Object size: 99.0 x 83.0 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. In popular Shinto belief, pairs of wedded rocks (meoto iwa) represent the creator deities Izanagi and Izanami, and symbolise union through marriage. The most famous pair is located near the Ise Shrine. These rocks are sometimes tied together with heavy rice straw rope. Here, the heft of the rope is suggested through twisted gold cord attached to the satin ground. A Shinto shrine is pictured to the right, a common feature accompanying these lithic landscapes.
