Hiroshige Peacock Silk Habotai Scarf

DESIGNER'S NOTES

A colourful Fox & Chave silk habotai scarf featuring a peacock amongst floral elements in the Japanese ukiyo-e style after an original woodblock print entitled Botan ni kujaku which translates to Peacock and Peonies, created in the 1830s by the artist Uttagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858).

In Japanese ukiyo-e art, peacocks often symbolise beauty, elegance, and immortality, but they also carry deeper layers of meaning drawn from Buddhism and Chinese influence. In Buddhist iconography, the peacock is associated with compassion and protection—believed to be able to consume poisonous plants without harm, they represent the ability to transform suffering into enlightenment.

The peacock's vivid plumage within ukiyo-e, also evokes status and sensuality, aligning with the genre’s focus on the fleeting pleasures of the “floating world.” When depicted with flowers, such as in this example, or other animals, the peacock’s symbolism may shift to themes of transience, vanity, or unattainable beauty.

COLOURS

STYLING

A Fox & Chave habotai silk scarf can be worn with the classic knot style or a pussycat bow. You can even create a shawl effect by knotting two scarves together behind your neck and allowing them to drape over your shoulders. More scarf styling ideas are available in this wonderful How to Tie a Scarf book.