Object size: 90.0 x 84.5 cm (with tassels)
In Japan, the practice of formally presenting gifts with silk covers called fukusa began in the Edo period (1603–1868), around the late 17th or early 18th century. These covers were draped or folded over gifts for a variety of occasions, from seasonal festivities to important personal events. Each fukusa was carefully chosen to evoke the circumstance of the gift and to convey a message to the recipient through its design. Fukusa designs often feature symbolic objects or allusions to Japanese and Chinese stories. The choice of fukusa also reflected the giver’s wealth, taste, erudition, and cultural sensitivity. The use of fukusa continued into the early 20th century. Today, they are used in parts of Japan for weddings and corporate events.Rin Nasei (Lin Hejing, 967–1028) was a reclusive poet who lived during the Northern Song dynasty. In Japan he is seen as a poet immortal, famed for his love of cranes and plum blossoms. Fukusa decorated with him were suitable for elders and mentors. The absence of Rin’s attendant in the scene suggests that the gift-giver is cleverly comparing himself to the attendant, and the recipient to Rin. This imagery is also fitting for presentations of manju (red bean buns), which were typically given as return gifts at weddings. According to legend, manju were first made in Japan by Rin Join, a descendant of Rin Nasei.
