The Japanese Kimono
explanatory Essay
864 words
The Japanese Kimono
The kimono has had a long history in Japanese culture and has adapted
throughout the many periods according to the state of their society at
the time. The word kimono simply translates to 'a thing worn' and is
generally a long straight-lined gown with liberal sleeves which often
double as pockets. Often more informal kimono will sport shorter
sleeves and although the majority are made for summer conditions, come
wintertime and they will be thickly padded. It is secured with no
buttons, ties or things of that sort - instead the material is crossed
over the front of the body (resulting in a V neckline) and tied with
an obi at the waist.
The obi is a wide sash that is wrapped around the waist twice and is
often the most expensive part of the kimono. It is traditional for the
men to keep to shades of black or white whilst the colours and designs
of a woman's obi and kimono will change with the seasons. From
November to February white kimono with plum lining were conventionally
worn, whilst April and March brought lavender kimono with blue lining,
and the remaining months entailed yellow and orange combinations.
Designs were also linked to seasons with cherry blossoms for Spring,
plum blossoms or snow scenes for Winter, ocean waves for Summer and
red maple leaves for Autumn.
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The kosode is an uncomplicated, narrow, short-sleeved article of
clothing that eventually evolved into what we call the kimono. It was
originally associated with a low social status because the poorer
classes could not afford the material for the fashionable wide
sleeves, and resorted to the wearing the kosode instead. Meanwhile the
kosode was merely used as an undergarment by noblemen and women, worn
beneath many layers of magnificently dyed silks or court dress. There
then came a period (1185 - 1334) where there was a large rebellion
against the extravagance of the courtiers, and the many layers of
padded silks was reduced to a mere simple white kosode as the outer
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the japanese kimono has had a long history in japanese culture and has adapted throughout the many periods according to the state of their society.
- Explains that the kimono is thickly padded and secured with no buttons, ties or things of that sort. the obi is a wide sash wrapped around the waist twice.
- Explains how a woman's obi and kimono will change with the seasons. from november to february, white, lavender, yellow, and orange combinations were worn.
- Explains that the kosode is an uncomplicated, narrow, short-sleeved article of clothing that eventually evolved into what we call kimono.
- Explains how extravagant kosodes came back into fashion from the muromachi period onwards.
- Explains that traditional japanese dress is unusual in that size, shape, and time period have little or no affect on the garment.
- Explains that wedding gowns were elaborate and brilliantly coloured and were worn over a less conspicuous white or neutral kimono. the bride's hairstyle is also intricate.
- Explains that funerals call for more somber attire and while in western cultures white symbolizes purity, in japan it is the colour of mourning.
- Explains that the tokugawa period played a large part in the evolution of the kimono.
- Describes the yuzen dyeing technique for ornamenting kimonos, which involves squeezing juice from spiderworts and using this juice to draw pictures or designs on a cloth.
- Explains how coloured dyes were used to create realistic pictorial designs. trade was peacefully made and merchants' power increased.
- Describes the restrictive laws that were made, stating that peasants were banned from wearing silk, ministers of state could only wear tea coloured gowns, and the emperor was limited to ceremonial dresses.
- Explains that the 4th and 5th rank officials wore tea, red, deep green, dark blue, and light blue. lords and ladies were completely unrestricted colour-wise in their choice of clothing.
- Explains that clothing was tied to class, occasion, and occupation in the tokugawa period.
- Explains sichel, marion, national costume reference: japan, chelsea house publishers, usa the 1,2,3's of japanese (2003) [online], available from the internet, 24 july 2004
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