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Over Robe (Uchikake) with Mount Hōrai

Japan

Not on view

This uchikake was one of a set of three luxurious over robes—white, red, and black, all with matching designs—worn by a samurai bride. Decorated with auspicious patterns to summon good fortune and a happy marriage, such sets were specially ordered for the wedding and typically worn only once. For the ceremony, the bride wore all white, symbolizing her resolve to be a gentle and obedient wife. After the ritual drinking of sake, she changed into colorful garments (ironaoshi) from the groom for the cele­bratory banquet. This red robe evokes Penglai, the mythological Chinese mountain of eternal life, known in Japan as Mount Hōrai. Japanese depictions of the legendary site were stylized as gatherings of cranes and long-tailed tortoises set in a bright landscape dominated by pine and plum trees, and bamboo stalks.

Over Robe (Uchikake) with Mount Hōrai, Figured satin-weave silk (rinzu) with paste-resist dyeing, stencil-dyed dots (suri-bitta), silk embroidery, and couched gold and silver thread, Japan

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Over Robe (Uchikake) with Mount Hōrai, Figured satin-weave silk (rinzu) with paste-resist dyeing, stencil-dyed dots (suri-bitta), silk embroidery, and couched gold and silver thread, Japan
Over Robe (Uchikake) with Mount Hōrai, Figured satin-weave silk (rinzu) with paste-resist dyeing, stencil-dyed dots (suri-bitta), silk embroidery, and couched gold and silver thread, Japan

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