Japanese Doorway Dividers: A Look at Noren and the Kaga Wedding Custom

Noren are traditional Japanese rectangular cloth dividers that vary in size, color, and material. They're typically hung in doorways of rooms or on exterior entrances. These dividers usually feature one or more vertical slits, extending from the bottom almost to the top, which makes for easy passage. Noren are believed to have originated during the Heian Period (794-1185), where they served as an elegant yet practical way to regulate indoor temperatures. By the Edo period, noren were primarily used on the outside of shops and restaurants, functioning both as a practical barrier and a way to display the business's name or logo.

While noren are commonly made from cotton or other basic fabrics, the mid-19th century saw the creation of a new, refined style for wealthy residents of the old Kaga province (now Ishikawa Prefecture) in central Japan. This richly decorated silk wedding noren was known as hanayome (meaning "bride") or simply "Kaga," after its place of origin.

On the wedding day, the hanayome noren is hung at the entrance of the groom's home's Buddhist altar room, symbolizing respect for the bride's future happiness. As the bride passes through it, she must bow, signifying her respect for her new husband and his family. This bow in front of the Kaga noren also represents the bride's vow of obedience to Buddha and her new family, including their ancestors. After the wedding, the noren was typically folded and stored, never to be used again. This custom is still practiced by some in the K Kaga, Noto, and Ecchu regions of Ishikawa Prefecture.

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