National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Colorful threads are arranged in Ungen style (expressing colors from dark to pale in step-like tone gradations) and Tasuki-mon patterns are created by combining threads using the Ikkengumi technique. The Ikkengumi is a technique where a pleated thread is combined up and down on each line to create a wide and thin item. As the number of lines increases, it becomes narrow, but thick. Each color thread is made by combining two threads with a different degree of twist and has a voluminous look compared to untwisted threads. It is notable that colorful glass beads and pearls are directly threaded in advance and combined together rather than attaching them after combining threads. It is therefore a very rare item, which is not even seen in those held in the Shosoin. It was probably used for the clothing of people of noble ranking. According to the temple biography, it is "the Emperor Shomu's Ganrou Gyokutai."