May 2, 2010
Wisteria replaces cherry blossoms as month's flower on Japanese floral calendar
Wisteria takes its turn on the Japanese floral calendar as the season goes on to May. A tall wisteria tree, standing at the gate of a small Buddhist temple at Kamakura, was in full bloom on a clear day in early May, charming many passers-by. With a lot of tufts of light purple flowers hanging, the tree got them to heave a sigh of surprise as it comes into their sight at a curved road. At another temple, visitors were taking a rest and having a chat in the shade under a wisteria arbor.
Wisteria is a flower that represents May on the Japanese floral calendar, following plum blossoms for January, camellia for February, peach flowers for March and cherry blossoms for April. The busy cherry blossom season is over for most regions in Japan. In turn, the season has come when people can fully appreciate the beauty of spring flowers in warm weather. Wisteria heads the list of flowers for this time of the year. Japanese love to see the delicate tufts of wisteria blossoms sway in the wind under the trellis. Despite its slender figure, wisteria and its vine are tough. Wisteria vines are used to make various kinds of furniture and items, while softened wisteria fibers used to be a material for clothes.
I left the image of wisteria blossoms
softly reflected in the pond,
because it looked so fragile
it could vanish only with a slightest touch.
Nevertheless, the waves came and destroyed the image.
(A personal translation)
This is a waka poem composed by Oshikochi Mitsune, a poet who was active early in the Heian period. Mitsune lived in the same age as Ki Tsurayuki, the chief editor of the waka poem anthology Kokinwakashu compiled in the 10th century.
Wisteria is also featured in many works of traditional art. Among them is the famous kabuki dance “Fuji Musume” (Wisteria Maiden). The performer plays as a wisteria sprite who appeared as a pretty young girl worried about her affair with a cold-hearted man.
Wisteria is known not only for its strength but also for its sustainability. Wisteria will continue to please Japanese people until hydrangea succeeds it as the flower of June with the arrival of the "tsuyu" rainy season.
Wisteria replaces cherry blossoms as month's flower on Japanese floral calendar
Wisteria takes its turn on the Japanese floral calendar as the season goes on to May. A tall wisteria tree, standing at the gate of a small Buddhist temple at Kamakura, was in full bloom on a clear day in early May, charming many passers-by. With a lot of tufts of light purple flowers hanging, the tree got them to heave a sigh of surprise as it comes into their sight at a curved road. At another temple, visitors were taking a rest and having a chat in the shade under a wisteria arbor.
Wisteria is a flower that represents May on the Japanese floral calendar, following plum blossoms for January, camellia for February, peach flowers for March and cherry blossoms for April. The busy cherry blossom season is over for most regions in Japan. In turn, the season has come when people can fully appreciate the beauty of spring flowers in warm weather. Wisteria heads the list of flowers for this time of the year. Japanese love to see the delicate tufts of wisteria blossoms sway in the wind under the trellis. Despite its slender figure, wisteria and its vine are tough. Wisteria vines are used to make various kinds of furniture and items, while softened wisteria fibers used to be a material for clothes.
I left the image of wisteria blossoms
softly reflected in the pond,
because it looked so fragile
it could vanish only with a slightest touch.
Nevertheless, the waves came and destroyed the image.
(A personal translation)
This is a waka poem composed by Oshikochi Mitsune, a poet who was active early in the Heian period. Mitsune lived in the same age as Ki Tsurayuki, the chief editor of the waka poem anthology Kokinwakashu compiled in the 10th century.
Wisteria is also featured in many works of traditional art. Among them is the famous kabuki dance “Fuji Musume” (Wisteria Maiden). The performer plays as a wisteria sprite who appeared as a pretty young girl worried about her affair with a cold-hearted man.
Wisteria is known not only for its strength but also for its sustainability. Wisteria will continue to please Japanese people until hydrangea succeeds it as the flower of June with the arrival of the "tsuyu" rainy season.
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