ca. early to mid twentieth century
10 3/4" x 7 3/4", 29.75 cm x 19 cm

Semamori are protective amulets that are stitched onto children's kimonos, sometimes at the nape of the neck and other times on the sash which is attached to the front of the kimono as seen here and here.

Semamori are represented by many traditional motives as well as geometric configurations of the abstract sort: with semamori, it is more the intention of stitching than it is the motif that is stitched. With each stitch, the seamstress wishes good thoughts and protection to the wearer of the kimono.

This "stitching with intention" is not just applied to the act of making a semamori design, but it can be said that the act of closing, of creating a garment, carries with it a kind of intention on the part of the person making the garment: she is wishing good things on the wearer through her earnest practice of stitching closed a protective garment. This kind of thing is very true in the religious realm, too, in the making of a Buddhist kesa as can be read in the introduction here.

This leaf from a book of semamori shows 8 designs; as well, you will see "shadows" from the pages which were pressed against this one for what must have been decades.

Just delightful.