Japanese Yakonin in Dress of Ceremony
Photograph
Japanese Yakonin in Dress of Ceremony
From the album Photographic Views and Costumes of Japan
ca. 1868
Albumen silver print with applied color
25.5 x 20.3 cm.
Purchase
1979.0059.0005
Inscriptions (applied label, printed, opposite page):
JAPANESE YAKONIN IN DRESS OF CEREMONY.
THIS dress is of ancient date and is said to have been first introduced during the reign of Ashi kaji, nearly four hundred years ago. It is worn in all visits of ceremony, especially at the New Year and other holidays, by the Samourai or two sworded class, and also at weddings, feasts, and funerals.
It is an extraordinary fact that women in Japan are allowed to exercise their own taste and discretion in the selection of the colours of their costumes--but men are restricted in their choice of colour and of material. Colour is a sign of rank or station among men, and purple is the regal colour, worn by Kugés and some others of the most exalted classes at Miako. Priests may however wear purple, but they are the only permitted exceptions to the law on this subject.
As far back as six hundred years ago some Samourai wore when engaged in war, four swords: one at the back, two at the left side, and one on the right side; two of these, however, were laid aside in peaceable times.
JAPANESE YAKONIN IN DRESS OF CEREMONY.
THIS dress is of ancient date and is said to have been first introduced during the reign of Ashi kaji, nearly four hundred years ago. It is worn in all visits of ceremony, especially at the New Year and other holidays, by the Samourai or two sworded class, and also at weddings, feasts, and funerals.
It is an extraordinary fact that women in Japan are allowed to exercise their own taste and discretion in the selection of the colours of their costumes--but men are restricted in their choice of colour and of material. Colour is a sign of rank or station among men, and purple is the regal colour, worn by Kugés and some others of the most exalted classes at Miako. Priests may however wear purple, but they are the only permitted exceptions to the law on this subject.
As far back as six hundred years ago some Samourai wore when engaged in war, four swords: one at the back, two at the left side, and one on the right side; two of these, however, were laid aside in peaceable times.
