Kofukusa – “White Rabbit Rowing beneath the Crescent Moon

This exquisite Kofukusa (古帛紗) by Kitamura Tokusai (北村徳齋) was created for the Year of the Rabbit (卯) and features a poetic design titled “Shoha Hakuto Shijima-gire” (祥波白兎静寂裂).

Since ancient times in Japan, the white rabbit has been regarded as a particularly auspicious symbol. An old saying, “The white rabbit lives for a thousand years” (白兎は寿千年), associates the animal with longevity and good fortune, and rabbit motifs can be found in many traditional meibutsu-gire textiles.

The design is inspired by “Moon Rabbit Rowing a Boat” (月兎漕舟図) by Minamoto no Nagatsune. A white rabbit quietly rows beneath a crescent moon, its journey expressed through the delicate texture of Shaori weaving (紹紦織り). The composition evokes a serene moonlit landscape filled with stillness, movement, and poetic imagination.

The rabbit also carries a deeper connection to the moon in Buddhist tradition. According to the story referenced by Kitamura Tokusai, the rabbit was raised to the moon in recognition of its virtue after offering itself in place of the Buddha.

The imagery also recalls a verse from the Noh play Chikubushima (竹生島):

As the moon floats upon the sea,
even the rabbit seems to race across the waves—
what a wondrous island scene.

A beautifully symbolic textile that brings together the moon, white rabbit, waves, and quiet night, making it particularly meaningful for Tsukimi, autumn Chanoyu, and rabbit-themed tea gatherings.

Maker: Kitamura Tokusai (北村徳齋)
Type: Kofukusa (古帛紗)
Design: Shoha Hakuto Shijima-gire (祥波白兎静寂裂)
Motif: White Rabbit, Crescent Moon & Waves
Technique: Shaori Weaving (紹紦織り)
Theme: Year of the Rabbit / Tsukimi / Moon & Rabbit
Made in: Kyoto, Japan