Many people think that the national flower of Japan is cherry blossom. But this is not the case. Cherry blossoms have a very important position in Japan. As a symbol of the whole Japanese culture, there is no doubt that they are still cherry blossoms. For the Japanese, cherry blossoms can be said to have penetrated into all aspects of life, and its importance is self-evident. For foreigners, cherry blossoms are like representatives of Japan. When they talk about cherry blossoms, they think of Japan, just as pandas are bound to be associated with China. But on important occasions, people still wear chrysanthemums.
Japan's national flower is finally chrysanthemum.
Like many other flowers, the first stop for chrysanthemum to go abroad is Japan. Influenced by the chrysanthemum culture in China, Japanese people respect and worship chrysanthemums more. From Japanese ancient books, it can often be seen that the Crown Prince leads ministers and servants to visit the emperor, and the monarch and ministers enjoy chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine.
Chrysanthemum Wang Chao's badge.
/kloc-in October, the emperor also held a "Canju Banquet" and invited ministers to practice chrysanthemums. During the Japanese royal rule, it was even called "Chrysanthemum Dynasty", which shows the importance of chrysanthemum in Japan.
Chrysanthemum and Japan
When was chrysanthemum introduced to Japan? Ye Ji, written in the middle of the eighth century, contains 45 16 chorus songs. It sings as many as 157 kinds of plants, but it is not as good as chrysanthemum, which may indicate that chrysanthemum has not been introduced to Japan before, or it has not attracted attention since it was introduced.
Ye Wan collects manuscripts.
Ye Wan Collection is the earliest Japanese poetry collection, which is equivalent to China's The Book of Songs. More than half of the authors of the poems are anonymous and very extensive, including emperors, empresses, princes, ronins, beggars and prostitutes, covering almost all classes in Japan at that time.
Prince Nagaya (684-729), the grandson of Emperor Tianwu, wrote a poem at the farewell banquet of Silla envoys (equivalent to Tang Dynasty in China): "Turtle Mountain has beautiful scenery and fresh chrysanthemums." Mr. and Mrs. Abe Guangting at the same table said, "I am willing to pour chrysanthemum wine to comfort my worries." At that time, chrysanthemums seemed to have been spread.
chrysanthemum
However, China's poetry was a symbol of aristocratic accomplishment at that time. Although it recites allusions, what is in front of us is not necessarily the real scene. It is estimated that after Emperor Kanmu moved its capital to peace at the end of the 8th century, chrysanthemum was brought to Japan as an herb and ornamental plant, and began to be planted in communities in China.
Chrysanthemum Appreciation in Meiji Period of Japan
Japanese chrysanthemum was first introduced from China in Nara period (7 10 -794) and was formally cultivated in Heian period (794-1 185). During the Kamakura period (1 185-1333) and the Muromachi period (1333-1573) until the Edo period (1596-65438).
Left: Portrait of Japanese Emperor Yi; Right: Crab Chrysanthemum
Japanese National History of Lei Ju (Volume 75) records that in October of the 16th year of Yan Li (797), the imperial court followed the example of the Tang Dynasty and held a "Qushui Banquet" in the palace. Emperor Kanmu once wrote poems and sang chrysanthemums. The Chronicle also records that since the second year of Datong (807), a "Chrysanthemum Banquet" has been held in Chongyang Tiangong every year.
Later, Emperor Xie E (reigned from 809 to 823) imitated the Tang style and named the chrysanthemum he cultivated as "Cragginess Chrysanthemum", which was a representative variety of Japanese "Classical Chrysanthemum". Its stem is tall and thin, with dozens of petals clustered together, and white is the top grade. During Xie's reign, he vigorously promoted the Tang policy, and the Double Ninth Festival was located in the palace. In addition, he also cultivated a large number of chrysanthemums in the palace, imitated the Zhong Hui, and specially wrote a poem "Chrysanthemum Fu". The chrysanthemum cultivated by it is called "Laocrow Chrysanthemum", which is a representative variety of "classical chrysanthemum" in Japan.
The custom of appreciating chrysanthemums on Double Ninth Festival has been continued by the Japanese royal family, nobles and literati to this day. During the Edo period (1603~ 1867), chrysanthemums developed among Japanese people, and activities such as chrysanthemum exhibitions and chrysanthemum fairs appeared everywhere. Japan also has modeling chrysanthemums, which are tied into the image of Mount Fuji or animals, and there are also "chrysanthemum figures" with Japanese characteristics. Today, the Chrysanthemum Festival held every autumn in Japan is still a great event in the flower industry.
Japan's "Chrysanthemum Man"
Chrysanthemum humanoid is a kind of "Chrysanthemum Man" made by inserting fresh chrysanthemums in a humanoid bamboo frame. It is a large-scale chrysanthemum exhibition with the story of a famous Japanese historical figure Mou Qing as the background. It can be seen that chrysanthemum has a far-reaching influence on the Japanese.
