ungenberi 繧繝縁

A decorated cloth binding used for the border of a straw mat *tatami 畳. Cloud, sun and moon designs were printed and outlined by bands of several shades of the same color. This shading was known as *ungen zaishiki 繧繝彩色. In the Edo period, indigo or pale blue flower of diamond shapes were woven into vertical columns onto a red background, a technique known as ungen-nishiki 繧繝錦. A tatami border of this material was also called ungenberi. Originally used only by the emperor, but from the Heian period, it was gradually adopted by retired emperors, Crown Princes, Imperial Princes and the lines of regents. Tatami bordered with ungenberi were also found in the inner sanctuaries of Shinto shrines jinja naijin 神社内陣.