Congratulations! You’ve made a beautiful investment for your martial art school or for your home interior. Please relax and enjoy your new calligraphy for a while; then come back here to learn how to keep your art work looking great for a long time.
Japanese calligraphies and hanging scrolls are designed to last. Hundreds of years. Your kakejiku will be a lasting masterpiece with minimal maintenance. Here's all you need to know about looking after your new artwork.
Kakejiku and calligraphies are delicate works of art
Japanese calligraphies and kakejiku, like any other work of art, are vulnerable to UV. Avoid displaying in direct sunlight. Under persistent direct exposure, the colours of the fabric and the calligraphy will fade.
Hanging scrolls are created using high-quality but delicate washi and textiles glued together. As a result, they are particularly sensitive to strong moisture and extreme dryness.
There are a few things to bear in mind if you want to keep your kakejiku in good shape:
- Do not hang in a room with excessive air conditioning or in a humid environment.
- Store the kakejiku in its kiri box in a cool, dry location.
- In order to eradicate insects and fungi, kakejiku were traditionally dried twice a year, in the spring and fall, on a bright sunny day. They were hung outside, but NOT in direct sunlight, in order to allow them to breathe. We understand that it may not be easy to do so anymore, but if you have the opportunity to do mushi-boshi (虫干し - "bug dry"), we definitely recommend you to do so.
- It's a good idea to roll the kakejiku up once in a while and let it rest in its kiri box for a short period of time.
- Always manipulate with care.
- When rolling a kakejiku up, be careful not to wind it too tightly. Wrap the top lace (kake-himo) loosely around it to tie it.
How to tie a kakejiku
First, roll the scroll all the way up.
Remember to unroll the scroll slowly and handle it with care.