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

Sen is a kind of rug made from felt that is a fabric produced by matting animal hair together while adding steam, pressure and friction. There are two types of Sen, which are Hakusen in white (the natural color of animal hair) and Hisen in red. There are similar ones held in the Shosoin, but Kasen, which is in various colors and has gorgeous patterns of Kaki-mon (flowers and ornamental plants pattern) and large Chinese flower patterns, is attracting a great deal of attention. According to the investigation into materials made by the Shosoin, the animal hair used for these Sen and Kasen is reported to be the hair of goats that mainly inhabit Central Asia. At present, Sen is still used by the nomads in areas including Central Asia, West Asia and Mongolia, which are said to be production areas of goats. The Hisen and Hakusen that were handed down to Horyu-ji Temple and presented to the emperor of the time (Horyu-ji Kennou Homotsu) were said to have been made of wool, but given the examples in the Shosoin, there is a high possibility that they were made of goat hair.