suminagashi 墨流し

A paper decoration design *ryōshi sōshoku 料紙装飾 similar to a marble design. A few drops of ink *sumi 墨 are poured onto the surface of water and then a sheet of *washi 和紙 is dropped on top. The flowing ink creates a wave pattern on the paper. While various types of paper are used for the process, *ganpishi 雁皮紙 is used most often. In addition to black ink, vegetable dyes such as indigo *ai 藍 and safflower red *beni 紅 are also used. The earliest example of suminagashi can be found in the early 12th-century anthology Sanjūrokuninshū 三十六人集 from Nishihonganji 西本願寺, Kyoto. Since ancient times, the suminagashi technique has been used on cloth as well as paper. A similar technique is also used on lacquer and ceramic wares.