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History
of Hakata-ori
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760 years ago, a young Hakata merchant, Mitsuda Yazaemon,
traveled to China (the Sung Dynasty) with a Buddhist
priest. He learned and brought back the textile weaving
technique, which was handed down within the family.
This was the very origin of the art of Hakata-ori. 250
years later, Yazaemon's descendant, Hikosaburo, also
traveled to China (the Ming Dynasty) to further study
the art of weaving. After returning, he made improvements
over improvements on the technique and process, to finally
succeeded in manufacturing woven fabric being thick
like taffeta and with a raised stripe design. It is
said that these woven fabrics were named Hakata-ori
after the place of production, Hakata. |
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Tips
Traditional
Crafts of Fukuoka Prefecture designated by the Minister of
International Trade and Industry/font> |
Hakata-ori
has been designated as a "traditional craft" by the Minister
of International Trade and Industry. Other designated traditional
crafts in Fukuoka Prefecture are Hakata dolls, Kurume-gasuri
(splash pattern) textile, Koishiwara ware, Agano ware, and
Yame-Fukushima Buddhist household alters. |
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The Traditional Seven Items
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| Kuroda
Nagamasa, the then feudal lord of the Fukuoka domain in the
early Edo Period (early 17th century), chose for his yearly
presents to the Shogunate obi or sashes of Hakata-ori in five
color varieties with a particular geometric pattern called
kenjo design. Such Hakata-ori sashes were successfully reproduced
almost as they were in those days long ago. They are considered
the true origin of today's Hakata-ori. |
Hakata-ori
Go-shiki Kenjo (Kenjo-design Hakata-ori in Five Color Varieties)
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The products
of the traditional seven items, woven by the technique of
long tradition, are provided with a traditional craft mark
certificate sticker. The products with this sticker mean quality
products of the first class. Be sure to take a look at these
products with your own eyes. "Seeing is believing"
and we are confident that you will be impressed with the quality,
design and traditional motifs of this ancient craft. |
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