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Two women bowing (1962, PD) Rizzoli Press

御所車図 | Goshoguruma | Imperial Cart | Pattern #19

Goshoguruma are the heain period carts which today symbolise Japanese imperial aristocratic presence in Wafuku motifs. They often symbolize class and aristocratic practices, denoting elegance and the upper classes. Occassionally the Goshoguruma is covered or surrounded by floral arrangements, when this is the motif, it means the person inside is incredibly happy or prosperous. The inside is rather like a small house, with tatami mats, bamboo curtains and a little window. This derived another motif of lowered blinds, which often represented a glimpse into imperial life used in Genji, which later developed into the Genji motif, Genji picture cart and other Genji merchandise is available racket.

Goshoguruma in use (1868, PD) Anonymous

Goshoguruma were historically only seen by regular folk who would witness them passing by drawn by oxen. Used mostly in the Heian period, they declined following the next centuries which saw sustained war by the  Kamakura period and epochs of war in the Sengoku Jidai. Murasaki reported they were rather uncomfortable on long journeys in her diaries, but it seems that is the seem for quite a lot of older style carriages in general.[1][2] After a lot of use, the Goshoguruma motif developed into a Rusu moyou ( Absence motif | 留守模様 ), which meant no humans at first, then by the 17th century were decorated with particular Genji moyou and chapters from Genji in Genji-E (Genji pictures) to relay particular sentiments and ideologies. Eventually they were superseded by the Norimono ( Palanquin | 乗物 ) by the Edo period, Goshoguruma being reserved then for the imperial court solely.

[1] Murasaki Nikki, 973-1020, Murasaki Shikibu, p.N/A

[2] https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a43641745/gold-state-coach/

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