the 19th century, the merchant classes of Japan had begun to move up the social ladder in terms of wealth and artistic influence, and adopted many customs of the aristocracy with their new-found wealth, including the custom of gift-giving with . Today, are rarely used, and when they are it is almost exclusively around Tokyo and Kyoto for gifts given at the time of marriage. Decoration Satin silk was the preferred fabric for embroidered , which often made extensive couched gold- and silver-wrapped thread. As paste-resist dyeing () became popular, crepe silk ( or ) was favored. Tapestry-weave fabrics such as were also popular, as was the use of weft brocade (). By the 19th century, family crests, or , were added on the lining side of the beginning in the late 18th century, and tassels were placed at each corner so that the could be picked up without touching the fabric. Themes and motifs Nature: Nature motifs were common, particularly auspicious combinations such as the "Three Friends of Winter", a combination of pine, plum blossom and bamboo, considered to symbolise constancy and integrity. Auspicious birds and animals: Mandarin cranes () and turtles with a trailing tail of algae () were used, representing longevity and good fortune. Since the Japanese word for red sea bream, , is part of the word ("good luck"), and is also red - considered also to be auspicious - in colour, red seam breams were also used as a motif on , held to be good luck fish. Since the introduction of Chinese culture to Japan in the Asuka and Nara periods (7th-8th century), dragon and phoenix motifs, remaining close to the original Chinese style, were also considered to be auspicious, and were thus used on . Aristocratic culture: Legends such as The Tale of Genji and Noh plays were featured on . Bamboo curtains, screens, books, imperial carts, fans and other items reminiscent of the Heian period were used as auspicious designs from the Edo period. Games such as shell- and card-matching games () were also featured. Folktales and mythology: scenes or motifs from traditional Japanese folktales, such as Urashima Tarō and the Tale of Takasago, were used to decorate as a form of cultural reference. Local deities: for example, the Shichifukujin, an eclectic group of seven deities from Japan, India, and China, were sometimes used on . Chinese themes: both Confucian and Taoist