Kimono

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kimono

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the period of origin?Heian period (794–1185), evolving from earlier Chinese influences and the kosode
2. What is the associated dressing art?Kitsuke, involving precise wrapping (left over right) and obi tying
3. How is a kimono made?A kimono is made from a long rectangular piece of cloth that is about 36 cm wide and 12 meters long. The cloth is sewn with straight seams and square sleeves so the patterns keep going without waste.
4. Why do people tie the kimono left side over the right?When putting on a kimono, the left panel is wrapped over the right side. This rule helps the kimono look right and is part of the special dressing practice called kitsuke.

Kosode: An early form of kimono characterized by shorter sleeves, which served as the foundation for later kimono styles.
Obi: A wide decorative sash worn around the waist, integral to the kimono ensemble, with various tying methods (musubi).
Kitsuke: The traditional Japanese art and practice of correctly wearing a kimono, including layering, folding, and tying.
Yukata: A casual, unlined cotton kimono, typically worn during summer festivals or as loungewear.