Pink Chrysanthemum

Pink Chrysanthemum
Sumi Ink & Watercolor
Cicada Wing Paper
10" X 10"

The Chrysanthemum, or "kiku" in Japanese, is a blossom regarded as the flower of the fall season. It reflects bountiful autumn harvests and symbolizes a long, fulfilling, and happy life. Chrysanthemums were imported from China to Japan as a medicinal plant in the Nara period (710-94) and became popular during the Edo Period (1603-1868). The flower also signifies nobility since the Imperial Seal of Japan is a chrysanthemum and the monarchy is called the Chrysanthemum Throne. There are numerous festivals to celebrate the flower, including Japan’s National Chrysanthemum Day in the fall, during the Festival of Happiness. There are approximately 350 types of chrysanthemums in Japan alone, and the festivals have competitions to feature the varieties and intricate methods of cultivation. Master horticulturists in Japan consider the tending of a prized chrysanthemum to be a reflection of their soul, that one must grow with dedicated love and care to achieve beauty in the flower’s perfect simplicity.