyist and interested amateur.
Language
English
Format
Hardcover
Publisher
Kodansha International
Release
April 01, 1988
ISBN
0870118439
ISBN 13
9780870118432

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