Furoshiki
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Furoshiki (風呂敷) are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths traditionally used to wrap and/or to transport goods. Consideration is placed on the aesthetics of furoshiki, which may feature hemmed edges, thicker and more expensive materials, and hand-painted designs; however, furoshiki are much less formal than fukusa, and are not generally used to present formal gifts.
While they come in a variety of sizes, they are typically almost square: the height is slightly greater than the width.[1]
Traditional materials include silk or cotton, but modern furoshiki are available in synthetic materials like rayon, nylon, or polyester.
History
[edit]The first furoshiki cloths were tsutsumi ("wrapping"), used during the Nara period from 710 to 794 AD as protection for precious temple objects.[2] Known as furoshiki during the Muromachi period; the term furoshiki (literally "bath spread", from furo (風呂, "bath"), and shiki (敷, "spread"))[2] is said to have come about after high-ranking visitors to bathhouses packed their belongings in cloth decorated with their family crest.[citation needed]
They became popular in the Edo period with increased access to bathhouses by the general public; moreover, cloths with family crests grew in demand as common people gained the right to have family crests during the Meiji period.[citation needed]
Furoshiki usage declined in the post-war period, in large part due the proliferation of paper and plastic bags available to shoppers. In recent years, however, it has seen a renewed interest as environmental protection has become a greater concern. In 2006, Japanese Minister of the Environment, Yuriko Koike, showcased a specially-designed furoshiki cloth to promote environmental awareness.[3] In 2020, The Observer reported a growing interest in furoshiki in the UK, in part as a response to its perceived greater environmental sustainability compared to traditional single-use wrapping paper.[4]
In a 2023 interview, a Kyoto manufacturer of furoshiki, founded in 1937 said that furoshiki are now used as bags or pillow cover in Japan.[2]
Material, size, pattern
[edit]Modern furoshiki may be made from fabrics of various thicknesses and price points, including silk, chirimen, cotton, rayon, and nylon. The cloth is typically square, although not a perfect square, to facilitate the wrap. Sizes vary, from 45 by 45 centimetres (18 in × 18 in) and 70 by 70 centimetres (28 in × 28 in) up to 100 by 100 centimetres (39 in × 39 in).[2] The main pattern is always on the bottom half, so it shows in the center. The gift should fit into one third of a furoshiki.[2] Fabric patterns can contain traditional motifs such as cranes, turtles and pines and are double-sided prints.[2]
The Ministry of the Environment of Japan has published a leaflet with 14 folding patterns.[5]
See also
[edit]- Fukusa, a type of Japanese textile used for gift-wrapping or for purifying equipment during a Japanese tea ceremony
- Bojagi, a similar square cloth in Korea
- Tenugui, a thin Japanese hand towel made of cotton
References
[edit]- ^ Yamada, Etsuko (2007). 風呂敷つつみ A Complete Guide to Furoshiki (in Japanese and English). Tokyo: Banana Books. p. 105. ISBN 9784902930153.
- ^ a b c d e f Gift Wrapping That Doesn’t Create Waste New York Times, 21 Nov 2023
- ^ Minister Koike created the "Mottainai Furoshiki" as a symbol of Japanese culture to reduce wastes Archived 2017-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, Ministry of the Environment
- ^ Smith, Gwendolyn (15 November 2020). "Why reusable cloth could consign Christmas gift wrap to the bin". The Observer. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ How to use "Furoshiki" Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan
External links
[edit]
- Some common furoshiki folding patterns
- Youtube: Kakefuda, Kyoto (Another tutorial videoclip).
