Mizuhiki indispensable to happy events
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Mizuhiki indispensable to happy events |
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HISTORY It started as hearty gift wrapping string In the olden days, when people exchanged gifts, they used string to hold wrapping paper. This is the beginning of Kaga mizuhiki. Asa, or flax plants were soaked in water, and string-like fiber was pulled out of softened flax skin, hence the name mizuhiki, or water-pulled derived. People of Kaga preferred elegance. Mizuhikis gradually became more decorative than simple tying strings. During the Edo period, mizuhikis were used as motoyui, or strings to knot hair. Samurai of low class moonlighted by making mizuhiki to earn extra money. CHARACTERISTICS Motifs are made of animals and plants Today the elegantly designed mizuhikis are used as gift decorations on the festive occasions like weddings. The designs of mizuhiki include motifs of plants, animals and fishes. They are pine tree leaves, bamboo, plum blowers, chrysanthemum, cranes, turtles, snappers as these plants and animals are considered to bring happiness to life. Mizuhikis are made in the shapes of such plants and animals. An armor made of mizuhiki was presented to the Emperor. At the National Gift Contest in 1966, mizuhiki won the grand prize, and at Osaka International Expo in 1969, mizuhikis attracted millions of viewers. |