Kirikane

Kirikane (截金) is a Japanese decorative technique used for Buddhist statues and paintings, using gold leaf, silver leaf, or platinum leaf cut into lines, diamonds, and triangles.

Kirikane works at the Kyoto State Guest House by Living National Treasure Eri Sayoko

Kirikane works at the Kyoto State Guest House by Eri Sayoko

Kirikane tools

History

Kirikane was imported from China during the Tang dynasty (618–907). The oldest example is Tamamushi Shrine at Hōryū-ji. Kirikane flourished primarily in the 11th century and continued until the 13th or 14th century. After that, however, kirikane almost disappeared, due to the overall decline of Buddhist art.

Technique

Two pieces of leaf (gold or silver, platinum) are heated over an ash-banked fire and bonded together. An additional bonding is then done to further strengthen the leaf and add thickness. Next, the bonded leaf is cut with a bamboo knife on a deer-skin-covered table, then affixed with glue (seaweed glue, funori and hide glue, nikawa, etc.) to the object to be decorated.

See also

• Eri Sayoko, Living National Treasure for kirikane
• Buddharupa

Bibliography

• Sayoko Eri Kirikane World -Brilliance and Romance of Gold Leaf - ISBNISBN 4-915857-59-X

External links

Media related to Kirikane at Wikimedia Commons

• Heian Bussho (平安佛所)