kikkouon　亀甲文

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Also called bekkougata 鼈甲形. A geometric pattern comprised of hexagonal units resembling the shape and pattern of a tortoise shell. Found as a single unit on a family crest, but more common as a repetitive motif in decorative patterns kikkoutsunagi 亀甲繋. A type of motif based on Heian Courtly decoration *yuusoku mon' you 有職文様. Originally a Chinese motif, it was Japanized during the Heian period and much beloved for its refined, dignified effect and auspicious connotations of longevity. The pattern was frequently used for court dress, and later for warriors' kimonos and armor. It also appeared on objects of Buddhist art, lacquerware, and metalwork. Kikkoumon was sometimes joined with other motifs, especially the circle motif *marumon 丸文, diamond motif *hishimon 菱文, or broken twig motif oriedamon 折枝文. One variation of the motif is called *bishamon kikkou 毘沙門亀甲, named after the figure *Bishamonten 毘沙門天, one of the Four Guardian gods *shitennou 四天王, who typically wore armor decorated with a repeat pattern of three hexagonals jointed to form a Y-shape. Many other variations of the motif were created, such as: shoukikkou 正亀甲, musubikikkou 結亀甲, *kumikikkou 組亀甲, tsunodashi kikkou 角出亀甲, yaburekikkou 破亀甲, mitsukikkou 三亀甲, and hanairi kikkou 花入亀甲.

*bishamon kikkou 毘沙門亀甲 kumikikkou 組亀甲 hanairi kikkou 花入亀甲

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