Fukizome (blow-dyeing)

Fukizome consists in blowing small particles of liquid dye onto the paper.

The intensity of the color can be varied by changing the blowing style, and patterns can be obtained by using stencils. There are some examples of early Buddhist texts decorated using the fukizome method while medieval Buddhist texts also have their covers decorated with this technique. Most of these early examples are brown, probably obtained from the clove (Japanese chōji, Syzygium aromaticum) or from persimmon tannin. The former is known as chōji-buki (literally, “clove-blowing”).

Watch the video to see examples of covers colored by fukizome. The color of the examples introduced in the video is either persimmon extract (kakishibu) or clove.

Books introduced in the video:

• Ryūju Bosatsu Nenju Shidai, Nanboku-chō period
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• Kin’yōwakashū, Early Edo period
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