This silk dounuki's striking bipartite composition creates a dramatic visual dialogue between the densely patterned bodice and the restrained elegance of the black lower section, demonstrating the Japanese principle of contrasting textures and visual weights to achieve harmonious balance. The silk-printed design across the upper portion features an intricate arrangement of autumn maple leaves (momiji) in various tones of gold, bronze, and cream, interspersed with stylized deer figures, creating a narrative landscape that evokes the classical theme of deer in autumn forests found throughout Japanese poetry and painting.

The deer motif carries profound cultural resonance, traditionally associated with divine messengers in Shinto belief and frequently appearing in classical literature as symbols of gentleness, grace, and the transient beauty of seasonal change. When combined with the maple leaf imagery, the design evokes the romantic melancholy of autumn that is central to Japanese aesthetic sensibility, particularly the concept of mono no aware—the poignant awareness of the impermanence of all things. The detailed rendering of the foliage, with its overlapping layers and subtle tonal variations, demonstrates the technical sophistication of silk printing during this period, when artisans were experimenting with complex multi-color registration techniques that allowed for unprecedented detail and naturalistic representation.

The transition to the fine black crepe silk at the hem creates a sophisticated visual anchor that speaks to the garment's function as an underlayer (dounuki) designed to be glimpsed beneath outer robes, revealing tantalizing hints of luxury and artistic refinement. This design strategy reflects the Japanese aesthetic of iki—understated elegance that reveals its sophistication through subtle details rather than overt display.

It serves as the second layer garment, with 2369b as the outer layer. Its measurements are 47 inches (119 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 57 inches (145 cm) in height.