#genjimon

[maigeiko]

Five Osaka Maiko 1910 Five maiko (apprentice geisha) from Osaka wearing kuromontsuki (black crested kimonos). In the centre is Chiyoha, who was shortly to become famous as Teruha, when she relocated to Tokyo in the wake of a scandal.The characters they are holding appear to be a congratulatory message for a 30th anniversary of some kind. Motifs I can make out: left Maiko has a crane and sea shells, second from left  and the central Maiko probably have ivy, second from left: Chrysantemum?, right: sea shells with Genjimon

[kyotokimono]

Genji-Ko

An incense guessing game, in which participants determine which of five prepared censers contain different scents, and which contain the same scent. Answers are recorded using genji-mon linear patterns, alluding to chapters in the Tale of Genji.

Here at Kyoto Kimono, we find these patterns on vintage Japanese kimono, haori, and/or obi belt fabrics.  An interesting bit of Japanese culture! 

Click here to read more about this game and Japanese incense.