Japanese Pattern Quiz
Seigaiha (Blue Ocean Waves)
You layer identical waves one row at a time, keeping a calm repetition going for a long time.
Seigaiha is a pattern of fan-shaped waves, each made of many nested half circles, laid out in rows with each row shifted by half a wave. Each fan keeps its shape as they overlap, and the arrangement goes on endlessly without facing any direction. The name is said to come from “Seigaiha,” a dance in gagaku, Japan's ancient court music, whose dancers wore costumes with this pattern.
Because the calm waves go on forever, seigaiha has long been considered a pattern carrying a wish for peaceful days to last for years to come. You, too, handle things one at a time with care, adjust their shape to suit the moment, and carry on at the same steady pace with no set end.
Waves layered one row at a time never advance much all at once. Because of that, when the flow suddenly changes in a big way, it can take you a little while to keep up. When change seems to be coming, try mixing just one new thing into your usual waves, and you can move on to the next row without strain.
Strengths
- You can finish things carefully, one at a time
- You can gradually adjust how you do things to suit the situation
- Without rushing to finish, you can keep at the same thing until it's solid
Where you may stumble
- When the flow suddenly changes in a big way, it takes you time to keep up
- Where many things get linked together at once, it's hard to keep your own rhythm
- When someone sets a deadline — “by when?” — you feel rushed
Sounds familiar, Seigaiha (Blue Ocean Waves)?
- While cooking, you wash and put away each utensil as soon as you've finished with it
- Walking your usual route, you notice when the street trees start to change color
- You leave the radio or music playing with no particular end in mind
Where you shine
The everyday work that keeps life going over the years, or finishing things carefully one at a time — that's when your calm repetition can help the people around you feel settled.
Tips for “Seigaiha (Blue Ocean Waves)”
- Try mixing just one new thing into your usual flow
- Before a big change, break it down into small steps, one row at a time
- Now and then, jot down the small changes in what you keep up
Matches
See every match in the Japanese Pattern Quiz compatibility chart →
Chidori (Plovers) — Chidori also goes with the moment, moving lightly one thing at a time. Seigaiha keeps the same waves going, and Chidori brings back stories from its travels, letting a fresh breeze into everyday life.
Shippo (Seven Treasures) — Shippo also goes with the moment and keeps layering the same shape with no set end. Seigaiha tends to keep things separate, and Shippo adds circles that link them, so the things you've kept up become connected.
Asanoha (Hemp Leaf) — Asanoha lays out its steps, links things together and grows toward a destination. To Seigaiha, who wants to carry on calmly one row at a time, Asanoha's pace feels fast, and to Asanoha, it can be hard to see where Seigaiha's progress is heading.
Close neighbors
These differ from this one on just 1 of the 3 axes. If one of your axes was near the middle, you may have their side too.
Which one are you? 18 everyday situations, about 3 minutes.
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