Japanese Two-Piece Indigo Asa Kyogen Festival Costume Meiji Period

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A two-piece Japanese festival costume based on Kyogen theater performance circa late 19th century (Meiji Period). The matching assemble consists … Read more A two-piece Japanese festival costume based on Kyogen theater performance circa late 19th century (Meiji Period). The matching assemble consists of an oversize jacket (Suo) and a pair of trousers (hakama). Made from a fine and gauze-like indigo dyed natural fiber (Asa), likely linen, the costume is plain except the lozenge-shaped Hanabishi Mons placed on the front and back of the jacket as well as on the side of the pants. The motif was created used stencil resist dye (katazome). The loose hakama was traditionally tailored with a waist band reinforced with paper insert and long ties.
For a set of kyogen festival costume in near identical form and similar decoration but made from hemp instead of linen, see item 2019.20.69.1 in the collection of MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Art). See less