# Kirikane

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(截金, ***Kirikane***) is a Japanese decorative technique used for [Buddhist](/source/Buddhist) [statues](/source/Statues) and [paintings](/source/Paintings), using [gold leaf](/source/Gold_leaf), [silver](/source/Silver) leaf, or [platinum](/source/Platinum) leaf cut into [lines](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/line), [diamonds](/source/Diamonds), and [triangles](/source/Triangles).

## History

*Kirikane* was imported from China during the [Tang dynasty](/source/Tang_dynasty) (618–907). The oldest example is [Tamamushi Shrine](/source/Tamamushi_Shrine) at [Hōryū-ji](/source/H%C5%8Dry%C5%AB-ji). *Kirikane* flourished primarily in the 11th century and continued until the 13th or 14th century. After that, however, *kirikane* almost disappeared, due to the overall decline of Buddhist art.

## Technique

Two pieces of leaf (gold or silver, platinum) are heated over an [ash](/source/Wood_ash)-banked fire and bonded together. An additional bonding is then done to further strengthen the leaf and add thickness. Next, the bonded leaf is cut with a [bamboo](/source/Bamboo) [knife](/source/Knife) on a [deer](/source/Deer)-skin-covered table, then affixed with glue (seaweed glue, *funori* and *hide* glue, *nikawa*, etc.) to the object to be decorated.

## See also

- [Eri Sayoko](/source/Eri_Sayoko), Living National Treasure for *kirikane*
- *[Buddharupa](/source/Buddharupa)*

## Bibliography

- Sayoko Eri Kirikane World -Brilliance and Romance of Gold Leaf - ISBNISBN 4-915857-59-X

## External links

- [Heian Bussho (平安佛所)](http://www.heian-bussho.com/eindex.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193045/http://www.heian-bussho.com/eindex.html) 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kirikane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirikane) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirikane?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.