Camellia

Two periods of seven days with the middle day falling on the spring or autumn equinox are called Higan(彼岸), which means "the other shore" or Buddhahood. We visit our family graves during Higan. Many people also visited their family graves in the tsunami-hit areas. I visited my family grave with my family on the 22nd.

The 84th Spring High School Baseball Tournament began on the 21st. It will be held at Koshien Stadium to April 2nd on the sidelines of spring vacation. There are arguments for and against its holding and the participation of Tohoku High School representing Miyagi Prefecture last year.
In the fair play pledge at the opening ceremony, the captain of Ishinomaki Industrial High School representing Miyagi Prefecture said, "Many people still can't handle their griefs," "What we can do is to go all out and stay the course." The athlethe oath-taker of this tournament is decided by lot. The lot fell upon him.

The season's first trees started to blossom in Kochi Prefectures On March 21st. However, most blossoms incuding cherry blossoms are late in blooming this year.According to some forecasts, cherry trees are expected to start blooming on March 30th or 31st in Tokyo.

Haru-ichiban(春一番) didn't blow in Kanto, Kinki and Tokai regions this year. Haru-ichiban is the first strong south winds of the year which blow between Rissyun(立春:the first day of spring,Feb 4th this year) and Syunbun(春分:spring equinox,March 20th this year). It has been so cold during the past few months.

Ume blossoms are in full bloom now. The camellia is nearing the end of its blooming season.


yabu-tsubaki

Camellias are native to eastern and southern Asia.
we've been familiar with some species of camellias, especially yabu-tsubaki(藪椿,Japanese Camellia, Camellia japonica) and sazanka(山茶花, Christmas Camellia, Camellia sasanqua.)

The word "tsubaki(椿)" means camellia, but it doesn't include Christmas Camellia. Tsubaki usually means Japanese Camellia. In China, Chinese characters "山茶" mean most varieties of camellias.
Camellia tree is also cultivated as hedge plant.

Camellia sasanqua 'Ryomen-ko' (両面紅)

The sazanka blooms from late autumn to winter and are native to Japan. Unlike the Japanese Camellia, the petals detach from the flowerhead and flutter to the ground.
The Japanese Camellia is native to China, Taiwam, Korea and Japan. It blooms from winter to spring.　When its petals begin to wither, the whole flower head falls off. People associated beheading with fallen flower heads, so camellia blossoms are not favored as a get-well gift.
Some varieties of Japanese Camellia such as Goshiki-yaechiri-tsubaki(五色八重散椿) in Jizo-in(地蔵院), Kyoto shed petal by petal.

Camellia oil has been used for various purposes. Now it's used mainly for cooking and cosmetic purposes. Camellia oil from Izu Oshima island are available at most drugstores.

At Omizutori in March, paper-made camellias are dedicated with rice cakes and paper-made nanten(nandina) to the principal image of the 11-faced form of Kannon Bodhisattva in Todai-ji Temple, Nara.

巨勢山の　つらつら椿　つらつらに　
見つつ偲はな　巨勢の春野を
Ko-se-ya-ma-no  Tsu-ra-tsu-ra-tsu-ba-ki  Tsu-ra-tsu-ra-ni
Mi-tsu-tsu-shi-no-wa-na  Ko-se-no-ha-ru-no-wo

"Camellia trees are lined up on Mount Kose, let us remember rows of camellia blossoms in the spring fields of Kose by looking at these trees," written by Sakato no Hitotari(坂門人足) in "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves" (the oldest existing anthology of poetry)

He made this poem when he visited Kose in the autumn of 701. This poem is based on an old poem that praises camellia blossoms in full bloom in the spring fields of Kose. Many poets have used the phrase "tsura-tsura-tsubaki(つらつら椿)" of the poem in their poems.

 Tsubaki-mochi(椿餅) are sandwiched buns between two leaves of camellia. This confection appears in the Tale of Genji although it didn't contain sugar. Camellia leaves are inedible, but cherry leaves wrapping sakura-mochi are edible.



Camellias have been favored as one of flowers appropriate for tea ceremonies or tea house. Powerful people including Toyotomi Hideyoshi(豊臣秀吉), Tokugawa Hidetada(徳川秀忠, the second Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate) also loved camellia blossoms. It became a status symbol for cultural figures to have camellias, and various varieties of camellias had been created during the Edo Period. A fondness for camellias spread among commoners.

