Kimono Explained #3 - Animal Patterns
We took an unexpected break from our Kimono Explained series, but we’re back this month with a new topic! In the last article, we explored 10 of the most popular floral patterns found on kimono. Floral motifs are often paired with other symbolic elements - like animals!
This month, we’re diving into some of the most popular animal designs featured on kimono, including birds, turtles, rabbits, and more.
1. 鶴 Tsuru - The Crane
- Longevity
- Fidelity & enduring love
- Marital harmony
One of the most symbolic and sacred patterns found on kimono. Believed to live for a thousand years and mate for life, the crane is a symbol for a long and happy marriage. This pattern is often seen on wedding kimonos, and suitable for other festive occasions.
2. 鴛鴦 Oshidori - The Mandarin Duck
- Enduring love
- Marital harmony
- Good luck
Mandarin ducks are revered for forming lifelong partnerships, making them a powerful symbol of unwavering loyalty and devotion in marriage. Depicting a pair of mandarin ducks together on a kimono serves as a blessing for newly married couples. Another popular design for wedding garments.
3. 燕 Tsubame - The Swallow
- Fertility & safe child birth
- Matchmaking
- Safety & good health
Swallow symbolises the arrival of spring in Japan. They are considered symbols for family harmony, safe child birth and good health as it was believed that they build their nests in the same place every year to raise their young.
4. 兎 Usagi - Rabbit
- Advancement in life
- Fertility
- Longevity
Rabbits are seen as messengers of the gods and symbol for good luck. They are also associated with the moon and the moon rabbit legend, representing cleverness and devotion. Due to their characteristic forward motion, rabbits symbolise advancement in life. Their high reproductive rate connects them to fertility and the concept of renewal or new beginnings.
5. 亀 Kame - Turtle
- Longevity
- Good health
- Strength & stability
The turtle is a long-lived animal, and a legend claims they can live for ten thousand years, making the turtle pattern a wish for a long and healthy life. The hexagon is a geometrically strong shape found in nature, such as in beehives, which further reinforces the sense of stability and reliability conveyed by the pattern.
6. 鯉 Koi - Koi Fish
- Success & advancement in life
- Overcoming obstacles
- Growth
The koi’s legendary ability to swim upstream against powerful currents symbolises the strength and ability to overcome obstacles. Koinobori (鯉のぼり), = ‘carp streamer’ are carp-shaped windsocks traditionally flown in Japan for Children’s Day, a national holiday to celebrate the health, happiness and wellbeing of children.
7. 蝶 Chou - Butterfly
- Growth
- Longevity
- Beauty
A butterfly pattern on a kimono symbolises beauty, femininity and transformation, reflecting the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly, and often represents the coming-of-age of young women into adulthood. The butterfly’s graceful form and delicate wings are seen as a symbol of beauty and elegance, and this pattern was loved by the nobles during the Heian Period (794~1180).
8. 蜻蛉 Tonbo - Dragonfly
- Victory
- Progress
- Strength
Due to its ability to fly only forward, the dragonfly symbolises courage, strength, and good fortune, earning it the nickname “victory insect”. It is also associated with a good harvest as it thrives in rice paddies, linking to the land and prosperity. Dragonflies are a timeless motif, especially popular on summer kimonos - Yukata (浴衣).
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From graceful cranes to powerful dragonflies, each animal motif carries its own story - woven with wishes for love, health, growth and good fortune.
In Japanese culture, selecting the right patterns and types of kimono for certain occasions is not only traditional, but deeply meaningful.
Understanding the symbolism behind each design adds a new layer of appreciation - and makes choosing a kimono for a special event that much more fun and intentional!
We hope this look into animal patterns has sparked your curiosity and deepened your connection to the art of kimono. Stay tuned for the next edition of Kimono Explained - and as always, thank you for joining us in celebrating the beauty of tradition through mindful fashion.
Talk soon x
Maki