Minneapolis Institute of Art

Boy's robe with tethered hawks

Japan

Date

19th-20th century

Medium

Silk

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The birds of prey depicted on this boy’s garment have braided silk cords attached to their feet, indicating that they are captive birds trained for hunting and sport. Falconry has a long tradition in elite Japanese society. Well established in Japan by the 700s and practiced primarily among the aristocracy, falconry eventually came to be associated with military prowess and was widely practiced by elite members of the rising warrior class after the 1200s. During and after the 1600s, master falconers were even accorded special rank within the warrior class hierarchy. Although this costume for a boy was created decades after the Japanese government eliminated the class system and, along with it, military privileges for the warrior class, it is decorated with falcons as enduring emblems of strength and focused determination. Asia

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