Ryukyu-bingata

Vibrant Okinawan stencil dyeing with bold tropical motifs.

Ryukyu-bingata is the formal variant of the bingata dyeing tradition, closely associated with the royal court of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Distinguished by its use of mineral pigments and botanical dyes applied through stencils onto fine bast-fiber or silk cloth, royal bingata featured specific motifs and color combinations regulated by social rank. After the dissolution of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879, the craft nearly perished but was revived in the 20th century by dedicated artisans, most notably the Shiroma and Chinen families.