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Kimono Glossary

きものグロッサリー | 用語集・ようごしゅう・yougoshuu A list of kimono related terminology.  Use [Search] or the [Categories] dropdown (on the top right) to browse the glossary. You can search for either English or Japanese terms.  Each term comes with the original Japanese (both kanji, kana, and pronunciation). If available alternative spellings and pronunciations are included. 
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Kanekin

かねきん ・ kanekin Name for the collar of hanten. Many times black. 

Goshoguruma

御所車 ・ ごしょぐるま・ goshoguruma Imperial ox cart. Oxcart. A two or four-wheeled cart pulled by oxen used by the imperial family and aristocracy in early Japan (1477~). It is a recurring motif in kimono designs and the cart is often depicted without the oxen. The term also refers to the stylized shape of the wheel of an oxcart used in kamon (family crest) design.  

Koushi

格子 ・ こうし ・ koushi Lattice. Grid. In relation to kimono designs it mostly refers to a simple pattern made of intersecting (evenly spaced) parallel lines. The lines can either be horizontally and vertically or diagonally oriented. 

Fundou-tsunagi

分銅繋ぎ ・ ふんどうつなぎ ・ fundoutsunagi A pattern consisting of diagonally crossing wavy lines creating a repeating (linked) pattern of fundou. Fundou refers to a Japanese weight used in the Edo period that (slightly) resembles the shape of a stylized silkworm cocoon (silk was a valuable commodity). The shape is still used on maps as a symbol for banks. The pattern is mostly used in a line design as a background.  

Narihira-goushi

業平格子 ・ なりひらごうし ・ narihiragoushi  |  なりひらこうし ・ narihirakoushi A diagonal lattice pattern that creates a grid of diamond shapes. Two major versions of the pattern exist, one version where each (or some) of the diamonds shapes have center lines and small "crosses" in the center, and one version where the grid is created with double lines and empty diamonds.   It often consists of double (or triple) lines for the main diamond grid with a single centerline. The crosses can be either plus signs or small petal-like shapes.  The pattern can be used as-is as a background or in combination with different elements. Sometimes combined with other designs filling adjacent diamond shapes.   Not to be confused with the hanabishi pattern.

Higaki

檜垣 ・ ひがき ・ higaki A pattern based on diagonally woven strips of cypress (hinoki). The design looks like a repeating pattern of diagonally placed rectangles.  

Ahime

網目 ・ あみめ ・ ahime Mesh. A pattern based on a fishing net. The name refers to the shape of the openings (eyes) in the net pattern. The design looks like a repeating pattern of touching (sinus) wave lines.  
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