工字繋ぎ Kouji
Traditional Japanese pattern (wagara) · wallpaper & status-bar design
Overview
Kouji-tsunagi links the character 工 ('work') along the diagonal into a continuous key-fret.
工字繋ぎは『工』の字を斜めに連ねた鍵繋ぎの地紋。途切れず連なることから繁栄を願う。
History & origin
Part of the family of fret and key patterns (including sayagata), kouji repeats the angular 工 shape so its arms interlock. Such geometric ground patterns were widely used to fill backgrounds on textiles and lacquer from the Edo period.
Symbolism & meaning
Like other unbroken, interlocking patterns, the endless chain expresses a wish for lasting prosperity and continuity that never comes apart.
Traditional use
Kouji works as a quiet background pattern on obi, fusuma paper and lacquerware. Its diagonal key-fret gives a refined, woven-looking 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 →
Kouji colorways
More patterns
The Kouji motif is part of the public-domain canon of Japanese wagara. The artwork on obolo is our own original rendering.