You may have seen Japanese sliding doors, hanging strolls, or calligraphy paper etc,
decorated with sand-like, tiny squared, or string-like gold/silver leaves.
All of them are works of Japanese traditional gilding techniques: sunago, kirihaku, and
noge, respectively.

These techniques have frequently starred in creating decorated paper called ryoshi,
that have been used for letters, hanging strolls or fans in Japan. We would like to
introduce you to the world of these Japanese unique gilding techniques.

Sunago

Sunago literally translates to “sand,” as the scattered metallic leaves just seem like the
grains of sand.

The beginning of this traditional technique dates to the 12 th century, being used for
Buddhist scripture (Heike-Nokyo) or picture strolls (Genji Monogatari Emaki). Being
very classic, yet sunago gilding hardly requires professional skills to have beautiful
finish, in contrast to the authentic gildings which require much experiences and
techniques.

We hope both master gilders who have further interests in Japanese traditional skills
AND the beginner gilders could try out and enjoy gilding with sunago technique.

Kirihaku

Gold/silver leaves cut into small squares are called kirihaku. The square shape is
considered to have something to do with the philosophy of Yin-Yang (duality of the
universe: squares represent the negativity/shadows and circles represent
positivity/brightness) that was popular in the Heian era (the 8 th century~).

Traditionally, metallic leaves are cut out with bamboo knives to produce kirihaku.
Shizendo has kirihaku with a range of sizes as products, ready to go for your
craftworks.

Noge

Gold/silver leaves cut into string-shape in a very delicate process is called noge or
kirikane. The application of this technique is observed in Motonagahon Kokin
Wakashu, at the end of the Heian period (the 12 th century). We also have noge already
cut and ready to go.

Tutorials

We would like to share with you about how these techniques of Sunago, Kirihaku and
Noge working in practice.

Items Used

• Gold Flakes
• Kirihaku
• Noge
• Sunago Stick
• Brush for Sunago
• Bamboo Tweezers
• NikawaGlue
• TatakiFude