The Dragonfly (Tombo) as a Motif in Japanese Art

Posted on | July 17, 2010 | 4 Comments

According to a legend, the first divine emperor of Japan, Jinmu, is said to have stood on the top of a mountain to survey all of Yamato (the old name for Japan) and remarked that it resembled the shape of tombo (how they form a ring) in flight. It is from this phrase that Yamato also became known as Akitsushima, ‘akitusu’ being another reading of the characters for tombo, and ‘shima’ meaning island. Tombo is perhaps the oldest design in Japan having been found on the oldest discovered primitive pottery.

Tombo are also known as kachimushi or ‘victory insect.’ The fact that they are quick to attack and catch other small insects in mid air and have such a fierce name, the tombo motif was a favorite among the warrior classes, who used it on military implements such as helmets and especially arrow quivers–for both sword and arrow should fly straight and fast like the insect. Tombo were often combined in designs using arrows as well as the iris motif with its straight sword-like leaves.

In modern Japan, the tombo has acquired a more nostalgic (natsukashii) image of long ago days of childhood chasing dragonflies through the rice paddies. Although they are seen in abundance in early summer, tombo have become associated with the autumn and are often represented in Japanese art flying among the autumn grasses. A folk belief persists that the tombo is the steed of departed ancestors who return to visit their families at the summer feast of Obon.

Dragonfly and Cricket Quilted Wall Hanging

Available for purchase on my Etsy Store

Comments

4 Responses to “The Dragonfly (Tombo) as a Motif in Japanese Art”

student loans
July 31st, 2010 @ 9:20 pm

Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
mhennrick
July 31st, 2010 @ 9:27 pm

Thanks for your comment. I’ll work on being a bit more consistent with my postings!
college scholarships
August 5th, 2010 @ 1:41 pm

found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
dental hygienist
August 10th, 2010 @ 11:56 am

Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, I bookmarked it.