Silk temple cloth, Japan, Edo (dated 1845), cm165x80. This is an ‘uchishiki’, a cloth of rich silk used to decorate altars in Buddhist temples. The origin of the uchishiki can be traced back to the lifetime of Shakyamuni Buddha. During the Buddha's time a custom was established of spreading out fine pieces of cloth for the Buddha to sit on when preaching to his disciples and others assembled to hear him. The cloth would be spread out and the disciples would bow in reverence to the Buddha with their foreheads touching the cloth at his feet. It later came to decorate the altar tables of temples on special occasions of hearing the Buddha's teaching. The brocade cloth we are offering here depicts horizontally alternating rows of dragons - shaped as roundels - and cloudbands with flaming pearls in delicate shades of white and light blue, on a golden greenish silk background. The choice of colors and motifs, are quite typical of 18th century fabrics. It is lined with hand-spun, hand-woven cotton and profusely inscribed by the devotee who presented it to the temple. From inscriptions we know this uchishiki was presented during ‘Kouka 2’, that is 1845. Therefore, my guess is that the cloth was obtained by patching dismissed 18th century fabrics used for decades before taking the way to temple. The quality of inscription of the B-side alone should prompt the connoisseur to appreciate this big cloth that, however, shows its best when looked from the front. Unfortunately, so many years of life have left signs, with prominent staining, holes and frays, particularly on the silks. All in all, i would say only 50% of cloth retained its original color and condition, and this will of course reflect on asking price. Nonetheless, in my eyes at least, all this detracts just bits from the intrinsic appeal of this object, that literally glows when struck by light. a lot of beauty for a small price.