Japanese USE KNOTS for BUTTONS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1164, 3 November 1917, Page 12 (Supplement)

Japanese USE KNOTS for BUTTONS

THE Japanese have no, use for buttons, buckles, or hooks and eyes. Cord serves every purpose of fastening, and furnishes artistic possibilities seemingly without end. The Japanese have hundreds of knots, made necessary by the ornamental use of cord. Some are as old as the time when history was recorded by a series of knots, just as it was in China arid Peru before writing was invented. There are dozens of knots in common and ceremonial usage, and these every child can tiein one educational museum of Japan is a great frame of the most beautiful knots, tied in silken and golden thread. This had formed a part of Japan's exhibit at a certain world's fair. For six months this wonderful collection had hung upon the wall, and only two visitors had noticed and inquired about it. Even

these thought the knots must be industrial samples intended for dress trimmings. No one ottered to buy the unique exhibit, no museum begged for it, and the wonderful knots were taken home again. There is an appeal to the imagination even in the knots intended forcommon use. There are plum blossom, cherry blossom, iris, chrysanthemum, and pine-tree knots. There are fujiyama knots, turtle and stork knots, the "old man's," which is easy to tie, and the "old woman's" also. There is one way of knotting a cord when sending a New Year's or birthday gift, and another for doing up a funeral offering. There is one way to tie the brocade bag of tho tea-jar when it is full; and another when it is empty. A sword-bag, a flag or spear bag, a dispatch-bag, or the box containing some preciour piece of porcelain or lacquer, miwi each be tied in a certain way.