During the Heian period,
Japan was the high point of Japanese aristocratic culture, A golden age
of peace and harmony. The attitudes and aesthetic of court life established
in this period continued many years after the emperor and his court lost
power to the warring samurai. Upper class women, as well as men, were
expected to become experts in music, writing, and the art of dressing
well, including what colors to wear when and the proper drape of a sleeve.
The Japanese expressed their perception color
and color changes of the four seasons through costume. Their deep love
of artistic beauty and colors were reflected in the kimono of this period.
To protect against high humidity, buildings had elevated floors made of
tatami mats. The convention of sitting on the floor became an important
part of the life style. Clothing became stiffer and more voluminous. Court
women wore 10, 12, 15 or even 20 layers at a time. This layered dressing
is called "juni-hitoe"
which literally means "12 layers." The layered color pattern
reflected many things including seasons, directions, virtues, and elements
of the earth as they related to spirits of nature. The multiple layers
also helped in staying warm in winter. |
