Su suggerimento di GiMa

Aya Francisco su Tofugo racconta la storia del particolare rapporto tra il Giappone e gli ombrelli.

Oil-paper umbrellas were a variety invented in China which spread to many neighboring countries. No one knows exactly when umbrellas were invented, but it’s thought they came to Japan via Korea during the Asuka period (538-710). At first umbrellas were such a luxury item that they also had spiritual significance. But over the centuries some changes were made, and by the Edo period umbrellas were much more common. Still, a lot of craft went into making umbrellas. During the Edo period (1603-1868), if you were a samurai short on dough, making umbrellas at home and selling them was an acceptable way to make extra cash. Umbrellas also became a common feature of visual and performing arts.

 

Immagine da Flickr