hanakuidorimon 花喰鳥文

A pattern that features flying birds grasping flowers or small branches in their beaks. The design may feature phoenixes, mandarin ducks, or cranes. Originally this was a Persian motif of flying phoenixes with ribbons, frequently seen in Byzantine art, which was transmitted through China to Japan. Thus, variations include flying birds with ribbon, ganjuchōmon 含綬鳥文. The earliest examples in Japan can be found in the treasures in *Shōsōin 正倉院 (Nara), but during the Heian period, this motif became a characteristic Japanese theme associated with good fortune called matsukuizurumon 松喰鶴文 meaning crane with pine branches.