The "Tatsuta River pattern" is a traditional Japanese design that depicts colorful autumn leaves flowing down a river. The design depicts autumn leaves blown by the autumn breeze falling flutteringly into the river and flowing away. Autumn leaves are one of the most beautiful autumn scenes in Japan. Did you know that the morning glory pattern, a classic yukata pattern, actually represents the seasonal word for autumn? Kimono and yukata are garments that receive more attention than western clothing in terms of their patterns, so we looked into the meaning of wearing autumnal designs, focusing on the Tatsuta River and autumn leaves patterns.
What is the Tatsuta River?
The Tatsuta River is a river that flows through the northwestern part of Nara Prefecture, along the banks of Mount Tatsuta. Take the Nara Kotsu bus from JR Oji Station and get off at Tatsuta Ohashi Bridge to reach the river. The poem "Chihayafuru," included in the Kokinshu, is a well-known poem by Ariwara no Narihira, a man of many loves in the Heian period, in which he sings about the phenomenon of autumn leaves floating all over the place, turning the land a bright red. The river in question is said to be the Tatsuta River. It seems to have been an elegant scenic spot beloved by intellectuals since the Heian period, and even today it is visited by many tourists in autumn as a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. The pattern, which combines flowing water with autumn leaves, came to be called the Tatsuta River pattern.
Autumn leaves pattern on kimono
Living in Japan, the blooming of flowers is a common way to know the seasons are coming. The "cherry blossom front" awakens the world, and "autumn leaf viewing" makes you feel the deepening of autumn. When it comes to flowers depicted on kimonos, there are many that adorn the Japanese seasons, including cherry blossoms, camellias, bush clovers, autumn leaves, and chrysanthemums. It is said that once the flowers depicted on kimonos have fallen, the patterns on those flowers are no longer worn. Maple leaves are autumn flowers, and are said to be a pattern worn on kimonos from September to November.
What is the essence of kimono patterns?
We often hear the word "iki," but it originally referred to an aesthetic sense from the Edo period. It is a word that describes refined appearance and behavior, as well as the beauty of one's manners. So, how would you define "iki" in the context of fashion? Being refined means enjoying the seasons and dressing accordingly. Thinking more specifically, "being in line with the season" means "not following the season." That is what is "cool" in fashion. As mentioned earlier, the seasons in Japan are often derived from flowers. "Adjusting to the season," in other words, "wearing flowers that bloom in that season," is like wearing the season.
Wearing a yukata with an autumn pattern
Aside from the pattern, each type of kimono can be worn in a specific season. Yukata are worn from June to September. Autumn, snow, and spring flower patterns are common, but is this bad manners? The answer is neither no nor yes. That's because blue autumn leaves are sometimes depicted as a single item on early summer kimonos. This means that they are "ahead of the season." However, the crimson color of autumn leaves still evokes the feeling of "autumn." In such cases, they are incorporated into designs by combining them with cool flowing water patterns or patterns that can be worn all year round. In particular, flowing water patterns that give off a cool feeling are perfect for yukata patterns. The combination of the Tatsuta River and autumn leaves can be said to be a "stylish" fashion that anticipates the autumn season.
summary
What did you think? When you look into the origins of even a single pattern, you can find unexpected connections and get a sense of Japanese aesthetics. Be sure to unravel the origins of patterns, including the Tatsuta River pattern, and enjoy a summer that is truly Japanese.
Yukata shop hiyori also sells yukatas that combine flowing water patterns with floral and autumn leaf designs.
