moyō 模様

Any two-dimensional pattern. Also used more specifically to refer to decorative motifs or patterns of repeated motifs set against a solid or blank background (also called *mon'yō 文様 or gara 柄). Although the term moyō is often interchanged loosely in present usage with the term mon'yō the character mo 模, meaning the wooden molds used to form clay objects, alludes to the idea of a repeatable pattern. For motifs of a more detailed and pictorial nature, the term e-moyō 絵模様 is used.