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This miyamairi kimono presents a delightful and auspicious narrative through its karako motifs, executed in the sophisticated yuzen resist-painting technique that creates vibrant, clearly delineated colors against the cream silk ground. The design depicts Chinese children at play around a dramatic central scene featuring a large cracked pot with liquid gushing forth in powerful streams, likely representing the famous legend of "Waremoko" or a related tale about karako children and a magical vessel. The playful figures are shown in various states of surprise, delight, and celebration around this spectacular event - some appear to be reacting with joy while others engage with the dramatic spectacle of the bursting pot. Above the scene, stylized chrysanthemums or other floral forms create a decorative canopy, their circular radiating petals adding visual rhythm and auspicious symbolism to the composition.
The artistic execution reflects the influence of popular Edo period woodblock print traditions, particularly in the bold use of color and the narrative quality of the scenes, while the technical mastery of yuzen painting allows for fine details in facial expressions and the dynamic flow of liquid from the central vessel. The karako theme combined with the cracked pot legend was especially appropriate for boys' ceremonial wear, as such tales often involved the accidental breaking of vessels leading to unexpected good fortune or the revelation of hidden treasures - virtues and luck that parents hoped to bestow upon their sons. The overall composition, with its dramatic central action and swirling movement of liquid and figures, captures both the excitement of the legendary moment and the joyful spirit appropriate for a Shinto blessing ceremony, while demonstrating the sophisticated storytelling capabilities of early 20th century Japanese textile design.
It bears five large mon (family crests) and has one small prominent stain on the back left side. The kimono measures 33 inches (84 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 37 inches (94 cm) tall.