Why it's wrong that I want this outfit

[gurdymonkey]

Screenshot of Mieko Harada as Kaede, from Kurosawa's Ran. http://www.kurosawamovies.com/gallery/main.php

Well, for one thing, Kaede is the Goneril character in Kurosawa's adaptation of the King Lear story to feudal Japan. I'm not all sweetness and light, but she's way meaner than I am. 

For another, see the triangles all over her kosode? That's a serpent scale motif, traditionally used in Noh costumes worn by the Hannya, a woman who is turned into a demon by her own jealousy.
https://eee.uci.edu/clients/sbklein/images/NOH/nohmasks/pages/surihaku.htm shows two examples of snake scale Noh robes.

Lastly, she dies in it.

It's still freaking gorgeous though.

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

See, all this cool cultural reference stuff that went completely past me when I saw this movie eons ago as a teenager... :D

Yeah, she's nasty, but she has a valid motive. I can't blame her too much.

And the "arrow bundle example" is a rip-off from Genghis Khan, I believe.

[takadai-no-tora.livejournal.com]

It is freaking gorgeous.
Her sleeves are interesting; the openings seem bigger than most kosode, but they're still partway sewn closed. Maybe a theatrical costume necessity? It looks to me like she's got her outer layer off her shoulders and hanging down around her waist, am I seeing that right?
The color combination with the cream/bronze/black/red is great; I may have to steal it for a braid.

[eleryth.livejournal.com]

It's gorgeous! I've never seen the movie, unfortunately. I'd love to see your version, should you ever decide to make one.

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

It's a gorgeous robe--and really, how many people who saw you in it would understand the symbolism?

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Yes, but *I* would know. Same reason I won't wear "forbidden" colors.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

Yes, she's got a brocade uchikake of some sort worn koshimaki fashion.

I need to rent this and watch it again.

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Patchwork? Print? DELICIOUS!

(and here I was, wearing autumn pine LOL)

[horsefriend2.livejournal.com]

Ummm,

And you wearing a pattern with that significance is wrong how?


; >



a/s

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'm not jealous of anyone, particularly?

[horsefriend2.livejournal.com]

Oh!

The demon part only applies to jealousy? Is there another demon signifying pattern?

: >


a/s

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'd have to go through some of my references on Noh to be sure. The snake scale is the most well known.

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. There's a contrary part of me that, like Jezebel, would wear red to a debutante ball. I'd totally go for the snake scale motif.

[bronx-baroness.livejournal.com]

Can you explain the "arrow bundle" being a rip off from Genghis- or point me to a book so that I can get it?

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

It's a classic story from "The Secret History of the Mongols" (the oldest surviving Mongolian-language literary work, written some time after the Khan's death in 1227 CE). Supposedly the lesson is given by a quasi-mythical ancestress of Genghis Khan, and late referred to by Hoelun, Genghis's mother, or Genghis Khan himself.

One on-line reference:
http://www.mongolia-attractions.com/genghis-khan2.html:

The Secret History of the Mongols gives several examples of women making key decisions, telling Genghis Khan how to live and what to do. For example, according to the legend, Genghis Khan’s ancestress, Alan Ho’a, had five sons who were constantly fighting with each other. One day she gathered them around the hearth fire and gave them each an arrow. She told them to break it, which they did with ease. Then she tied five arrows together and told them to break the bundle. None of them could. She then told her sons, “Brothers who work separately, like a single arrow shaft, can be easily broken, but brothers who stand together against the world, like a bundle of arrows, cannot be broken."

On-line reference about Alan Q'oa (also mentions the story):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Goa

[saiaiko.livejournal.com]

Sister, wear it! Lady Kaede is my absolute favorite. There is often talk of commitment to a purpose in bushi living, but rarely is it so exemplified as in her complete devotion for revenge. She, alone, accomplished from within what armies failed to do from without. Demon, or her darker Buddha nature?

In any case, if I were you, I'd make it and wear it. Very similar to Marquise de Merteuil in 'Dangerous Liasions', "And I've succeeded because I've always known I was born to dominate your sex and avenge my own."

Not just no, but hell no.

[gurdymonkey.livejournal.com]

1. It used to hurt me no end that my father used to refer to us jokingly as "Goneril, Regan and Cordelia" and I was Goneril by default because I was eldest.

2. While I know what it is to treasure a grudge, I made a vow to do battle with my inner asshole and win, some time back. The struggle will no doubt continue to my dying day.

Besides, it's MUCH more fun to win hearts and minds with charm, erudition, and a kick-ass onigiri recipe.

3. I'm kuge.

You make it and wear it if you identify with her. I don't.

[sarcasm-hime.livejournal.com]

Now I'm tempted too; that's my favourite colour combination.