White kimono - an intriguing color confusion

Colorful airy robes inspired by the Japanese kimono have been making their way back into the leading trends of Western fashion for a few seasons now. We quite rightly associate this traditional Eastern garment with long, finely flowing sleeves and beautiful, colorful patterns. The white kimono is rather rare, although there are times when it too is in use.

White kimono in different contexts

European fascination with the Orient is not a new phenomenon, the kimono itself has been known and worn in the West for more than a century and a half. Pop culture has been dominated for many years by manga, anime, Japanese games and horror movies. It is in the latter that we can most often see dark-haired and pale-skinned characters clad in white traditional robes - the Japanese imagine the spirit in just this way.

Shinishozoku is the kimono in which the deceased is dressed. According to tradition, it is white, just as the mourners' clothes used to be white. Today, relatives and friends of the deceased, probably influenced by Western currents, are much more likely to choose black clothing. Looking at a traditional Japanese funeral, one might get the impression that white is the color of death and mourning. Meanwhile, kannushi - Shintoist priests and brides are also dressed in the same colors.

White a sign of mourning? ...Not only!

The broader context usually proves essential in deciphering cultural puzzles. After all, while a bride could be linked to mourning associated with abandoning her former state, the matter seems a bit more difficult in the case of a priest celebrating temple rituals. Centuries ago, white robes were already put on by the emperor when he set about performing religious ceremonies, later the custom was adopted by priests. The bride, the kannushi during the ritual and the deceased - contrary to appearances, this configuration is not accidental. The unifying element between these characters is the ritual purity they must necessarily maintain. Each of the representatives of these three groups undergoes ablutions, a ritual washing of the body. Whiteness in this context is a sign of purity and innocence, rather than bitterness and regret.

The bride's wedding kimonos

In a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, the bride usually appears in two outfits. In the first she appears at the temple and it is the aforementioned white kimono, but later it is replaced by another creation. By the way, it is worth mentioning that the white garment is accompanied by a rather peculiar headdress. It is said to be so large because it must hide the bride's horns well. From the day of the wedding, a woman is supposed to obey her husband - so the wedding "hat" becomes a symbol of this submission.

The wedding in every tradition is a rite of passage associated with a radical transformation of social status. This is well illustrated by the change of creation the bride makes. In Japan, the white wedding kimono is associated with purity, but also with death at the same time - it represents the bride's departure from her former family. The colorful garment worn later, usually red, on the other hand, is a sign of re-birth in the spouse's family.

Great consternation caused by a "small" change

The white kimono of a bride, a heavenly man and a Shinto priest are not the same garment, of course - the cut and material are different, the name is different, and the garments are also worn differently. Every Japanese kimono is dressed so that the left side overlaps the right. The only exception is the shinishozoku applied to the deceased.

To us, this subtle change may seem like an insignificant nuance. However, when we plan to go to the Land of the Cherry Blossom, this detail is worth remembering. When we try on this traditional garment, we can easily embarrass the Japanese if we mistakenly mistake the sides. After all, in a reversed kimono, we will look as if we are about to set off into the afterlife.