Chiyogami: A Kaleidoscope Of Patterns

24 Jul 2008 Category: Arts & Crafts, Japan

Chiyogami: A Kaleidoscope Of Patterns

Marvellous Chiyogami patterns from the Isetatsu shop in Tokyo.

Chiyogami is brightly patterned Japanese paper — or Washi as you, ardent Ping reader, might be familiar with by now — on which all kinds of beautiful flowers, characters or family seals are printed. These intricate designs never seem to lose their magical brilliance and maybe that’s one of their secrets since, until today, people keep being intrigued by them. In modern day Japan, this traditional paper reminds us of a time of seeming simplicity marked with colour and style. Today, PingMag will discover a nice Chiyogami variety from all parts and eras of Japan.

Written by Ryoko
Translated by Kevin Mcgue

Kyo-chiyogami: Luxury!

It is said that Chiyogami was first produced in Kyoto around the turn of the 17th century. At that time, luxurious paper called “Kyo-chiyogami” was used as wrapping paper by the aristocratic class. In those days, Chiyogami was made from high quality paper, a luxury that average folks could never afford. Originally, Kyo-chiyogami was decorated with patterns associated with aristocratic families. However, as Chiyogami spread to the merchant classes, gradually more and more patterns based on Kyoto’s traditions and culture began to surface.


Wow! A design based on paper parasols in light blue and gold…

… and enchanting butterfly motifs.

A design based on paper fans…

… and chrysanthemums, plum blossons, and other garden flowers as delicate patterns.

Edo-chiyogami: Casual Styles

By the middle of the Edo Period, painters, carvers, and printers developed the hand-carved wooden block technique of producing Ukiyo-e prints. As this technique was being developed, it became easy for everyone to get Japanese paper, and eventually the common class was finally able to enjoy it as well.


Wood block printing techniques have been handed down generation to generation since the Edo Period.

A print made using carved wood blocks.

During Edo, many Chiyogami designs were made based on popular culture such as Kabuki theatre plays. These featured simple patterns with a quite splendid use of loud colours. Also, there are many references in literature to the Tokugawa Shogunate receiving Chiyogami as a gift, and moreover it seems that women of samurai families loved using Chiyogami as wrapping paper for sweets and gifts.


This pattern called “Naritaya Kamawanu” is often also used for tenugui towels.

Escher galore! A kamon (family crest) with a goose motif printed on Chiyogami.

Colours gone crazy! A pattern consisting of multi-coloured paper fans.

Where to get them today

Isetatsu, an old shop in Yanaka, Tokyo (2-18-9 Yanaka, Daitou-ku), still produces lots of Chiyogami using wood blocks, traditional Japanese paper, and hand carving techniques that have been handed down from generations to the next. Though Isetatsu has been specialising in Chiyogami since Edo, it is difficult today to recreate the very tools that were made from such natural materials.


This interesting cloth design shows the various ways you can use a tenugui. Nice!

And this pattern shows many famous kabuki actors.

Machine-made: Muromachi-chiyogami

Chiyogami by machine, rather than by hand-carved wooden blocks is favoured for printing very vibrant colours, such as in patterns where written characters and flower become motifs.


Stylised characters are used for some kind of celebration.

This was originally created for Kabuki actor Kikugoro Onoe III.

Subtle iris blossoms make a marvellous pattern!

Both cute and elegant in light orange.

Wazome-chiyogami: Made from Echizen Japanese Paper

Echizen is a type of Japanese paper that comes from the Echizen Province which can be dyed to produce Chiyogami. Echizen paper is coarse and uneven on one side, but smooth on the other. This paper seems light, but actually has great longevity, making it superb for paper crafts.

Front and back of an Echizen paper has each its own texture.

Chiyogami made from the special Echizen paper.

Yumeji Takehisa’s Modern Chiyogami

Yumeji Takehisa is the best representative of the Modernist movement in Taisho Japan. In addition to being a painter and poet, Takehisa is famous for his modernist portraits of pale, sentimental women, However, his background has been in Japanese painting, and he also developed skills in water colour as well as woodcut prints.

The Chiyogami umbrellas and matches shown below are printed from Takehisa’s book illustrations. They have a feeling of his era when Western culture was making inroads into Japan. Today, many of his illustrations and designs can be seen in the Yumeji Takehisa Museum in Tokyo. We greatly recommend it!


A Chiyogami designed by Yumeji with the cutest umbrellas and their shadows as pattern.

And another stylish one by Takehisa based on scattered matches.

Chiyogami Crafts

Other than wrapping paper, Chiyogami can also be used to make little boxes, paper cranes, dolls, bookmarks, and so much more. The possibilities are many, so it’s up to your own creativity to see how this paper really comes to life…

Charming little boxes made out of Chiyogami…

… also these Origami cranes are made from it…

… as well as a cute doll that can be used as bookmark.

What would be your personal favourite? We hope that this beautiful culture will continue for long!

81 Comments

  1. And second, sometimes we can be Edo (Tokyo). It has caused bizarre all over the Tokugawa Shogunate. Patterns include: Japanese paper.

    Posted by: Kate Shannon on July 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pm

  2. Wow, I just discovered this kind of paperart, it is marvellous!

    Posted by: Marieke on July 24th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

  3. Could PingMAKE be persuaded to have an article on the making of some kind of chiyogami? That would be so interesting! Thanks again for a wonderful article–great pics!

    Posted by: Heather T. on July 24th, 2008 at 11:18 pm

  4. I really, truly am glad I found this site. It has answered so many questions for me. I will be back. Thank You

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  7. Great article, Ryoko!
    For folks interested in other Japanese patterns, Néojaponisme has just started releasing a series of free 50s modernist-style Japanese pattern downloads Some are even based on chiyogami!
    http://neojaponisme.com/2008/07/15/pattern-pattern/
    Ping!

    Posted by: Ian on July 26th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

  8. Some are a little busy for my liking, but i really like the the wood block printing!

    Posted by: RPO on July 29th, 2008 at 1:10 am

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  10. I really enjoyed this article. Love all the patterns you shared in this post.

    Posted by: jessica 0 on July 30th, 2008 at 8:59 am

  11. Chiyogami - is where you start to think creative. I very like it! Thanks for veryyy interesting post!

    Posted by: seo on August 4th, 2008 at 2:04 pm

  12. can anybody inform me, how much do they cost? thank you..
    I’ve been searching infos on these chiyogami,,they’re just so lovely…

    Posted by: enrica on August 6th, 2008 at 11:35 pm

  13. [...] Read the English version at PingMag» [...]

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