housouge　宝相華

KEY WORD :　1 architecture / roofing tiles ; 2 art history / paintings

1　Also read hossouge, an abbreviation of housougemon 宝相華文. Lit. precious flower. Housouge found on the pendants *gatou 瓦当 of both semi-circular convex eave end tiles and broad, concave eave end tiles *nokimarugawara 軒丸瓦 and *nokihiragawara 軒平瓦. In many cases the design has been applied to the surface of the tile by the coil method, i.e., rolling strips of clay into needed shapes and applied to the tile with a press mold. The patterns may be either strictly linear, have solid leaf forms that fill the prescribed space, or have outline of leaf or petals forms shaped and applied by coils. 2　A flower motif that combines images of the peony, lotus and other flowers into an intricate pattern. Variations of the motif include the Chinese floral pattern called *karakusamon 唐草文. Housouge is thought to have evolved from an Indian Buddhist motif that does not represent a single natural flower, but rather, a fanciful fusion of a variety of flowers, leaves, and fruit. Many variations developed, some appearing heavily influenced by Persian floral motifs, Indian Buddhist lotus motifs, or Chinese Sui-Tang dynasty peony motifs. Housouge was introduced to Japan in the 8c and evolved into a unique, opulent floral pattern during the Heian period. Examples of housouge can be seen on the halo *kouhai 光背 of the the Buddhist image Miroku bosatsuzou 弥勒菩薩像 in Houryuuji 法隆寺, as well as in the architectural decoration of Yakushiji Toutou 薬師寺東塔 in Nara. A particularly fine, richly designed motif survives among the treasures of the *Shousouin 正倉院, in particular on the five-stringed lute biwa 琵琶, which is finely decorated in mother-of-pearl *raden 螺鈿.

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