stitch as prayer

 

In 749, the emperor of Japan abdicated the throne to become a Buddhist monk.  When he died in 756, his wife donated his cloak (the Shino Kesa) to the temple.

Made from layers of silk scraps and donated pieces of silk,
it is covered with fine purple silk thread running stitches.
Three prayers were said with each stitch
making the stitching itself into a pious act.