Kimono-Shaped Coverlet (Yogi) with Chinese Lions and Peonies

A yogi is a thickly padded, kimono-shaped comforter for sleeping. Such bedding was often embellished with auspicious motifs to ensure safety and peaceful rest. This luxurious example is made of figured satin silk, a costly fabric with woven patterns, typically used for fine robes. Decorated with freehand paste-resist dyeing and delicate shibori (tie-dye) work, it was likely made as part of a high-ranking samurai lady’s wedding dowry. The design of lions and peonies derives from Kano-school paintings of the period. According to legend, the lion, king of beasts, fears only the tiny parasites that live within its fur—creatures said to shun the dewdrops that fall from peony blossoms at night. Thus, the lion sleeps safely beneath the peony’s shade. The pairing of the lion and the peony, king of beasts and flowers respectively, symbolizes harmony, protection, and noble strength.