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Camellia Tea Ceremony

on the head mound
just one rosary-
hydrangeas
首塚にロザリオひとつ額の花
-Kashiwabara Min-u (柏原眠雨).

In hanakotoba (花言葉), the Japanese language of flowers, hydrangeas carry the meaning of 'patience' and 'cool-headedness', but this was not always the case.

#Japan #Kyoto #hydrangea #ajisai #紫陽花 #hanakotoba #languageofflowers

Blue and purple heart shaped hydrangea flowers at Yokoku-ji.
Nao-san listens to a suikinkutsu at Yokoku-ji. Water trickles from a water basin into a jar buried underground...it creates a tinkling sound like a harp.
Hydrangea float in an old water basin at Yokoku-ji.
Brilliant purple hydrangea at Yokoku-ji.
23 May at 5:01 | Open on mastodon.social
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Camellia Tea Ceremony

In different types of soil hydrangea petals differ in colour, giving rise to the nickname 'shichihenge' (七変化 '7 transformations').

Throughout history the warrior class shunned the flowers, considering hydrangea to symbolise fickleness and a change of heart or loyalties.

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #紫陽花 #hydrangea

Woodblock print of bees building a nest on a hydrangea bush. Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of a butterfly and hydrangea. Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of a blue tit hiding amongst a hydrangea bush. Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of hydrangeas and a temple pagoda. Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
23 May at 5:29 | Open on mastodon.social
Camellia Tea Ceremony

While it is unproven, many people believe hydrangeas originated in Japan.

The Japanese name 'ajisai' (紫陽花), meaning 'gathering of blue' (aji/atsu 集まる = gathering/ai 藍 = indigo), suggests the flowers were originally mostly blue in colour.

#hydrangea #あじさい #紫陽花 #Japan

Nao-san models amongst the hydrangeas of Yokoku-ji.
Bright blue hydrangea. It is thought the flowers were originally most commonly blue in colour.
A field of blue hydrangeas at Yokoku-ji.
Blue hydrangeas at Yoshimine-dera...far below Kyoto city can be seen in the distance.
23 May at 7:05 | Open on mastodon.social
Camellia Tea Ceremony

Matsuo Bashō wrote only 2 haiku about hydrangea. We opened this thread with the first, this is the second...

hydrangeas adorn
the little woodland garden-
a splendid parlor!
紫陽花や藪を小庭の別座敷
-Matsuo Bashō (松尾芭蕉 1644–94).

#Kyoto #hydrangea #Japan #松尾芭蕉 #haiku #俳句 #poetry

23 May at 7:45 | Open on mastodon.social
Camellia Tea Ceremony

Mimuroto-ji's (三室戸寺) hydrangea garden opens from early June, but before that another floral display keeps visitors entertained.

On the steep steps that climb up to the main hall thousands of blue, white and pink potted hydrangea are lovingly arranged.

A previous installation (usually the flowers are arranged in just 2 days) was called 'Shōryū-zu' (昇龍図 'Ascending Dragon').

#京都 #Kyoto #Japan #hydrangea #紫陽花 #Mimurotoji #三室戸寺

30 May at 1:45 | Open on mastodon.social
Camellia Tea Ceremony

Viewed from the bottom of the 60 steps, 270 pots of white hydrangeas form the slim body of a dragon climbing through the sky (270 blue) towards the sun (60 pink).

The idea for this particular flower art came from the temple's 'Manihōju Mandara' (摩尼宝珠曼荼羅), a mandala that depicts white dragons protecting a sacred 'wish-fulfilling jewel' (如意宝珠).
Pink hydrangea at the top of the steps represent the gem.

#hygrangea #紫陽花 #Mimurotoji #三室戸寺 #Kyoto #Uji #宇治 #京都

Viewed from the bottom of the 60 steps, 270 pots of white hydrangeas form the slim body of a dragon climbing through the sky (270 blue) towards the sun (60 pink).

The idea for this particular flower art came from the temple's 'Manihōju Mandara' (摩尼宝珠曼荼羅), a mandala that depicts white dragons protecting a sacred 'wish-fulfilling jewel' (如意宝珠).
Pink hydrangea at the top of the steps represent the gem.

Over 600 pots of hydrangea in blue, white and pink, make up the design of a dragon ascending to heaven.
Pink hyrangea represent a wish fulfilling jewel.
Looking down from the top of Mimuroto-ji's steps. Potted hydrangeas completely fill one side with bright colours.
White hydrangeas form the body of a dragon on Mimuroto-ji's steps.
30 May at 2:15 | Open on mastodon.social
Camellia Tea Ceremony

Hydrangea were first introduced to Europe around 1862 by the German naturalist Siebold (フォン・シーボルト 1796-1866).
It is said he selected the flower's scientific name 'Hydrangea Otaksa' in memory of his Japanese mistress Kusumoto Taki (楠本滝/'Otaki-san' お滝).

On a side note...Siebold and Otaki-san's daughter, Kusumoto Ine (楠本イネ 1827-1903), was the first female doctor of Western medicine in Japan.

#Japan #楠本イネ #失本稲 #伊篤 #紫陽花 #Siebold

Nao-san enjoys a quiet moment amongst the hydrangea at Yokoku-ji.
The colour of hydrangea flowers are influenced by the acidity of the soil. Blue flowers are formed from more acidic soils, pink from more alkaline.
Hydrangea viewed from a heat shaped window at Yokoku-ji.
Photo of Kusumoto Ine (楠本イネ 1827-1903), the first female doctor of Western medicine in Japan.
30 May at 3:28 | Open on mastodon.social
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