Asanoha: the hemp leaf pattern for healthy growth
Make a Asanoha wallpaper in your colors
At a glance
| Japanese name | 麻の葉 (あさのは, Asanoha) |
|---|---|
| Motif | Hemp leaves |
| Wish it carries | Healthy growth, protection from bad luck |
| Season | All year; spring |
| Where you see it | Babies’ clothing, nursery prints, shoji screens |
What it looks like
Asanoha is a grid of six-pointed stars made from straight lines. Each star is built from six long diamonds that meet at a point, like the leaflets of a hemp leaf seen from above. The stars share their edges, so the whole surface becomes one connected net.
History
Hemp (asa) was one of the most important fibers in Japan for centuries, used for clothing, rope and ritual objects. The star-shaped leaf pattern appears in Buddhist art from early times, and in the Edo period it became a popular kimono design. It is often said to have gained wide popularity after kabuki actors wore it on stage.
What it means
Hemp grows tall and straight in a short time and needs little care. For this reason asanoha became a wish for children to grow up healthy and strong, and it was traditionally used for babies’ clothing. Many people also saw it as a charm against bad luck.
How it is drawn
Start with a grid of equilateral triangles. In every triangle, draw a line from each corner to the center. The lines from neighboring triangles join up into hexagrams. That is all: the pattern is only straight lines, which is why it looks so crisp at any size.
Ways to use it
Cream and indigo gives a clean, modern look. Black and gold feels formal. Green and white suits spring and anything to do with growth, such as a baby announcement or a nursery print.
- Open the maker with Asanoha already selected.
- Pick one of the color sets, or choose your own ground and line colors.
- Choose a size: phone, desktop, video call, square or A4 print.
- Download it as a PNG, or as an SVG if you want to edit or print it at any size.
Asanoha and 13 other patterns are in our coloring book, with the meaning behind every design.
See the coloring book on Amazon