[Ryukyu bingata]
Ryukyu bingata is an Okinawan traditional resist dyed cloth. The bold patterns and bright red, yellow, blue and green colors of bingata are dyed with the aid of a starch. This starch can be applied to the cloth through a pattern stencil or freehand(called tsutsugaki). It dates from the 13th century when Ryukyu Kingdom administered the islands. Under the protection of Ryukyu kingdom, Ryukyu bingata was often used as offerings to Edo shogunate, China, Korea and other countries. Today, the dying technique of Bingara continues to be made as a traditional art in Okinawa.
While most of bingata designs are colorful, many of Ko-bingata (the older styles) have designs of Chinese auspicious omen motifs painted in subdued colors.