Wagara (和柄)
Six traditional Japanese patterns. I came here looking for a background pattern for the site and ended up wanting to keep notes on all of them. Each pattern has a meaning — they were used on kimono linings, baby clothes, sliding doors, and the meaning was often as important as the form.
Opacity is bumped to 25% here so the shapes are visible. The Shippō running behind this site sits at around 6% — quiet enough that you might not notice it on first visit, present enough to feel like paper rather than a screen.
七宝
Shippō
shippō — seven treasures
Overlapping circles. Auspicious — the seven Buddhist treasures. Quiet, eternal, low-frequency. The one I picked for the background of this site.
麻の葉
Asanoha
asa-no-ha — hemp leaf
Hexagonal star — historically used on baby clothes for health and growth. Geometric, balanced.
青海波
Seigaiha
seigaiha — blue ocean waves
Concentric arcs forming scales — peace, tranquility, good fortune. Strong summer/water association.
亀甲
Kikkō
kikkō — tortoise shell
Hexagons — longevity and stability. Cleaner than asanoha, more architectural.
矢絣
Yagasuri
yagasuri — arrow feathers
Diagonal arrow fletching — irreversible direction, given to brides as a charm of resolve.
紗綾形
Sayagata
sayagata — interlocking key
Interlocking manji (卍) — peace and prosperity. Scholarly, precise, formal.