Noren, Japan

Noren (door hanging)
Japan
c.1900 - 1925
Cotton
Museum no. FE.50-1982

Noren (door hanging) in blue cotton with large cream circle  surrounding a cream lotus blossom,  Japanese script on bottom left. The lotus flower plays a central  part of Buddhist philosophy - spiritual flowering and unfolding. The stem is the world axis which  supports the flower of the lotus throne, the spiritual  centre. The lotus also signifies time, the unseen all-devouring, the  unfolding of all existence; peace, harmony, union, life, immortality and meditation.