As you all know, flowers have a language. Often, flowers are used to communicate and convey one’s meaning to another. It can be used in a romantic sense, it can be familial, it can even be used in a platonic and friendly manner. We humans might give a red chrysanthemum to a romantic partner, a marjoram to wish a friend joy and happiness, and a goldenrod when encouraging family.
However, the meaning of a flower changes with location. After all, it is only natural that language changes with distance! In this post, I’ll be discussing the meanings and symbolisms of five famous Japanese flowers.
And which better flower to kickstart this than the most famous of flowers to come from Japan, the cherry blossom.
The sakura is a flower that has become the symbol of Japan globally, and when flower viewing in the spring, this flower is a must see. However, in Japan, this flower is a representation of kindness and accepting one’s imperfections. Indicative of a pure, gentle heart in the language of flowers, this particular flower is applied in many ways, such as in cosmetics, desserts, and more.
Up next is none other than the chrysanthemum, also known as the kiku.
Interestingly enough, the kiku, embodying longevity, actually symbolizes and serves as the crest of the Emperor and the imperial family. It can be found on the Japanese passport as well as the 50 yen coin. White chrysanthemums represent grief and are often used in funerals.
Known as tsubaki in Japanese, the camellia is yet another fascinating flower.
The camellia was especially popular among the nobility of the Edo period, and it can symbolize love. However, among warriors, the deeply red flower is representative of a rather noble death. On that note, when a tsubaki dies, the flower itself falls as though beheaded. As a result, this is not a flower one should give in consolation to a sickly individual.
The wisteria, or fuji, is a flower that grows as a twining vine.
This flower was often used as a popular motif in the fashioning of kanzashi, or hair ornaments, and kimono. Due to its purple hue, there was a strong association with nobility, and commoners were forbidden from wearing any purple cloth as a result.
To leave off on an eerie note (Halloween!), the final flower of this post is the spider lily, known in Japanese as higanbana.
The higanbana is a flower symbolizing parting and death, and it is said to grow in places where humans say their final goodbyes. This blood red flower is thought to guide the souls of the recently dead through the cycle of rebirth in Buddhism. Correspondingly, they can be used in funerals. Of course, spider lilies can be used without any such ties as well.
And that concludes this post! I hope this was an entertaining read as well as a glimpse into a unique aspect of Japanese. And for those of you who are interested in flowers, please consider getting into ikebana, or flower arrangement!
Riya
Comments