Hishi: the diamond pattern inspired by water chestnut
Make a Hishi wallpaper in your colors
At a glance
| Japanese name | 菱 (ひし, Hishi) |
|---|---|
| Motif | Water chestnut leaves |
| Wish it carries | Vitality and a growing family |
| Season | All year |
| Where you see it | Weaving, family crests, sweets for Girls’ Day |
What it looks like
Hishi is a lattice of diamonds. In the maker each diamond has a smaller diamond inside, which gives the pattern a layered look.
History
The name comes from the water chestnut (hishi), a water plant whose leaves have a diamond shape. Diamond patterns have been used in Japan since ancient times in weaving, and there are many variations, such as four small diamonds grouped into one. Diamond shapes also appear in the crests of samurai families, the best known being the Takeda family.
What it means
Water chestnut spreads quickly across the surface of a pond. Because of this, hishi is linked with vitality, good health and a growing family.
How it is drawn
The diamonds are taller than they are wide. Each row is shifted by half a diamond so that the corners meet. The inner diamond is a little under half the size of the outer one.
Ways to use it
Indigo and cream is classic. Pink and plum is gentle. Purple and white suits elegant invitations.
- Open the maker with Hishi 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.
Hishi and 13 other patterns are in our coloring book, with the meaning behind every design.
See the coloring book on Amazon