Kiryu - Historical Background of Its Textile-
Kiryu City in Gunma Prefecture, where WASUIAN's head office and factory are located, has long been regarded as one of the leading silk weaving centers of Japan. It has a long history, with the oldest record of Kiryu textiles dating back to the "Shoku Nihongi" compiled about 1,300 years ago. It states that in the year 714, during the Nara Period, a cloth called "Araginu (Ashiki Silk)" was offered from Kozuke Province (now Gunma Prefecture). In the Edo period (1603-1867), there was a known saying: "Nishijin in the West(Kyoto) and Kiryu in the East(Gunma)" and its high skills and quality were widely recognized. These traditions and skills continue to support the culture and industry of Kiryu City.
Kiryu textiles have played an important role in Japanese history. It is said that during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, all the silk battle flags displayed by the Tokugawa forces were woven in Kiryu. For that battle, 54 villages in the Kiryu area worked together to weave 2,410 silk battle flags in one day, which contributed greatly to the support of the Tokugawa Forces. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the area around Kiryu received the patronage of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and silkworm breeding flourished, taking advantage of the rich natural resources, such as the beautiful Kiryu River water. In particular, the fertile soil suitable for the production of mulberry leaves and the adoption of advanced sericulture techniques that started to enter Japan from mainland Asia, helped Kiryu become a major producer of fine silk.
The Battle Feild of Sekigahara
Left Side Flag: Ishida Forces / Right Side Flag: Tokugawa Forces
During the Meiji period (1868-1912), silk fabrics made in Kiryu were exported to other countries from the Yokohama Port, contributing greatly to Japan's foreign exchange earnings and regional prosperity. Also, during this period, the textile industry shifted from handlooms to power looms, and from small home-based manufacturing to large factories, expanding both the production capacity and reach.
In addition, many sites related to the textile industry in this era remain in Kiryu City, which was not heavily damaged during World War II. Because these places were crucial in the modernization of Japan, the city was designated as a "Modernization Heritage Site" in 1992 to promote the preservation and use of these sites.
sawtooth roof
Kennen Memorial Hall
The Legend of Princess Shirataki
The legend, which is believed to have been the foundation of flourishing of Kiryu's textile culture, is still being passed down today.
In the early Heian period (794-1185), during the reign of Emperor Kanmu, a young farmer living in Nitayama, Yamada County, Kozuke Province (present-day Kawauchi district) was assigned to serve the Imperial Court. One day at court, he saw a beautiful princess and fell in love at first sight. Her name was Princess Shirataki. However, this love was not permitted because of their difference in status. Still, the young man, unable to break his love for the princess, spent his days secretly gazing at her from afar.
One day, as if to remind the farmer of the difference between them, Princess Shirataki composed a poem:
「須弥山の 山より高く 咲く花を 心がけるな 山田奴め」
"Oh, a dreamer from the countryside, why try to reach for a flower blooming higher than Mount Sumeru?"
However, the young man, who wasn’t seen as educated or cultured because of his status as a commoner, surprisingly composed a brilliant poem in reply.
「日照りにて 山田の稲も 枯れ果てる 落ちて流れよ 白滝の水」
"Under the scorching sun, even the rice fields of Yamada have withered completely. Oh, the water of Shirataki, please fall down and flow."
**Shirataki means "white waterfall"
The princess was moved by the young man's brilliant waka poetry and gradually became attracted to him. Rumors of their romance spread throughout the court, and the young man again demonstrated his talent for waka poetry before the emperor and was recognized as a brilliant waka poet. With the Imperial Court's permission, the young man married Princess Shirataki and together they returned to his hometown in Kozuke Province.
Princess Shirataki gradually became accustomed to the land of Kozuke Province and began to pass on the weaving techniques she had learned in the capital to the villagers. Under her teachings, many women in the village took up weaving, and the technique quickly spread, with textiles becoming a local specialty.
This is believed to be the birthplace of Kiryu textiles, and the name of Princess Shirataki has been passed down through the generations as a symbol that brought weaving skills and prosperity to the region. This beautiful love story is still familiar to people today as the "Legend of Princess Shirataki," and is a proud part of Kiryu's history.
Shirataki Shrine – the Heart of Textile Deity Worship -
In Kawauchi, Kiryu City (formerly Yamada County), there is the Shirataki Shrine, said to have been built by Princess Shirataki to worship the goddess of textiles, Ameno-Yachichihime no Mikoto. This shrine is deeply connected with Kiryu's textile culture and is the center of the local Shinto worship.
In the precincts of the shrine, there is a hall for sacred dances, called a “Kaguraden,” where the "Shirataki Shrine Taisai Kagura," a city-designated Important Intangible Property of Folk Culture, is dedicated and is still preserved as a traditional performing art. There is also a needle mound where the "Needle Offering Ceremony" is held to offer thanks by sticking sewing needles that have served their purpose into tofu.
Kaguraden
In later years, Princess Shirataki herself came to be worshipped as a deity and was widely respected as the guardian deity of textiles. In addition, there is a stone called "Descent Stone" in the shrine. It is said to be the place where Princess Shirataki's remains were buried after her death.
The legend goes that if a person put their ear to the stone, they could hear the sound of weaving.
Descent Stone
Kiryu-ori: A Legacy Rooted in the Legend and Sacred Heritage
The name of the princess "Shirataki" means a waterfall flowing down like a hanging white cloth. The white cloth symbolizes the sacred place in Shindo beliefs, and it is believed that the cloth fluttering in the wind invites the gods and goddesses to come and take shelter.
People in Kiryu believe that Amenoyachichihime no Mikoto and Princess Shirataki, goddesses of textiles enshrined at the Shirataki Shrine still watch over Kiryu’s textiles. The goddesses and the shrine symbolize the textile culture nurtured in Kiryu and have long been a center of faith for those who support the textile industry. Along with the mystical traditions handed down at the Shirataki Shrine, their presence is deeply engraved in the history and culture of Kiryu, and it continues to be a spiritual pillar of the community.
