Silk temple cloth, Japan, Showa 13 (1939), cm 81x112. This is an ‘uchishiki’, a rectangular cloth of rich silk used to cover the front of 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. This actual piece shows embroidered dragons (symbol of male vigor and fertility) holding the flaming pearl, in form of roundels, onto a night blue silk background amid an array of golden threads defining and outlining a bold pattern of surrounding clouds. The result is impressive. The cloth has been backed with cotton, where in kanji character is reported the name of person who presented it to the temple on Showa 13, that is 1939 (the cloth itself might be earlier though). Apart from some evident staining on cotton backing, the condition is good with only tiny areas of wear and a couple of loose threads on embroidery. a strong statement of design and a lovely thing to own.