When I was walking a shopping arcade, those Japanese traditional shop curtain(or noren:暖簾) caught my eye. Noren is often found especially at the traditional shops or traditional arcades in Japan. Today, I’ll focus on noren.
As you can see in the pictures above, the name of the shops is printed on the noren. Now, shop names are usually printed on noren with several colors such as red, blue or sometimes green and so on. However, in former times, noren were originally colored with dyes such as black, brown or indigo blue, remaining only the letters white so that the shop names stand out against the background color.
Noren is considered to symbolize the shop itself, so the word noren is used in a symbolic sense. Here are some examples of Japanese expressions which include the word noren. “暖簾に傷がつく（lose one’s credit）” or “暖簾にかかわる（affect one’s honor）” are both using the word “noren” to mean “credit”, “honor” or reputation.
Noren is very important in terms of not only the symbolic sense but also its practicability. There are several important purposes of hanging noren at the entrance of the shops. Noren plays an important role as blinds. It can shut out the direct rays of the sun. It makes the room well ventilated at the same time. Moreover, noren also plays a significant role as divisions between inside and outside the shop so that what's going on inside is less exposed to the outside.
As you can see in the pictures above, the name of the shops is printed on the noren. Now, shop names are usually printed on noren with several colors such as red, blue or sometimes green and so on. However, in former times, noren were originally colored with dyes such as black, brown or indigo blue, remaining only the letters white so that the shop names stand out against the background color.
Noren is considered to symbolize the shop itself, so the word noren is used in a symbolic sense. Here are some examples of Japanese expressions which include the word noren. “暖簾に傷がつく（lose one’s credit）” or “暖簾にかかわる（affect one’s honor）” are both using the word “noren” to mean “credit”, “honor” or reputation.
Noren is very important in terms of not only the symbolic sense but also its practicability. There are several important purposes of hanging noren at the entrance of the shops. Noren plays an important role as blinds. It can shut out the direct rays of the sun. It makes the room well ventilated at the same time. Moreover, noren also plays a significant role as divisions between inside and outside the shop so that what's going on inside is less exposed to the outside.
1 件のコメント:
A very interesting topic - I'd like more details. What is the link you include? Can you give more explanation about the Japanese noren expressions? Why the change in colors of noren? I like that you connect Japanese cultural behavior with the piece of cloth, but I want more detailed information.
-scf
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