Kakejiku Byakuren no Zu

This hanging scroll is a hand-painted reproduction of Sakai Horitsu's beautiful work. Horitsu was a renowned artist in the Edo period. With his vigorous, delicate, and naturalistic style, he was very influential to his contemporaries, and his artworks are still popular in Japan.

Lotus, the flower that rises from murky waters is a gorgeous symbol of purity, both of the body and the mind. Of all lotuses, white is the emblem of spiritual perfection and total purity. It is the flower of Buddha, he often appears with lotuses, sitting on or surrounded by them.

The lotus is painted on paper, and framed by three kinds of fabrics: simple, blank cotton, and two kinds of embroidered silk. "Takeyama Jikindan", the golden embroidered silk got its name from Takeyama street, famous for its fascinating, arabesque pattern fabrics in Kyoto since the Muromachi era. The silvery grey fabric is the so-called " Tsuru Hanawa", a fine silk decorated with grape vines.

Hanging scrolls were originally hung in temples, and then in the "tokonoma" - alcove displaying ornaments - of the Japanese tea room. They used to be changed often, depending on the season. Lotus however due to its complex symbolism, can be a beautiful and meaningful decoration throughout the whole year.

The scroll comes in a paulownia wooden box.

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