Priest's Robes in the Shoso-in of Japan and their maker

일본 정창원의 가사와 그 제작국

Shoos-in in Nara of Japan has two kinds of Priest's robe(Kasa : 袈裟) ; one is Jiksung Kasa(織成袈裟), the other Janap Kasa(刺納袈裟). The former is listed as the 'Jiksung Kasa of tree bark color in seven stripes' in the Treasures Record(珍寶帳) of objects dedicated by Empress Komyo on the 21st day of the 6th month 756 A.D. The warp threads are brown and the weft threads are in groups of two in two colors-dark blue, green yellow and red. The latter is the so called Janap Kasa, of tree bark colors in seven stripes, that was also dedicated by Empress Komyo, 'Ja' means to stitch, and 'Nap' means to sew. It is made of patches of silk of various color, placed overlapping one another in patterns the resemble a mountainous landscape. All are stitched together in a continous quilt-like manner with purple threads. Japan has been under the strong influence of Korea Buddhism during the Nara period. Acording to Nihonki(日本書紀) and Sokunihonki(續日本紀), from 668 to 769 A.D., Japan has bought numorous objects including Buddhist utensils such as priest's robes and banners from Korea. Also during the same period Japan has perchased many kinds of dyestuffs and paint. So we can be certain that priest’s robes were imported from Korea like many other objects of Shoso-in.