Types of Mizuhiki and How to Choose: Musubikiri, Chō-musubi, Awaji Knots and What the Colors Mean

Choose the knot by whether the event may happen again

There are two broad kinds of mizuhiki knot: musubikiri, which can't be undone, and chō-musubi (bow knot, also called flower knot), which can be retied any number of times. Which you use depends on whether the event is something that may happen again.

What mizuhiki colors mean and when to use them

Red-and-white and black-and-white mizuhiki are tied so that the darker color (red or black) is on the right as you face them. Envelopes are sold already tied, so you don't need to worry when buying, but if you tie mizuhiki yourself, watch the direction.

Yellow-and-white mizuhiki are used for memorial services in regions such as Kansai and Hokuriku. Some areas also use yellow and white for wakes and funerals, so it's reassuring to check with relatives who know local customs or with the funeral company.

Deciding whether to attach a noshi

A noshi is the hexagonal ornament on the upper right of a gift envelope. It was originally thinly stretched dried abalone, a perishable food attached to express congratulations. So it's attached for celebrations and left off for condolences or when the gift itself is perishable food.

• Attach: weddings, births, school entry and graduation, new homes, recovery celebrations
• Don't attach: kōden, memorial services, get-well gifts, offerings to priests (御布施)
• For get-well gifts, use a red-and-white musubikiri envelope without noshi, or an envelope with a red-and-white band, or a plain white envelope

Get-well gifts don't have a noshi because illness and injury aren't "happy events". The mizuhiki is a red-and-white musubikiri, carrying the wish that the illness won't recur.

Quick reference: mizuhiki and noshi by occasion

How to choose the omotegaki is explained in detail in How to give wedding gift money for celebrations and Choosing the omotegaki for a kōden envelope for condolences.

What the number of strands means

Mizuhiki are made by tying together a bundle of thin cords, and the number of strands also has meaning. For celebrations, odd numbers that can't be divided are considered lucky. Five strands is standard, and seven is used to be more formal. Weddings are the exception: ten-strand mizuhiki, two sets of five, are often used, carrying the meaning of two families joining, or one for each of the couple.

With ready-made envelopes, the number of strands is already set to match the envelope's grade, so you rarely need to count. When choosing a wedding envelope, it's enough to know that envelopes with thick, lavish mizuhiki (ten strands) are set apart in shops as "for weddings".

Choose an envelope that matches the amount

An envelope that's too lavish or too plain for the amount inside looks mismatched. It helps to think of envelopes with printed mizuhiki as informal, and those with real tied mizuhiki as formal.

• Kōden of ¥5,000 or less: a simple envelope with printed mizuhiki
• Kōden of ¥10,000 or more: an envelope with real (not printed) mizuhiki
• Goshugi of ¥30,000: a gift envelope with real (not printed) mizuhiki
• Goshugi of ¥50,000 or more: a larger, more decorated gift envelope

The packaging often shows a guide amount such as "up to ¥10,000" or "¥30,000–50,000", so when in doubt, following it is the sure way. Putting ¥10,000 of kōden in a lavish, large double-silver envelope, or ¥50,000 of goshugi in an envelope with merely printed mizuhiki, leaves a mismatched impression when the recipient opens it. Matching the envelope's grade to its contents is part of the etiquette too.

Choose the occasion and check the mizuhiki

In How to Write Shugi-bukuro & Kōden-bukuro, choosing an occasion shows the mizuhiki color and knot, the reasons for them and whether to attach a noshi, and the outer envelope sample is drawn with mizuhiki in the chosen color. The quick-reference tab lets you compare the omotegaki, mizuhiki, noshi, ink darkness and whether new bills are needed for 12 occasions in one table.

If you take the rokuyō calendar into account when setting the date of a ceremony or memorial service, see also The meaning and order of the rokuyō.

FAQ

How do I choose between musubikiri and chō-musubi?

Use musubikiri for things that should happen only once (weddings, get-well gifts, mourning), and chō-musubi for things that are welcome however often they happen (births, school entry, new homes and so on).

What's the difference between an awaji knot and musubikiri?

The awaji knot is a type of musubikiri that ties tighter the more you pull the ends. Its meaning of being bound together forever makes it common for weddings, and it's also used for kōden. In Kansai it's sometimes used for celebrations in general.

Do I attach a noshi to a get-well envelope?

No, because illness and injury aren't causes for celebration. Use a red-and-white musubikiri envelope without noshi, an envelope with a red-and-white band, or a plain white envelope.

When are yellow-and-white mizuhiki used?

In regions such as Kansai and Hokuriku, for memorial services from the 49th day. Some areas also use them for wakes and funerals. If you don't know the local custom, black-and-white or double silver is accepted nationwide.

When are gold-and-silver mizuhiki used?

For especially high-ranking celebrations such as weddings and longevity celebrations. They're often chosen when the amount is large, and both red-and-white and gold-and-silver are used for wedding goshugi.