botan karakusa 牡丹唐草

1　Abbreviation of botan karakusagawara 牡丹唐草瓦. A roof tile, often an eaves-end tile, whose pendant edge is decorated with a peony scroll pattern botan karakusamon 牡丹唐草文. See *karakusagawara 唐草瓦.

2　A Chinese floral pattern *karakusamon 唐草文, featuring peony blossoms, botan 牡丹. It appears on Chinese Tang dynasty stone sculpture and crafts, as well as Song dynasty ceramics, lacquerware, and textiles. The peony pattern was widely used because it was a popular symbol of prosperity before its introduction to Japan. In Japan, the motif quickly spread in popularity during the Heian and Kamakura periods. It can be seen, for example, on decorative papers such as the 12th-century waka 和歌 Anthology of 36 Immortal Poets Sanjūrokuninshū 三十六人集 at Nishi Honganji 西本願寺 in Kyoto and on ceremonial robes, such as the one included in the treasures of the Grand Shrine at Kumano Hayatama Taisha 熊野速玉大社 in Wakayama Prefecture. Many variations of the motif were developed and named accordingly. For example, the kanibotanmon 蟹牡丹文 (crab-shaped peony pattern) refers to a design of large peony blossoms and leaves that resemble a crab's claws stretched forward. Other variations include large-blossomed peonies, daibotan 大牡丹, medium-sized peony blossoms, chūbotan 中牡丹, and small peony blossoms, kobotan 小牡丹, as well as single-vine, hitoezuru 一重蔓 and double-vine, futaezuru 二重蔓, motifs.