An Iranian filmmaker has made a documentary on a unique Persian carpet, displayed annually during a traditional Japanese festival, Gion Matsuri, in Kyoto.
Directed by Irans woman filmmaker Masoumeh Nourmohammadi, the documentary was shot in three cities including Kyoto in Japan as well as Tehran and Isfahan in Iran.
The carpet which is a symbol of power and beauty was presented by the Safavid dynasty (15011736) to the Japanese court.
Titled In the Dust of History, the film represents of the value of Persian carpets during the Safavid era as well as the relationship between the two countries of Iran and Japan.
Carpet-weaving is one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, which dates back to ancient Persia.
There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in Iran, producing carpets for domestic markets and international export.
While Irans hand-woven rugs are one of its main non-oil export items, the country provides three quarters of the world's total output.
Persian carpets often feature geometric patterns which are a reflection of Islamic influences, although many Persian rugs depict natural scenes of animal and plant wildlife.
The United Arab Emirates and Germany are the main destinations for the Persian carpet, followed by Japan, Lebanon, and Qatar.