A nephew of the first Shogun ordered a painter to paint a 24m-long picture scroll called“One Hundred Camellias(百椿図)”in 1635. The scroll shows a variety of flowers arranged not only in flower vases but in articles for daily use such as a bowl, a fan, a basket, a trash tray. Forty-nine foremost cultural figures including the second lord of the Mito domain, poets, scholars, monks wrote 52 poems in the margin of the scroll. The poems include the above Sakato no Hitotari's poem.
Some varieties of camellias written on it are now lost. The process of improvement in camellia varieties can be inferred from the scroll.
(refer to  http://bluediary2.jugem.jp/?eid=2736 about One Hundred Camellias.)



wabisuke

Camellia wabisuke(侘助, wabisuke)  has been popular as a flower for tea ceremony. Wabisuke is thought to be derived from Camellia japonica 'Tarokaja'(太郎冠者). Tarokaja and other wabisuke camellia cultivars have the same characteristics as camellias in China.





Tarokaja

Tarokaja is called uraku-tsubaki(有楽椿, Camellia uraku Kitam.) in Kyoto. The name "Uraku" comes from Oda Urakusai(織田有楽斎) who was a feudal lord and a master of the tea ceremony.

Kochouwabisuke

In the Edo Period, Camellia japonica × wabisuke'Kochouwabisuke'(胡蝶侘助) was referred to as wabisuke. It is said that there is the Japan's oldest wabisuke tree at Ryoan-ji Temple(龍安寺) in Kyoto.


Sukiyawabisuke

Camellia japonica×wabisuke 'Sukiyawabisuke' (数奇屋侘助) was called Sukiya(数奇屋) in the Edo Period.

Kingyobatsubaki(金魚葉椿) is a Camellia japonica for enjoying the leaves. Camellia japonica 'Kingyotsubaki' appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1789.




●Higo-tsubaki

Camellia japonica 'Shin-tsukasanishiki'(新司錦)
was created in the Meiji Period.

The cultivation of Higo-tsubaki(肥後椿) started in Higo area(present Kumamoto Prefecture). The varietes are single-flowered camellia with prominent golden stamens. Higo-tsubaki lovers appreciate the stamens.



Camellia japonica 'Jitsugetsusei' (日月星)

The lords of the Higo Domain encouraged the cultivation of flowers including Chinese Peony, chrysanthemum, Japanese camellia, Morning Glory, Hanashobu(Iris ensata var. ensata) and Christmas Camellia as a mental training for samurai.



Camellia japonica 'Osaraku' (長楽)
was created in the Edo Period

Higo-tsubaki was never allowed to be taken out of the domain in the Edo Period, but we can buy its seedlings now.

About chrysanthemum(Higo-giku), a member of the domain wrote the technical guidebook for its cultivation in 1819.

Camellia japonica 'Goshozakura' (御所桜)

Camellia japonica 'Higo-ozeki' (肥後大関)







● camellias created in Edo(present Tokyo)

Camellia japonica 'Shokkou' (蜀紅) appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1757.

Camellia japonica ‘Bokuhan’(卜伴) appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1719.

Camellia japonica 'Harunoutena' (春の台) appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1841.

Camellia japonica 'Iwaneshibori' (岩根絞) appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica ‘Ezonishiki’(蝦夷錦)  appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica 'Akinoyama' （秋の山） appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica 'Miyakodori' (都鳥) appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1841.

Camellia japonica 'Kagoshima' (鹿児島) appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1739.

Camellia japonica 'Moshio' (藻汐)  appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica 'Soshiarai'(草紙洗) appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers  published in 1841.

Camellia japonica 'Tennin-matsushima'(天人松島) appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica 'Somekawa'  (染川) appears in a pictorial book of camellias published  in 1879.

Camellia japonica 'Daikagura' (太神楽) appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1789.

Camellia japonica 'Hikarugenji' (光源氏) appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.





 
 

 
 
  ● camellias in Owari(the areas aound Nagoya)

Camellia japonica 'Beni-myourenji' (紅妙蓮寺) created in the Edo Period

Camellia japonica 'Daijoukan' (大城冠) created in the Edo Period

The variety registration of  Camellia japonica 'Mikasanotsuki' (三笠の月) was granted in 1941.











● camellias in Kaga(the areas around Kanazawa)

Camellia wabisuke 'Seioubo' (西王母) is said to have been created by a member of the Kaga Domain in the end of the Edo Period.

In the tea ceremony, a charcoal water heater embedded in the floor is used in place of a portable water heater from the day of the boar in the 10th lunar month to late April. Seioubo is often decorated in the tea ceremony on the day.

