Chrysanthemum

菊 kiku

Chrysanthemum

The imperial flower; chrysanthemums stand for longevity and rejuvenation, and are celebrated at the Chōyō festival on 9 September.

Brought from China as a medicinal plant in the Nara period (8th century); imperial emblem from the late 12th century

The chrysanthemum came from China in the Nara period as a medicinal plant and became a favourite for viewing and poetry at the Heian court; it appears often in the Kokinshū. Emperor Go-Toba (r. 1183–98) adopted it as his personal emblem, which is thought to have made it the imperial crest. Edo-period growers bred many distinctive classic forms, and the motif spread from the court to ordinary people.

An autumn motif tied to the Chōyō (Chrysanthemum) Festival on the ninth day of the ninth month; chrysanthemum shows and kiku-ningyō dolls are held each autumn.

Technique catalog · draft for review

Every way to wrap, carry and wear a furoshiki.

The furoshiki.com archive, sliced into annotated steps with plain directions, plus techniques found in research.