# Mandarin orange (tachibana)

橘 tachibana

![Mandarin orange (tachibana)](https://www.furoshiki.com/swatches/tachibana.svg)

An evergreen citrus believed to be the fruit of eternal youth, so it stands for longevity and prosperity; formal and celebratory.

Nara period (Tachibana clan); Heian palace tree

The tachibana is a native evergreen citrus. In 708 Empress Genmei granted the surname Tachibana to the court lady Michiyo, and the fruit became that clan's emblem; legend in the Kojiki and Nihon shoki identifies it with the 'fruit of eternal youth' brought from the land of Tokoyo by Tajimamori. A tachibana tree (ukon no tachibana) stands before the Shishinden of the imperial palace. The Ii clan of Hikone later used a tachibana crest.

Ukon no tachibana and sakon no sakura are placed beside Hina dolls at the Girls' Festival.

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Source: https://www.furoshiki.com/patterns/tachibana/