The Flight of the Peacock, or How Peacocks Became Japanese

Abstract

On a map, Japan does not appear to be in the Indian Ocean World (IOW), but even in the relative isolation of the early modern period, connections were forged through the exchange of animal products. In this case study, the absorption of peacock feathers into existing belief systems and applications such as archery, medicine, religion, tea ceremony, children’s games, and clothing brings the IOW to Japan. This integration was so complete, that when Japan was ‘opened,’ peacock feathers became a prominent motif of the objects produced both within Japan and by proponents of Japonisme.