Camellia japonica 'Tobousaku' (東方朔) created in 1972






● camellias in the areas  including Toyama and Niigata

Yuki-tsubaki(雪椿, Camellia japonica var. decumbens or Camellia japonica subsp. rusticana）is native to Tohoku and Hokuriku regions along the Sea of Japan including Toyama and Niigata.

Camellia japonica 'Tsugawashibori' (津川絞) was found in the garden of a home in Tsugawa, Niigata Prefecure.

Camellia resticana 'Kitanonada' (北の洋) was found in the garden of a home in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecure.






● camellias in San-in Region

Many species of camellias are native to San-in Region including Matsue.
Matsudaira Fumai(松平不昧), the 7th lord of the Matsue Domain, was a leading master of tea ceremony and gathered various varieties of camellias. There is a camellia tree that Fumai loved in Matsue.


● camellias created in Kyoto

Camellia japonica 'Akebono' (曙) created in the Edo Period

The masters of tea ceremony loved Camellia japonica 'Shiratama' （白玉）. This camellia was created  before the Edo Period.

Camellia japonica 'Akashigata' （明石潟） appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica ‘Kamo-hon-nami’(加茂本阿弥) was created in the Edo Period.

Camellia wabisuke 'shiro-wabisuke' (白侘助) is very popular as a flower for tea ceremony.  It appears in a pictorial book of camellias published in 1859.

Camellia japonica 'Yuritsubaki' (百合椿)  appears in  a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1829.

Honen-in Temple(法然院) in Kyoto
photo by KYOTOdesign　

Otome-tsubaki

There are a variety of Higo-tsubaki and Otome-tsubaki(乙女椿, Camellia japonica 'Otome' ) in my garden.
Otome-tsubaki appears in a pictorial book of plants and flowers published in 1892.

The original tree of Camellia japonica 'Satsuma' was cultivated at Sengan-en(仙巌園) in Kagoshima Prefecture. Sengan-en was originally built by the lord of Satsuma Domain as his personal villa garden.






Karako-tsubaki
photo by 神戸観光壁紙写真集

A camellia tree called Karako-tsubaki(唐子椿) in Sairin-ji Temple(西林寺) in Hyogo Prefecture is estimated to be over 200 years old.








Karako-tsubaki
photo by 神戸観光壁紙写真集




Chiri-tsubaki
photo by 神戸観光壁紙写真集

A camellia tree called Chiri-tsubaki(散椿) in Choraku-ji Temple(長楽寺) in Hyogo Prefecture is estimated to be over 500 years old. Chiri-tsubaki shed petal by petal.


Chiri-tsubaki
photo by 神戸観光壁紙写真集

Niinamesai

November 23rd is Labor Thanksgiving Day and Niinamesai(新嘗祭).
Niinamesai is a harvest festival dating back at least to 677. At the festival, the emperor dedicates newly harvested rice and sake to Amaterasu-Ohmikami(the Goddess of the Sun) and eats these offerings.

The planting and harvesting of the rice for Niinamesai are done by the emperor's own hands every year. He went into the rice paddies in the Imperial Palace, planted rice 100 seedlings including sticky rice and ordinary rice on May 24th and harvested them on September 28th this year.

Emperor Akihito will be absent from the festival for the first time due to mild bronchopneumonia this year. The Crown Prince will attend it instead of the emperor.

天地と 久しきまでに 万代に
仕へまつらむ 黒酒白酒を
A-me-tsu-chi-to Hi-sa-shi-ki-ma-de-ni Yo-ro-zu-yo-ni
Tsu-ka-e-ma-tsu-ra-n Ku-ro-ki-shi-ro-ki-wo

"I will offer kuroki(black sake) and shiroki(white sake) to you as long as the world endures," written by Fumuya no Chinu(文室智努, 693-770) in "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves" (the oldest existing anthology of poetry)

Fumuya no Chinu was a member of the imperial family. The emperor offers alcoholic beverages called kuroki(黒酒, black sake) and shiroki(白酒, white sake) to the goddess at Niinaemsai every year. Shiroki　is unrefined sake made from the newly harvested rice.　Kuroki is a mixture of shiroki and a plant ash made by steaming and charring a plant root called Kusagi.
Some people say kuroki came to be colored with the plant ash due to the fading of the cultivation of the black rice in Japan although the sake was originally made from the black rice.

According to an old document submitted to the supreme organ of the state in 804, girls who conducted ceremonies to worship gods made sake.

The book of laws and regulations that were compiled by Emperor Daigo's order describes the detail process for making black and white sake. According to the book, one-time sake brewery was constructed after rice fields for the sake were decided by fortune-telling on the 2nd day of the 9th month, the sake was made in 10 days in the 10th month. Niinamesai is held one month after making it.

