Art Folding Fan / Kaoh (Samurai Monogram) / Ieyasu Tokugawa / Sumi Ink

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

This art piece, titled “Kaoh Art”, is inspired by the Kaoh of Sengoku warlords.

Each design is created by studying the lives and ideals of these noble warriors, distilling their samurai spirit into a single Kaoh character. Every piece is crafted with deep focus and heartfelt intention—no two are ever the same.

We invite you to bring Kaoh Art into your life and feel the unwavering spirit and ambition of the warlords it represents.

Pure Gold Artwork

This luxurious and profound piece is created using pure gold, inspired by the traditional technique of the Konkikinjikyo (Gold-Character Sutra on Dark Blue Paper), which dates back to the Heian period.

We source 99.99% pure gold pigment from a specialized shop in Kyoto. After the gold is applied, the surface of each character is polished using a traditional tool called choki (boar’s tooth). This process crushes and flattens the gold particles, enhancing their brilliance and creating a radiant golden shine.

This work is crafted using time-honored techniques passed down from the masters of the past.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：1200 years ago / 800AD / Heian period in Japan

It is said that Kaoh originated in China around the 5th century. In Japan, they began to be used during the mid-Heian period, around the 10th century, where they were referred to as han (seal) or kakihan (written seal).

By the 11th century, styles had evolved to include designs called nigōtai (two-character combinations), which were decorative forms created by merging the two kanji of a person’s real name. Another variation known as ichijitai (single-character style) also emerged, which used only one character from the name. A shared feature among these styles was that the Kaoh was always based on the user’s name.

During the Kamakura period, as samurai began to write more documents, the use of Kaoh increased. The Kaoh used by the warrior class were called bukeyō, in contrast to those used by the aristocracy, known as kugyōyō.

In the Sengoku period, Kaoh were not necessarily based on the actual names of individuals. Some people began to inherit the Kaoh of their fathers, while in other cases, a Kaoh came to symbolize a specific rank or status. Even today, the Prime Minister of Japan uses a Kaoh as a mark of official authority.

By the Edo period, the use of Kaoh began to decline, especially among commoners such as farmers. In their place, personal seals (hanko) became more widespread. With the Meiji government’s proclamation that documents without official seals would not be recognized in court, the use of Kaoh was significantly reduced.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Suiun Arikawa
Over the past 32 years, I have devoted myself to extensive training and experiences in the art of calligraphy.
While managing a calligraphy school, I now apply the knowledge and techniques I have cultivated—along with my deep understanding of Chinese characters—to the authentic design of Kaoh, a tradition with over a thousand years of history.

Craftsman Passion

Joy of Writing

Through “Joy of Writing”, my mission is to bring a richer life, greater self-confidence, and love to the world.
As a concrete activity, I am dedicated to sharing "Kaoh", a treasured Japanese cultural tradition with a history spanning over a thousand years, with the world and passing it on to the next generation. 

 

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Width：50cm
Height：36.5cm
Weight：50g

Caution

Individual Difference

If not in stock, it will take about 2 months to manufacture.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about three months for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.