Seigaiha: the Japanese wave pattern of endless calm
Make a Seigaiha wallpaper in your colors
At a glance
| Japanese name | 青海波 (せいがいは, Seigaiha) |
|---|---|
| Motif | Ocean waves |
| Wish it carries | Peace and lasting good fortune |
| Season | All year; popular for celebrations |
| Where you see it | Kimono, gift wrap, ceramics, New Year cards |
What it looks like
Seigaiha is a field of overlapping fan-shaped arcs. Each unit is a set of concentric half circles, and the rows are offset so that every arc tucks in behind the two in front of it. From a distance the effect is a calm sea that rolls on without end.
Where the name comes from
The name means “blue ocean waves.” It is shared with Seigaiha, a piece of gagaku, the court music of Japan, in which dancers wore robes decorated with this wave design. The geometric idea of stacked arcs is old and widespread; similar patterns are found along the Silk Road, and it is often said to have reached Japan from the continent long before it became a kimono favorite.
In the Edo period (1603–1868) the pattern spread from court and temple decoration into everyday crafts such as lacquerware, ceramics, textiles and paper.
What it means
Because the waves continue in every direction, seigaiha is a wish for a peaceful life and for good fortune that never stops coming. It is a common choice for celebrations, for gifts and for the start of something new.
How it is drawn
Each wave is four circles of decreasing size that share one center. The rows are spaced half a radius apart, and every other row is shifted sideways by one radius. Each outer circle is filled with the ground color, so it covers the arcs behind it. In the maker, “Pattern size” changes the radius and “Line weight” changes the thickness of the rings.
Ways to use it
Indigo and cream is the classic look. Red and gold suits New Year cards and gift wrap. Teal and cream works well as a calm phone wallpaper. Larger waves read better on a phone; smaller waves look like fabric on a desktop.
- Open the maker with Seigaiha 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.
Seigaiha and 13 other patterns are in our coloring book, with the meaning behind every design.
See the coloring book on Amazon