Patterns from Japan
During COVID lockdown I have started reading about Ukiyo-e woodblock print, a traditional printing technique of Japan. I was really intrigued by the patterns and textures used in these prints. Especially the fabric patterns in Ukiyo-e prints are very visually rich and study drawing them was a very peaceful activity for me. These visuals are created in the iPad in procreate.
Simultaneously I was reading about other crafts of Japan like traditional hats of Japan. A Kasa is a term used for several traditional Japanese hats.
Ajirogasa (a wickerwork kasa made of shaven bamboo or wood)
Amigasa (a wickerwork kasa)
Fukaamigasa (a deep wickerwork kasa)
Jingasa (“war hat”, a type of kasa commonly worn by samurai and ashigaru)
Roningasa (typically a conical amigasa with a flat top, often worn by ronin
Sandogasa (a kasa for traveling)
Sugegasa (see Asian conical hat)
Takuhatsugasa (a Buddhist mendicant kasa)
Tengai (see Komusō Monk)
Torioigasa (a folded kasa, famous for Awa Dance Festival)
Yagyūgasa (the family crest of Yagyū clan, not a kind of actual kasa)
Every hat has a unique weaving pattern and shape which helps to identify them. Even though all hats serve as a way of shielding themselves from the sun, they also have different uses. For example, Komuso Kasa is worn by monks to hide their identity as part of the religious practice while Amigasa or Conical hats are used by warriors as a shield or as a weapon. Some Kasa are part of dances performance and theater performance.
Tengai hats especially caught my eyes used by Kamuso monks. Komuso group of Japanese mendicant monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism flourished during the Edo period. Komusō was characterized by a straw bascinet (a sedge or reed hood named a Tengai or Tengui) worn on the head, manifesting the absence of a specific ego. They were also known for playing solo pieces on the shakuhachi (a type of Japanese bamboo flute). These pieces, called Honkyoku, were played during a meditative practice called Suizen, for alms, as a method of attaining enlightenment, and as a healing modality.
These are some visuals of how other hats look like — Amigasa worn by Awa Japanese dance performers. Sandogasa (a kasa for traveling), Fukaamigasa (a deep wickerwork Kasa) usually used my warriors
Eventually, I tried these procreate illustrations as a brush in a digital sketching tool PhotoSueding created by my friend Hugo Pilate in processing. I really enjoyed how this tool enabled me to try more combinations of patterns. I shall be updating this page with more of my experiments with this tool.
