亀甲 Kikkou
Traditional Japanese pattern (wagara) · wallpaper & status-bar design
Overview
Kikkou is a honeycomb of hexagons named for the shell of a tortoise, often filled with a small flower.
亀甲は亀の甲羅に似た六角形の連続文。長寿の象徴である亀にちなみ、健康と長寿を願う。中央に花菱を入れることも多い。
History & origin
The hexagonal tortoise-shell pattern came from China and was used by the nobility from the Heian period, frequently combined with florals into variants like kikkou-hanabishi. It carried an air of formality and rank.
Symbolism & meaning
The tortoise is a classic emblem of long life in East Asia, so kikkou expresses wishes for longevity, health and steadfastness — the shell suggesting protection.
Traditional use
Kikkou appears on formal kimono, obi and heraldic crests, and pairs naturally with cranes and pines in celebratory designs. Its tidy geometry makes a strong, structured wallpaper.
Set it as your wallpaper
- Open the design in the editor and tune its colors.
- Recolor the ground and pattern, then add your own photo as the background.
- Download the PNG and set it as your wallpaper (Settings → Wallpaper on iPhone, or “Set as wallpaper” on Android).
New to custom wallpapers? Read the full step-by-step guide for iPhone & Android →
Kikkou colorways
More patterns
The Kikkou motif is part of the public-domain canon of Japanese wagara. The artwork on obolo is our own original rendering.