The Japanese hanging scrolls with silk fabric are called kakemono (掛物), which basically means hanging thing.  It is usually displayed in the tokonoma (床の間) area of a home that is used in part as a place to appreciate these scrolls in addition to arrangements of different types of flowers and bonsai.  Another common use is as a decoration in a tea house.  The scrolls can be used in combination with the flower arrangements and tea sets to help set the mood of the ceremony.

The scroll is made of a flexible material that can be easily rolled and has a rod attached at the bottom.  This is used as the center of the scroll when it is rolled up and the top of the scroll has a half moon shaped rod with the hanging thread.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellenm1/ / CC BY 2.0

Kakemono usually have either a painting or shodo (not from a calligraphy pen) on them that can be displayed or stored quickly due to the scroll.  For this reason the scrolls can be changed to set the mood based on occasion or for a certain season.  Kakemono were introduced to Japan during the Heian period (794-1185), which was the height of Japan’s involvement in Buddhism, Taoism, and other Chinese influences, and were used primarily as a way of portraying Buddhist images or calligraphy.

One type of painting that became prominent in the Heian period and can be found on kakemono was the mandala (マンダラ).  These concentric diagrams have been said to represent the unconscious of a person and can be used to dive deeper into one’s mind through meditation.  Psychoanalysts have even used these paintings as a way of assessing the subconscious of someone, possibly even revealing emotional disorders and working to create wholeness.

Paintings in the Heian period were also performed frequently on sliding and folding screens, but the emakimono style of scroll painting became increasingly popular towards the end of this era.  These scrolls were painted horizontally and generally depicted a story through images.  Examples of this include full illustrated novels such as Genji Monogatari.  The scroll designs have continued to evolve over the course of history and can still be seen decorating homes in Japan and around the world with calligraphy, paintings, and now even manga and anime characters.

Last Modified : March 8th, 2010 Filed under : Art Navigate : Previous post / Next post