White and black sake are also offered to another important festivals held at Ise Shrine. Reisyu(Amazake) and refined sake were added to offerings after the Meiji Period.  Amazake(甘酒) is a sweet drink made from fermented rice.

Niinaemsai is also held at many Shinto shrines on this day. White sake exclusively for Niinaemsai is available only to the Shinto shrines and the imperial family.  Now black sake is available only to the imperial family, so the shrines offer only white sake to the gods.　

Fujii Honke(藤居本家) in Shiga Prefecture, which was founded in 1831, presents black and white sake for Niinamesai to the imperial household every year. Many breweries will market freshly-squeezed sake around the end of November.

Many farmers worked at sake breweries to earn hard cash during the agricultural off-season. Chief sake brewers called toji(杜氏) made a plan for the year's brewing in consultation with sake brewery's owners called kuramoto(蔵元) in summer. Toji brewers chose members of their brewing teams. Brewery's owners had no right to choose brewers. Toji brewers worked with the members at sake breweries during the fall and winter months.

Toji are contractors and take on full responsibility for the year's brewing. Brewery's owners used a merit system, so excellent toji had plenty of income. if they failed, contracts with the owners would expire at the end of winter.  Toji are similar to the head chefs at Japanese cuisine restaurants or traditional hotels.

Now the number of toji decreased. Some owners double as toji. Some young people choose a career in sake-making.


Awamori(泡盛) is a kind of distilled spirit(焼酎, shochu) made in Okinawa. Awamori called Usaki(御酒) is sold at the University of Tokyo.
A professor of zymology at the University of Tokyo visited Okinawa and collected about 620 types of koji mold(Aspergillus oryzae) from breweries in 1935.  Koji mold for awamori at  Okinawa's breweries disappoeard in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.  In 1999, usaki was revived using koji moid  owned by  the university at a brewery in Okinawa.

Higan in autumn

Two periods of seven days including the spring or autumn equinox are called Higan(彼岸), which means "the other shore" or Buddhahood. Higan went from September 20th to 26th this autumn.

We visit our family graves to pray and make offerings of flowers and incense during Higan. I went to my family grave yesterday. Many flowers were placed on graves.
Spider lilies(彼岸花, higanbana) were blooming on the grounds of the temple.　We often see the lilies growing round rice paddies and cemeteries.

Spider lilies and rice paddies right before harvesting. They are said to have been planted to save people from starvation.

道の辺の いちしの花の いちしろく 人皆知りぬ　我が恋妻は
Mi-chi-no-he-no I-chi-shi-no-ha-na-no I-chi-shi-ro-ku
Hi-to-mi-na-shi-ri-nu A-ga-ko-i-zu-ma-wa

"A roadside spider lily easily comes into notice, everyone found out about my loving wife like that," author unknown in "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves" (the oldest existing anthology of poetry)

Ichishi(壱師) is thought to refers to spider lily.
 
photos by 神戸観光壁紙写真集
 

Kinchakuda(巾着田) is a flat land located on a sweep of the meandering Koma River(高麗川) in Saitama Prefecture. Kinchaku-da got its name from its resemblance to kinchaku, a drawstring bag.
It used to be rice paddies. Now it's a place where people can relax. Spider lilies were found in clumps there.

Immigrants from Goguryeo(高句麗) reclaimed the land in the county to cultivate rice.　Goguryeo was overthrown by the Tang Dynasty of China and Silla(新羅) in 668. Both Goguryeo and Silla were ancient Korean kingdoms.
Koma County(高麗郡) was created around Kinchakuda in 716 and Koma no Kokishi Jakko (高麗王若光) was appointed as the chief of the county.

According to two chronicles of Japan, Jakko(若光) arrived in Japan as a member of a mission from Goguryeo in 666 and the Imperial court granted the surname of Koshiki(王) to Koma no Jakko(高麗若光) in 703. He was regarded as a member of the royal family of Goguryeo.
Koma Jinja Shrine(高麗神社) was built to honor Koma no Kokishi Jakko (高麗王若光) after he died in 751. His descendants served as the head priest of this shrine generation after generation. The present head priest is the 60th generation.

Shoden-in(聖天院) is the temple of the Koma family located near Koma Shrine built in 751. On the grounds of the temple, resident Korean believers built a war memorial for the Korean people with no family who died in the colonial period in 2000. The shrine and the temple give us an insight into the history between Japan and Korea.

photo by 写真素材 Ryo