budō karakusa 葡萄唐草

A Chinese floral pattern *karakusamon 唐草文, composed of curling grape vines, leaves, and fruits. The motif can be traced across the Asian continent from ancient decorative designs on Greek ceramic vessels, Byzantine ivory carvings, Persian silver, and Gandharan reliefs to the Far East. The pattern appears in Chinese brocades, silver, bronze mirrors, religious stone sculpture, and on wall paintings from the Six Dynasties and Tang dynasty. The pattern was introduced to Japan during the 8th century and can be found on dyed textiles and metalwork of the time. Of special note is the decorative use of the pattern on the pedestal *daiza 台座 of Yakushi sanzonzō 薬師三尊像 in Yakushiji Kondō 薬師寺金堂, Nara.