Cloth and Buddhism

"...There are also several less-known forms of quilting that were traditionally done in Japan and that are associated with Buddhism.  Quilting was done to make the type of priest's surplice known as a funzoe (rag patchwork) that was layered and quilted. The funzoe was thought to embody important Buddhist teachings.  It was made from scraps of old clothes donated by parishioners.  The monks would gather the rags, wash and cut them, then layer the pieces and put in beautiful stitchwork over the entire surface. The surplice was worn hanging diagonally from the shoulder, over a monk's robe, and it had two religious meanings. First, retrieving the rags from the dustbin and allowing them to end up in a place of honour signified that the cloth itself had attained Buddahood. Second, the practice suggested the interconnectedness of all human beings. "

Yoshiko Jinzenji, 2002, Quilt Artistry - Inspired designs from the East. Kodansha International Ltd, Japan. Page 32