I dropped in at one of the exhibitions on my way home from the office. On entering the site of Yushima Tenjin (Yushima Tenmangu Shrine) which is located in the midst of Tokyo, I smelled the refreshing scent of chrysanthemums in the air. It was not as sweet as lilies, roses, or Winter Daphnes but was beautifully fragrant.
About two thousand chrysanthemums in a variety of types and colors were in full bloom. They had been cultivated with attentive care by chrysanthemum lovers, including elementary and junior high pupils. The flowers were proudly on display. Let me introduce some of them.
There are about 350 types of wild chrysanthemums in Japan. The cultivar was introduced into Japan in ancient times, probably in the 8th century, from China where chrysanthemums were first cultivated as a herb about 3500 years ago. In China, the cultivars were cultivated due to improvements in cross-pollination about 1500 years ago.
In the Heian period(794~1185/1192 AD) in Japan, chrysanthemums became very popular among the royal and noble classes. Ever since then, Japanese people have drawn them in paintings and have written lots of poems about their beauty and elegance.
by Ogata Korin (1658~1716) ↑ ↓
In the Edo period(1603~1868), with the wide spread of chrysanthemum cultivation among common people, many improvements were made to the flowers and more gorgeous types were born.
by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Edo period
In the paintings and Ukiyo-e woodblock prints of the Edo period, these splendid improved flowers after the improvement were frequently depicted.
Tomoe Nishiki
Hokusai painted Tomoe Nishiki.
The chrysanthemum crest has been the emblem of the imperial household since the Go-toba Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal. The imperial crest has a chrysanthemum flower with sixteen petals.
The Imperial Crest
There are more than 150 other different patterns of chrysanthemum flower design. You can see them here.
These are chrysanthemum dolls or mannequins who are clothed in chrysanthemum flowers. Chrysanthemum doll shows usually deal with historical events.
Whenever I see chrysanthemum flowers, they awaken a memory of my departed father who loved the flowers and often took me and my sister to chrysanthemum festivals when we were children. He also liked to see chrysanthemum doll shows in the festivals. So many years have passed since then .. I still miss him very much.
Bonsai chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemum Garden
These rice ears were dedicated to the Yushima Tanmangu Shrine to celebrate and give thanks for the autumn harvest.

















