Tang Ju blooms in peace.
Chrysanthemum dew
Japanese classical "Chrysanthemum Culture" is an extension of "Chrysanthemum Culture" in Tang Dynasty. The custom of "covering the chrysanthemum with cotton" was popular in Heian period, that is, covering the chrysanthemum with cotton cloth on the eve of the Double Ninth Festival and wiping the cotton cloth stained with chrysanthemum dew the next day, which is said to have the effect of prolonging life. This is an invention of the Japanese.
Murasaki shikibu, born in a noble literati family, was a famous Japanese woman writer in heian period and one of the 36 immortals in the Middle Ages.
Murasaki shikibu (about 973- 10 14), an aristocratic woman writer, was once given a "cotton chrysanthemum" by a noble friend. She wrote a song of thanks, "Long-sleeved chrysanthemum with morning dew, flowers give the owner a long life", which is quite famous. She put forward the so-called "Yamato Soul" in the Tale of Genji, which probably refers to this kind of innovation that gives local content to foreign cultures.
Imperial bird feather
In the last years of Ping 'an, the bird language of Empress Di (1 180- 1239) especially liked knives and chrysanthemums. It is said that he personally cast a sword and carved sixteen chrysanthemums into inscriptions on the body of the sword, which was later called "Chrysanthemum Word", and his works were honored as "Imperial Burning" and "Imperial Chrysanthemum Work". He also made chrysanthemum patterns into patterns of royal clothes and cars, and wore them for a long time to show good luck. Later, this tradition spread between the royal family and the nobility, and chrysanthemum decoration was loved by the royal families of past dynasties.
Chrysanthemum, royal family badge
Chrysanthemum is not only the national flower of Japan, but also the design of the national emblem of the Japanese royal family.
Japanese royal family badge
Chrysanthemum coat of arms is the general name of all kinds of family patterns with chrysanthemum as the style in Japan, which is usually used to refer to the family emblem of the Japanese royal family.
The crown and earrings on Empress Michiko Akihito's head are chrysanthemum patterns, which are symbols of the royal family.
Chrysanthemum dynasty is the only dynasty in Japan so far, and it has never stopped. Therefore, the Japanese emperor is called the "eternal series".
According to Records of Historical Records and Records of Japan, Emperor Jimmu, the first Japanese emperor, ascended the throne in 660 BC, and the Chrysanthemum Dynasty has passed on the125th emperor. The Japanese royal family has a history of more than 2,600 years and is the longest known dynasty in the world.
Royal Chrysanthemum Signs in Kyoto Palace
In Heian period and China and Japan, the chrysanthemum, which symbolizes the virtue of a gentleman, meets the political requirements of the Japanese emperor influenced by China's Confucian thought of "ruling by virtue". The magical power of chrysanthemum legend, which can make people live forever, accords with the inherent theocratic belief that Japanese emperors need. Chrysanthemum was first recognized by emperors and nobles in Japan. In 9 10, the traditional chrysanthemum design pattern became the family emblem of the royal family as a symbol of the royal nobility. So the meaning of chrysanthemum is equivalent to nobility and majesty. Even today, the Japanese word "chrysanthemum" still means the crown of the king.
After the Meiji Restoration in Japan, the government stipulated that the badge with chrysanthemum pattern was restricted, and the compass orientation was added to the badge, indicating that the emperor in the center was in charge of all directions. At this time, the Japanese chrysanthemum has become a symbol of militarism. Two famous images used by modern people to describe Yamato people are saber and chrysanthemum.
Japanese passport is in use.
In Japan, because the official national emblem has not been established in legal form, it is customary that the family emblem of the Japanese royal family (Tian Huang) is "sixteen petals and eight heavy chrysanthemum patterns", that is, the chrysanthemum coat of arms is widely used as the representative national emblem of Japan.
The cover of Japanese passport adopts "sixteen petals and one heavy chrysanthemum pattern", which is similar to the chrysanthemum coat of arms. Although the number of petals of chrysanthemum is the same, there is one less layer of flowers, which is not exactly the same as the royal chrysanthemum coat of arms.
Chrysanthemum was introduced into Japan from China, and its cultivation and development became a portrayal of Japanese cultural character. 70 years after the war in Japan, the "knife" has been sealed, and the "chrysanthemum" is still brilliant every year. The Japanese, who had no knives, carried forward the spirit of "meticulous chrysanthemum work" after the war and enthusiastically devoted themselves to "Made in Japan" to build the country into a huge economic entity.
To surpass a country, we must first really understand it, especially Japan, which carries too many complicated emotions. In addition to patriotism in a narrow sense, Japan still has a lot to learn!
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