Imported Japanese Fabric - Kanji Navy

We are happy to offer our imported Japanese fabrics for sale by the yard.

Kanji Script: Ancient Japanese Poem

Woven into our Kanji fabric is an ancient Japanese poem, a reflection of impermanence and self-transcendence:

"The fragrant, colored flowers are delicately scattered.
Who can remain unchanged in this world?
Transcend the present world, do not dream fleeting dreams, do not act out."

This poem is attributed to Ikkyū Sōjun (一休宗純, 1394–1481), a renowned Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and poet known for expressing profound truths in a direct, and poetic manner. The poem reflects the Zen Buddhist concept of impermanence, reminding us that all things, no matter how beautiful, are fleeting. Flowers serve as a powerful reminder of this, as their brief bloom symbolizes life’s transience.

The second half of the poem, “Do not dream fleeting dreams,” embodies a fundamental Zen teaching: to let go of our desires. In Zen Buddhism, clinging to worldly attachments leads to suffering, as we endlessly seek to fulfill fleeting dreams that will never truly satisfy us. 

Our Kanji fabric weaves a timeless artistry with wisdom, reminding us to embrace life’s impermanence and celebrate the fleeing beauty of the present moment.

Specifications:

• 100% cotton fabric

• Imported from Japan

• Sold in full yard increments

• 43" wide

• Maximum continuous yardage varies