This significant slit tapestry uchishiki (altar cloth) is precisely dated to 1832 by kanji characters inscribed on its reverse, placing it firmly in the late Edo period. Measuring 25 inches by 25 inches (64 cm x 64 cm), the textile is rendered on a textured, taupe-colored silk ground.

The central motif features a powerful green dragon emerging from cresting white and blue waves. In Japanese tradition, the dragon is a multifaceted symbol: a protector of Buddhist law, a guardian of the East, and a controller of rain and storms. The creature is depicted with flaming appendages and sharp claws, navigating between dark, jagged rock formations. Softening the dramatic maritime scene are delicate floral branches—likely camellia or plum—and a small bird perched in the upper right, providing a "bird-and-flower" (kacho-ga) balance to the dragon's power. The piece is in fair condition, with several damaged areas in the silk likely caused by the historical mordants used in the dyeing process.

This artwork is featured on page 78 of Ceremonial Textiles of Japan, 18th to 20th Centuries. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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