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. This unusual fukusa depicts the protagonists from Journey to the West, a Chinese novel about the pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty monk Sanzō (Tang Sanzang) to Central Asia and India, accompanied by the Monkey King, Monk Pig, Friar Sand, and White Dragon Horse. Beyond the story’s Buddhist narrative of courage and redemption, the precise meaning behind this fukusa and who may have used it is difficult to determine. However, it reveals the influence of Chinese vernacular texts on popular culture and literature in Edo Japan. The story was the source of numerous scholarly translations, witty adaptations, prints, and plays.
