This monumental Edo period Buddhist altar cloth, dating to the 18th century (1700–1800), is a rare large-scale example of Japanese liturgical textile art. Spanning a vast 74 inches by 45 inches (188 cm x 114 cm), the textile is constructed with a robust felted wool backing. It features an expansive celestial scene of dynamic dragons navigating through stylized, multicolored auspicious clouds.

The dragons and clouds are rendered using advanced needlework techniques, including intricate silk embroidery and metallic thread couching. While the piece is in fair condition—exhibiting various holes and areas of missing threads that reflect its centuries of use within a temple environment—the scale and technical ambition of the embroidery remain clearly evident. These weathered elements contribute to a profound sense of history, marking its survival through the mid-Edo era.

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