Karakusa (唐草)
A tendril or "arabesque" pattern that appears in various stylized iterations. It is frequently used in the background of ho-o bird (or Phoenix Ware / 鳳凰器) designs (Ross 2012:20,23). This decorative element is derived from Chinese precedents and literally translates to "Chinese grass/weeds."
![Top of Ho-o Zara (Phoenix Ware dish/plate)](https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/objects/hjccc/AACC-2008-077_1of3_th.jpg)
Top of Ho-o Zara (Phoenix Ware dish/plate)
Item Record![Top of Sometsuke Katagami Mitsu-Domoe Kozara (small dish with stenciled yin-yang design)](https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/objects/hjccc/AACC-94-032_1of3_th.jpg)
Top of Sometsuke Katagami Mitsu-Domoe Kozara (small dish with stenciled yin-yang design)
Item Record![Side of Sometsuke Doban Sho Chiku Bai Tokkuri (sake decanter with cobalt transferprint three friends design)](https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/objects/hjccc/AACC-96-092_1of3_th.jpg)
Side of Sometsuke Doban Sho Chiku Bai Tokkuri (sake decanter with cobalt transferprint three friends design)
Item Record