A vintage Chigiri-e shikishi card features a delicate handmade paper collage depicts a series of cylindrical stepping stones. Chigiri-e (ちぎり絵) is a traditional Japanese art form that involves creating images by tearing and layering pieces of hand-dyed washi paper (Japanese paper). The name comes from the word “chigiru” (ちぎる), meaning “to tear,” and “e” (絵), meaning “picture.”
This composition is reminiscent of Japanese garden paths or traditional stepping stones called tobi-ishi, often seen in tea gardens. In Japanese culture, the stepping stones (飛び石 tobi-ishi) depicted in the artwork often symbolize a journey, mindfulness, and balance, especially within the context of traditional gardens or paths to teahouses. Stepping stones represent the idea of taking life step-by-step, mindfully moving forward with intention. Their spacing requires one to slow down and place each foot carefully, aligning with Zen values of presence and awareness.
