織物

About this photo

This photograph shows people at work in a Nishijin weaving workshop. It appears in Kyoto Meishocho (Album of Famous Places in Kyoto), published in 1907, and the English caption on the page describes it as Nishijin silk weaving.

The place name Nishijin, "Western Camp," comes from the Onin War, when Yamana Sozen of the Western Army set up his camp here. In the Meiji era, Nishijin turned to Western techniques. In 1872 (Meiji 5), Kyoto Prefecture sent three craftsmen, Sakura Tsuneshichi, Inoue Ihei and Yoshida Chushichi, to Lyon, France, and brought in the Jacquard loom. Three years later Araki Kohei built a Japanese-made Jacquard loom, making it possible to weave cloth with intricate patterns in large amounts.

Nishijin-ori was designated a national Traditional Craft in 1976. Twelve varieties are officially recognized, including tsuzure-ori (tapestry weave), in which the weaver pulls the threads together with the fingernails, and they are used for obi sashes, kimono and more. The photograph shows the people of Meiji-era Nishijin at work.

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