Thin

A general term for thin-woven silk fabrics, referring to single-layer summer clothing made from fabrics such as ro, sha, akashi, and echigo jofu. It means "light cloth," "usuginu," or "thin fabric," and as can be seen in the "Nihon Shoki," it appears to have been used as clothing from a very long time ago, and is often found in the "Engishiki." Underwear can be seen through it, giving it a very cool look, and it can be said to be a typical summer item.

In haiku, it is a summer seasonal word, and in the preface to "Hisago" (1690), it appears as "The shape of the flowers, adorned by the sun, is like a flower in a veil" (Kyokusui).

[Toshihiko Uda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

薄織の絹布の総称で、絽(ろ)、紗(しゃ)、明石(あかし)、越後上布(えちごじょうふ)のような生地でつくった夏用の単衣(ひとえ)の衣類をいう。「軽羅(けいら)」「薄絹(うすぎぬ)」「薄機(うすばた)」の意で、『日本書紀』にすでにみられるように、きわめて古くから衣料として用いられたらしく、『延喜式(えんぎしき)』にもしばしば現れている。下着が透けて見え、たいへん涼しげで、夏を彩る代表的な風物となっているといってよい。

　俳諧(はいかい)では夏の季語で、『ひさご』（1690年序）に「羅に日をいとはるゝ御かたち」（曲水）などとある。

［宇田敏彦］

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