Journal of Student Research 2019

Journal of Student Research

Tradition and Modernization: the Survival of the Japanese Kimono

132

133

Tradition and Modernization: the Survival of the Japanese Kimono

Pakou Vang 1 Senior, Apparel Design and Development

Advisor: Dr. Sheri Marnell

Abstract The kimono is a historical garment that has been carved into the history and culture of Japan for over a thousand years, originating as everyday clothing and later becoming traditional wear. With the development of globalization, the garment and its features have spread throughout the world. However, because of globalization, the kimono has lost much of the traditional and cultural background as interest in the development of the kimono as an art form decline. Although in recent years the kimono has made a comeback in fashion as Japanese trends become popular, the knowledge of the techniques to create the kimono has not spread. Analyzing the historical garment based on its evolvement in history along with globalization; can open the discussion on the declined artform and what Japanese society perceives about the kimono in the modern era by looking at ways the garment is preserved. 着 ) meaning “to wear” (Ito, 2012). The kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that has existed for over a thousand years in Japanese history. Originally the garment was called gofuku ( 物 呉服 ) meaning “clothing of Wu” due to origins from the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) of China (Fercility, 2017). Through the influence of Chinese fashion with collars and sleeves, the kimono took shape during the second half of the Kofun era (250 CE-538 CE). Introduced during this era, it was not until the Heian period (794 CE-1185 CE) that the garment started to become an art form and the basic wear of Japanese culture (Inoue, 1999). The name changed to kimono during the Taisho era (1912-1926), but many still use the name gofuku . As the kimono progressed through history, it has changed its form and meaning to encompass not only the Japanese culture but also, the historical happenings throughout the eras and social classes of Japan. These changes, although 物 呉服 ), meaning “object to wear” deriving from the Japanese kanji ki ( 着物 着 物 呉服 ) meaning an “object or thing” and mono ( 着物 着 物 呉服 着物 着 Keywords: Kimono, motif, Japan, culture Introduction Kimono ( 着物

1

Pakou Vang is a McNair Scholar (Ed.).

Table of Contents

Table of Contents