Did It Begin with the Missions to Sui China? The Foundation Laid by the Samurai Essential, "Motoyui"

The origin of mizuhiki in Japan's gift-giving culture is said to date back to the Asuka period (592–710). When Ono no Imoko, a Japanese envoy to Sui China, returned home, the gifts he brought back from the Sui court were tied with red and white hemp cords. This is believed to be the beginning of the custom of using red and white cords for celebratory occasions. This story suggests that the act of tying has held significant meaning in diplomatic ceremonies since ancient times.

Later, during the Edo period (1603–1868), the direct catalyst for mizuhiki production in the Iyo region arrived. The Matsuyama domain in Iyo Province began to promote the manufacturing of *motoyui*—paper cords used by samurai to tie their topknots (*mage*)—as part of its policy to encourage local industry.

This work became an established side-hustle for the domain's lower-ranking samurai, building a foundation for paper-processing techniques in the Iyo area. At this stage, *motoyui* was not a ceremonial decoration but a practical necessity for a samurai to maintain his status. In the stable feudal society of the time, *motoyui* production took root as a local industry, laying the groundwork for all future development.