This pattern is from a traditional Japanese design called shippō or “seven-treasures”. The interlocking circles of shippō are said to represent the seven treasures of Bhuddism. Similar linked circle designs are found in many cultures through-out the world. The shippō or shippō-tsunagi(lit. linked seven tresures) design has been used as a motif in Japanese textile decoration since at least the Nara period (645-794). It is quite possible it was in use long before that, but there are few surviving samples of textiles from before then. A piece of fabric exists in the Shōsō-in collection with a similar shippō design done in shibori.

p. Shippō motifs are used in all forms of textile decoration, and are often used as an all over background pattern in a subtle color shift from the ground color, with the main designs layed above. This particular variant of the shippō motif is based on a stencil found in the excellent book Carved Paper – The Art of the Japanese Stencil.

shippō on indigo
(20×20 pixels)

shippō with transparent background
(20×20 pixel)

shippō with indigo background
(40×40 pixel)

shippō with transparent background
(40×40 pixel)

shippō with indigo background
(60×60 pixel)

shippō with transparent background
(60×60 pixel)

If some of the images appear blank—just a thin line frame around nothing—then your browser (most likely IE) has an issue displaying transparent .png files. The image is there, right click on the “empty” box and “Save Picture As” or “Save Target As”.

One last traditional Bishamon pattern. This one is known as maru Bishamon. It is another interlocking pattern, and one that I have long admired. Except what it shares with the Bishamon-kikko pattern, I don’t know much of the history of this pattern. I have seen this pattern in use primarily in sashiko and katazome textile decorations.

This time around I have the images in 23×26 pixel, 40×46 pixel and 56×64 pixel resolutions—both indigo backed and transparent. If anyone knows more of the historical and cultural background of these patterns please let me know. Also if you want these downsized from the original vector files.

maru bishamon with indigo background
(23×26 pixel)

maru bishamon with transparent background
(23×26 pixel)

maru bishamon on indigo
(40×46 pixels)

maru bishamon with transparent background
(40×46 pixel)

maru bishamon with indigo background
(56×64 pixel)

maru bishamon with transparent background
(56×64 pixel)

If some of the images appear blank—just a thin line frame around nothing—then your browser (most likely IE) has an issue displaying transparent .png files. The image is there, right click on the “empty” box and “Save Picture As” or “Save Target As”.

Here is a second traditional Bishamon pattern. Except what it shares with the Bishamon-kikko pattern, I don’t know much of the history of this pattern.

This pattern, again like the Bishamon-kikko pattern, is used on all forms of clothing and can be found in many other forms of traditional art in Japan. It appears in sashiko, shibori and katazome textile decorations.

This time around I have the images in 60×60 pixel and 40×40 pixel resolutions—both indigo backed and transparent. Pick your poison. Again the files are public domain, although I sure wouldn’t mind a link and attribution by way of a nod if you do use them. As for why the deep indigo color, it is simply because that is the traditional color of much of the shibori dying.

bishamon on indigo
(20×20 pixels)

bishamon with transparent background
(20×20 pixel)

bishamon on indigo
(40×40 pixels)

bishamon with transparent background
(40×40 pixel)

bishamon with indigo background
(60×60 pixel)

bishamon with transparent background
(60×60 pixel)

If some of the images appear blank—just a thin line frame around nothing—then your browser (most likely IE) has an issue displaying transparent .png files. The image is there, right click on the “empty” box and “Save Picture As” or “Save Target As”.

The strip on the left above is a background pattern I recently decided to make. It is based on (ok ripped directly from) a traditional Japanese pattern. The pattern is known (at least in most references I have) as Bishamon-kikko. I don’t know much history of the pattern overall. I do know Bishamon (or as the warrior Hachiman) is a protector of Bhuddist law and is one of the Shichi-fuku-jin: the 7 Japanese gods of fortune. Bishamon brings good fortune—to the poor especially—and is the patron of priests, doctors and soldiers. Bishimon-kikko is an interlocking toroiseshell design often seen on armor fabrics and armor padding.

The pattern is used on all forms of clothing and can be found in many other forms of traditional art in Japan. I have seen it used in sashiko, shibori, katazome, and kirei sabi decorations. My own use of it has been exclusivily in shibori where the design is more abstracted due to the nature of the resist techniques I used. I think I should execute it in katazome very soon.

The background pattern was created in MacroMedia Fireworks and I have both the 40×40 pixel white on indigo (the background image for the <div> at left above) and a white on transparent 40×40 pixel image for you at right below. The white on transparent file can be used to create your own color combinations quite easily in just about any graphics application. The files are public domain, although I sure wouldn’t mind a link and attribution by way of a nod if you do use them.

bishamon-kikko on indigo

bishamon-kikko with transparent background

If you can’t see the second Bishamon-kikko image then your browser has an issue displaying transparent .png files. The image is there, right click on the “empty” box and “Save Picture As” or “Save Target As”.