temple banner, Japan, Taisho (dated 1915), cm 740x63. This is a long banner that was offered to a Shinto shrine. On an hand-woven cotton cloth dyed medium indigo the tsutsugaki artist first pictured the family crest of presenter, then a number of augural ‘kanji’ characters, the year when flag was offered, Taisho 3 (1915), and finally a lovely artistic rendering of a ritual sacrifice table. The cloth has been hanging outside the temple for some time, so it shows some wear, tiny holes and staining evidences of its use, but retains all of the mystic power from the early days. Intriguing.