Fish bag - Gyotai

An accessory of the nobles' attire. It was worn around the waist when wearing the sokutai, the court dress. It was modeled on the Chinese Tang Dynasty's fish seal system, and was originally a pass to enter and leave the imperial court, becoming an accessory. The way it was worn varied depending on the clan, but it was usually tied between the first and second stones of the stone belt and hung from the right hip. In ancient times, gold or silver fish figures were placed in a bag made of the same fabric as the robe, and the number of knots on the string differentiated rank, but later, a small box wrapped in sharkskin was decorated with six small gold or silver fish figures on the front and one on the back, with purple or scarlet braided cord on top. Gold fish bags were used by kings and ministers of third rank or higher, and silver fish bags by those of fourth and fifth rank.

[Takada Yamato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

公家(くげ)服装の付属品。朝服である束帯着用のときに腰に帯びる。中国、唐の魚符の制に倣ったもので、朝廷に出入するときの証契（通行証）が装飾品となった。着け方は肥瘠(ひせき)により異なるが、普通、石帯の第一、第二の石の間に結んで右腰に下げる。古代には、金または銀の魚形を位袍(いほう)と同じ生地でつくった袋に入れ、その紐(ひも)の結び数で階級の上下を分けたが、のちには、鮫皮(さめがわ)で包んだ小さな箱の表側に金または銀製の小さな魚の形6個、裏側に1個を飾り、その上に紫か緋(ひ)の組紐をつけた。金の魚袋は諸王および諸臣の三位以上、銀の魚袋は四位、五位の者が用いた。

［高田倭男］

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