Bonseki autumn landscape

The pattern of autumn colored momiji maple leaves flowing on running water is one of the most popular traditional patterns used on fabric and clothing. The pattern is called tatsutagawa, from the Tatsuta river in Nara, which in autumn is filled with floating momiji leaves...

Photographed here is the same motif represented in bonseki, an ancient Japanese art form creating miniature landscapes drawn inside a lacquered black tray by using small pebbles and fine grains of sand.