Kakemono

A Kakemono (Japanese掛け物) or Kakejiku (掛け軸) is a Japanese portrait- roll image. It involves a paper or silk bow that is painted or written in ink or water colors and shall be taken at the upper and lower end by a round rod. Here, the high Tatejiku (立轴) from the wide Yokojiku (横轴) is distinguished. In contrast, the Makimono (巻 物) is a long roll that is stabilized on both sides by a rod.

Kakemono unrolled especially on holidays or to visit a special guest and hung on the wall or in a traditional image niche Tokonoma. The Makimono is usually rolled out on the floor, and otherwise kept rolled. In a Japanese tea house a Kakemono is usually part of an arrangement together with an Ikebana to support the calming mood for the Japanese tea ceremony. Unlike the Japanese folding screen a Kakemono can be quickly exchanged and stored.

Of importance in the tea ceremony are Kakaemono with calligraphic Buddhist aphorisms ( Kōan ) that are chosen to match the Chajin the occasion and always have a meditative background.

History

The Kakemono (Chinese挂/挂图, Pinyin gua4tu2 ) was introduced into Japan from China during the Heian period, where there also exists to this day. Early forms were mainly Buddhists as religious images or as a medium for their calligraphy and poetic writings. It was not until the Muromachi period were landscapes, flowers and birds to the favorite motifs of scrolls. Today it is increasingly also scrolls with Japanese manga art or images with popular kung fu actors in the form of the traditional picture scrolls.