パルファン サトリの香り紀行

調香師が写真でつづる photo essay

Knot-Making called Kumihimo

110204くみひも6.jpg

 Knot-Making called Kumihimo is a traditional Japanese art.

 

There are many different techniques of knot-making in the world, each with their own unique history.

In Japan, a rich decorative art of knot-making has developed throughout history.

Originally used in daily life of aristocrats, various kind of knot-making techniques were invented to decorate costumes, furniture, and Buddhist altar fittings.

 

Later on its use spread into traditional manners of samurais and was used to decorate weapons and religious objects.

Nowadays it still remains as an important item in the traditional world of "Sado (way of tea)" and "Kodo (way of incense)".

 

There is a traditional knot called "fuuji-himo (seal-knot)" used to enclose important objects, impossible to unknot without a specific knowledge.

 

For example, in order to safely keep a secret enclosed in a box, the knot was tied in a complicated way which can only be retied by the one who made the knot.

 

If someone else tries to remake the knot, he would eventually leave some traces.

 

 

In the old times, "Tea" was considered as a precious medicine and was preserved in a jar with a special knot.

 

The knot was differently tied in order to recognize if the jar has been opened or not.

 

110204くみひも5.jpg 

It also had the purpose of a key to lock and avoid poison.

 

The middle of the knots always seems to have a complicated structure and is often formed with several circles on top of each other.

 

However, when we lightly pull both edges of the string, it magically unties itself in a second.

 

Even if someone tries to imitate the knot and visually succeed in making it similar, it won't be able to untie itself as magically and people would know that someone had touched the knot.

 

Some knots also have meanings such as happiness and protection from evil.

 

 

 

110204くみひも2.jpg

 

 

Copyright © PARFUM SATORI All Rights Reserved.