Skip to main content

Chrysanthemums

The chrysanthemum (kiku in Japanese), which also appears in the hanafuda card deck, begins blooming in September, when much of Japan is still unbearably hot.  Originally imported from China more than a thousand years ago, the chrysanthemum, like the peony, was first used for medicinal purposes.  Later, the yellow flower, with its radiant pedals, was compared to the sun and admired during fall chysantheum-viewing parties where participants drank wine made from the flowers.  For a country whose imperial line is descended from the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu, the chrysanthemum was a perfect fit.  In the early 13th century, Emperor Go-Toba became enamored with the flower and had its motifs emblazoned on his kimono as well as his sword.



With its lengthy autumn bloom season, it's perennial flowers, and its medicinal properties, the chrysanthemum symbolized long life, making it a perfect flower for an emperor intending a lengthy reign.  In the 14th century, Emperor Go-Diago used the chrysanthemum on his banners, cementing the flower's imperial status.  The japanese emperor, the oldest hereditary line in the world, today sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne, bears the Chrysanthemum Crest as a royal seal, and gives out the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum as the country's highest royal honor.  All of these associations, from the longevous and mythological to the noble and nationalistic, have made the chrysanthemum a popular motif in Japanese tattoos.  The flower is also used in funeral services in Japan, which is why it isn't typically given as a gift.  It's also why some who live their lives on the edge get chrysanthemum irezumi, preparing themselves for death at a moment's notice.

Hokusai


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Falcons & Hawks

Note that the Japanese language uses the same word (taka) for both falcons and hawks.  The visual difference is that falcons have a notched beak, while hawks do not. Taka are strong, with a piercing gaze.  This explains why the bird has long been a symbol of the samurai , and the bird of prey is a common design on men's kimono.  In irezumi, the bird of prey is paired with snakes, with the taka either swooping down to seize the snake in its beak, or with the reptile wrapped around its body.  It's a depiction of killing or being killed.  Thematically, the motifs is much deeper.   The taka represents power, and the snake is longevity . The bird is also auspicious .  Dreaming of a taka, Mount Fuji, and an eggplant on the first day of a new year is considered lucky.  In the dream, the taka represents strength, power, and the ability to fly high .
Read more

The Octopus

In modern times, octopus imagery has strong sexual connotations thanks to the ridiculously suggestive use of tentacles in manga, anime, and video games.  The motif is not new, however; one of Japan's most famous and respected artists, Hokusai, pioneered it back in 1814 with the woodblock print The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife , which featured a woman getting hot and heavy with an enormous cephalopod. While such erotically charged associations  have become infamous in the West, this underwater invertebrate means more than tentacle porn in Japan.  Often shown as either cute or comical, the octopus was also the personal physician for Ryujin, the underwater sea dragon, which might explain why, in the past, Japanese doctors were fond of carrying octopus amulets.  And in tattoos, the octopus's ink can make for a clever visual pun.
Read more

Wind & Water

Tattoo motifs of wind and water; like those of bamboo and pine, are trans-seasonal.  They are often employed as unifying elements across the background of a tattoo.  Connecting different tattoo elements with an overarching design is a defining element of Japanese tattoos; this is an important difference compared to Western tattoos, which traditionally are isolated images on the skin.  Wind and water motifs make that connection.
Read more