Tenugui Towel Chusen Dye | Hoshimatsuri no yoru

What is Tenugui?

手拭  Tenugui are Japanese traditional hand towels and they are used in many ways and so versatile.

The materials are thin, made of cotton and have unique patterns.

You might have seen that Japanese men wear it around their head or neck to wipe their sweat during the summer too.

Tenugui have a lot of cultural history so make great gifts and souvenirs.

The size of Tenugui is approx. 30cm x 90cm and it has become popular as a wall decoration with a tapestry rod.

What is Chusen Dye 注染?

This Tenugui was dyed with a technique called ‘Chusen Dye’.

Chusen dye is a traditional Japanese dyeing method started in Edo period (17th century) and one of the most beautiful techniques.

With this method it can be dyed using multiple colors at once, creating elaborated designs than printing.

How it is done

-A paper pattern (made of Japanese washi hardened with persimmon tannin) is glued on the undyed part of the cloth

-A small wall is made on the part to be dyed with a tool similar to a cake piping

-The dye is poured on the inside of the wall to dye the cloth with a ‘Yakan – something like watering can’

I wrote it very briefly, but you can watch this Youtube video for more details.

Definitely it is an art of work!

About this Tenugui

星祭りの夜 Hoshimatsuri no yoru meaning ‘the night of star festival’.

In Japan there is a festival called ‘七夕 Tanabata‘

Tanabata is based on the legendary meeting of two stars, Hikoboshi and Orihime, which are represented by Altair and Vega, respectively.

On the night of July 7, when Orihime and Hikoboshi cross the Milky Way and meet only once a year.

People write their wishes on strips of paper and decorate it on bamboo branches, which is said to make their wishes come true.

This Tenugui features the bamboo branches with colourful strips of paper on a beautiful night full of stars.

It would be nice to decorate it on a wall with our tapestry rod from here.

Note: The top and bottom of the fabric is not hemmed usually.  This allows fabric to dry faster and not accumulating unwanted germs.  The fabric will fray but will stop with time.  Cut off the loose threads and allow the fabric to age gracefully.