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Kasuri, or ikat, is a style of textile, either in cotton or silk, in which the threads are resist-dyed first, before being woven into the garment, creating geometric and other patterns in a two-tone (e.g. indigo and undyed white) palette. The patterns and techniques were transmitted to the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]] via India and Southeast Asia, later spawning various regional forms of ''kasuri'' textiles in mainland Japan.

Kasuri, or ikat, is a style of textile, either in cotton or silk, in which the threads are resist-dyed first, before being woven into the garment, creating geometric and other patterns in a two-tone (e.g. indigo and undyed white) palette. The patterns and techniques were transmitted to the [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû Islands]] via India and Southeast Asia, later spawning various regional forms of ''kasuri'' textiles in mainland Japan.

Today, Ryukyuan ''kasuri'' textiles are chiefly produced in silk, in the Kyan neighborhood of Haebaru-chô, and Teruya in central [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]].

''Kasuri'' is said to have been first introduced to Ryûkyû by [[Gima Shinjo|Gima Shinjô]] in [[1611]].<ref>"Oroku ma~i" 小禄ま～い. Pamphlet. Naha City Board of Education Cultural Properties Division 那覇市教育委員会文化財課, 1989. </ref> Today, Ryukyuan ''kasuri'' textiles are chiefly produced in silk, in the Kyan neighborhood of Haebaru-chô, and Teruya in central [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]].

In the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], the colors and types of aristocratic garments served as an indication of rank. Wives of ''[[anji]]'' or ''[[ueekata]]'' wore ''kasuri'' or ''[[tsumugi]]'' garments in green or pale blue (or yellow, for higher-ranking ''anji'' families). Pink ''kasuri'' garments indicated wives of those of ''[[peechin]]'' or ''[[satunushi]]'' status, while the wives of the ''[[chikudun]]'', the lowest-ranking nobles, wore blue ''kasuri''.  

In the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], the colors and types of aristocratic garments served as an indication of rank. Wives of ''[[anji]]'' or ''[[ueekata]]'' wore ''kasuri'' or ''[[tsumugi]]'' garments in green or pale blue (or yellow, for higher-ranking ''anji'' families). Pink ''kasuri'' garments indicated wives of those of ''[[peechin]]'' or ''[[satunushi]]'' status, while the wives of the ''[[chikudun]]'', the lowest-ranking nobles, wore blue ''kasuri''.  

==References==

==References==

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-43367-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu-kasuri]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003.

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-43367-storytopic-121.html Ryukyu-kasuri]." ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典. Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003.

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Art and Architecture]]

[[Category:Art and Architecture]]