This silk miyamairi kimono, designated for the christening of a baby boy in a Shinto ceremony, displays yuzen-painted martial motifs. Measuring 33 inches (84 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 44 inches (112 cm) in height, it features a rare and prominently positioned tethered falcon motif among the martial themes.

Falcons were highly revered for their ferocity, regal quality, and directness of action, symbolizing the soul of their owner. The Edo period saw increased visibility and popularity of falconry, leading to commissioned paintings depicting various aspects of falconry by samurai and nobility. These images often showcased favored individual birds, tethered to stands, portraying the hunt and the essence of falconry.

The long silk embroidery threads hanging down from the upper back collar, known as 'good luck threads' or 'back guards', are placed by the boy's mother. They serve as protective symbols, passed down through generations from an old superstition, believed to hold protective powers over the young male wearing them. The tassels at the end of these threads were thought to provide a symbolic means for parents to hold onto and safeguard the child from malevolent forces.

The stitching patterns down the back of the kimono indicated its gender-specific purpose. The paired dots and stitches in a straight line, alongside the diagonal line running to the left (instead of the right), signify that it was designed for a boy.

Hand-sewn protective symbols on the front of the kimono, where the ties meet the forward edge, vary from simple to elaborate designs but share the common objective of providing an all-encompassing protective wrap for the son. In an era where child mortality rates were high, parents sought every possible means to place good luck talismans and protective symbols to safeguard their children.

This artwork is featured on pages 264-267 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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