Kumihimo is a material folklore similar to the quilting culture described by Sims and Stephens in their book Living Folklore (2020, 74-76). These braids can be found as cords to tie up boxes of tea or in temples, where they are considered sacred. The secrets to making kumihimo were closely guarded by masters who had not always passed on the knowledge to students, so that many of the oldest braids must be studied carefully before attempting reconstruction (Tada et al. 2020, 400). The modern masters must bring great skill and knowledge to restore these braids authentically, and in the process of re-creation, they strengthen their identities as Japanese and their ties to their culture.

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Replica of the historic Itsukushima temple braid,

which is designated as a National Cultural Treasure

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The braid pictured above was found wrapped around a scroll dating back to the 12th century.

These ancient braids were important to Buddhist temples and also to the samurai. Attempts to

re-create it have come close but have not successfully replicated it exactly. Another temple braid,

pictured at right, is the Chusonji-gumi braid. It was found at a Chusonji Buddhist temple near

Honshu and recovered from the tomb of Lord Hidehira. It is a square braid rather than a flat braid,

and shows the traditional colors that were important during certain historic periods of Japan. In

Kinoshita Masako's book, Archaic Braiding, the Itsukishima braid required 38 bobbins, while the

Chusonji-gumi braid required 72 bobbins.

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Replica of the Chusonji-gumi temple braid

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The temple braid pictured below, the Saidaiji temple braid, required 56 bobbins, and is one of the braids that Tada Makiko studied and replicated on the takadai loom. This braid was thought to be wrapped around a sutra scroll, though some have even been found hidden inside Buddha statues!

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Replica of the Saidaiji temple braid that Tada Makiko has

successfully reproduced and charted for others to learn