Flower Garland - Keman

It is one of the ornaments used for decoration in Buddhist temples. Originally it was a flower decoration worn in the hair, and in India it was made into a garland of fresh flowers and worn around the neck. This became a Buddhist custom to place on the neck or shoulders of statues as a form of memorial service. In Japan it came to be hung on beams and transoms as an ornament for the interior of Buddhist halls, and was made from wood, metal, animal skin, and other materials. Some are in the form of a painted wooden garland, some in the shape of a fan made of gilded bronze, and others made of highly colored cowhide. The gilt bronze garland (national treasure) at Chusonji Temple in Iwate Prefecture and the painted cowhide garland (national treasure, formerly owned by Toji Temple in Kyoto) at Nara National Museum are famous as representative art works of the Heian period.

[Shinichi Nagai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仏教寺院の荘厳具(しょうごんぐ)の一つ。もとは髪に挿す花飾りのことで、インドでは生花を花輪にして首にかけたりした。それが仏教の風習として仏像の首や肩にかけて供養の法の一つとなった。日本ではさらに仏堂内部の荘厳具として、梁(はり)や欄間(らんま)にかけるようになり、木、金属、獣皮などを素材にしてつくられた。なかには木製彩色の花輪の形をしたものもあり、青銅に鍍金(めっき)をした団扇(うちわ)型のものや、牛皮に極彩色を施したものもある。岩手県中尊寺の金銅華鬘（国宝）や奈良国立博物館の牛皮彩色華鬘（国宝、京都東寺(とうじ)旧蔵）は平安期の工芸品を代表するものとして名高い。

［永井信一］

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