This rare and evocative triangular uchishiki (Buddhist altar cloth) dates to the Mid-Edo period (1700–1800). It is the smaller component of a matched set and features a meticulously embroidered Hai Riyo (dragon-bird) soaring above wave motifs. Rendered in silk and shimmering metallic threads against a bold red wool ground, the creature is a fascinating mythological hybrid: it possesses the distinctive face of a dragon but is characterized by feathered wings and a bird-like body and tail.

In Japanese Buddhist cosmology, the Hai Riyo represents the most evolved state of a dragon's life cycle, a transformation that signifies ultimate spiritual progression. This specific iconography is historically significant, with similar depictions famously adorning the ornamental screens of the Chion-in monastery in Kyoto. Measuring 14 inches by 9 inches (36 cm x 23 cm) and finished with a durable cotton lining, this textile remains in very good condition.

This artwork is featured on pages 96-97 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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