Sarasa originated in India and spread throughout the world
Sharpening senses
Bunjiro Kobayashi (in the above; the third generation of Futaba-en) states in his book "Dyeing: the World of Bunjiro Kobayashi": "Patterns of Edo Sarasa are designs including characters, birds and flowers. The tone is cool and often gives an exotic feeling. Approximately 30 paper patterns are normally used for one work, while some works use as many as 200-300. Colors are carefully overlaid on each paper pattern using dye brushes, requiring a lot of perseverance and techniques. This contributes to the three-dimensional feeling, characterized by the profound colors."
Edo Sarasa that normally uses 30 pattern papers or 300 for more precise ones can be called as the elegance of dye techniques.
Origin in India
Sarasa was supposedly originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. There are several theories about its etymology, including "Serasa," the archaic word in Java and "Sarasah" meaning a "beautiful cloth" in the Indian language.
Sarasa born in India went to Europe through Persia, spread to China in the west and Thailand and Java in the south, and came to Japan through the "Silk Road of the ocean."
Indian Sarasa
Many seem to have a design with a motif of legends transmitted in India such as the "stories of Krishna."
Persian Sarasa
Exchange with India became active after the Middle Age. By bringing back the skills of Sarasa, Persian Sarasa began using almost the same technique as Indian Sarasa.
Java Sarasa
This dye is also called batik. Its characteristics include batik dyeing with a design strongly influenced by India.
Unique shading of cool Edo Sarasa attracting craftsmen in Japan
To Japan in the Muromachi era
Sarasa was transmitted to Japan in the Muromachi era. It was considered to have been brought by Nanban ships from Portugal, Spain, Holland, etc. In those days, Sarasa was not something that ordinary people could have, and was favored by people in authority among samurai families as foreign articles from the West. Masters of the tea ceremony also highly valued it as a special fabric.
The culture of Sarasa in Japan came to bloom in the Edo era. Craftsmen made full use of the pattern dyeing technique in Japan. Pigments were used to produce dyes. It is interesting that it did not become Japanese-style even if it was made by the hands of the Japanese people. Colors are excessively applied by using vivid colors, to express the unique beauty of nature.
Sarasa began to spread to various regions of Japan.
Amakusa Sarasa
Amakusa Sarasa was born in the Bunsei period of the Edo era in Amakusa (Nagasaki), Kyushu.
Nabeshima Sarasa
Nabeshima Sarasa developed under the protection of the Nabeshima clan. These dyed goods use both wood engraving and pattern papers.
Kyo Sarasa
Its characteristics include gorgeous coloring like Kyo Yuzen. Pattern papers are used for dyeing.
"Edo Sarasa" expresses Wabi and Sabi.
It is said that skillful Sarasa craftsmen who used pattern dyeing appeared in Edo around the end of Edo era, leading to the spread of the name of Edo Sarasa.
Characteristics of Edo Sarasa include feeling of exoticism yet deep and cool taste, and the climate of Edo and the beauty sense of the fashionable Edo people were expressed in its development.
Brilliant colors were possible in "Kyoto Sarasa" because of the soft water, while the water is hard in Edo resulting in cool colors.
Complicated production process that adheres to one fine line and one color
Several pattern papers for one design
One of Edo Sarasa's characteristics is the method to divide one pattern into several pattern papers for engraving and printing.
For example, three pattern papers are necessary to stain a line (fine line) on a triangle design. Pattern papers drop off unless at least one part is not engraved. Therefore, one part of a paper is left without engraving. In this way, there will be an unstained area in one part of a pattern paper. To complement this, three papers are prepared by leaving different parts without engraving.
Production process
Potential of Sarasa expanding into the future
Edo Sarasa dyed in this way is finished into a fabric with unique texture in which Asia and Japan are mixed. The presence of Edo Sarasa developed from Indian Sarasa with Japan's unique technique inspires emotions for those who wear it. Just as it attracted people who lived in those days and enhanced the skills of craftsmen, Edo Sarasa born in the present age is also cherished by people in these days.
Careful attention to each process
Drawing a ground plan is the beginning of Edo Sarasa. Motifs include natural things, incorporating the modern sense into the arabesque pattern. All designs are engraved on pattern papers with only one small knife.
