You can't get any more Japanese than Hanafuda - Part Four

Part Four - October, November and December

 

 

October (Month of the Gods)

 

Momiji (Maple)

 

a.k.a Shika (Deer)

 

 

In this month, all of the 8 million Shinto gods leave their provincial shrines to congregate at the Great Shrine in Izumo (Izumo Taisha) (the centre of Shinto religion). Izumo is about 60 miles north of Hiroshima. Like the month of June (‘Mizunazuki’), ‘Kaminazuki’ (October) can be interpreted two ways. It can be read as the ‘month of Gods’ or ‘month without Gods’. In this case, both readings can be correct whether you are in Izumo or not.

 

 

October is represented by the changing autumnal colours of the ‘Momiji’ (Maple) leaves. Although, not technically a flower, the brilliant autumn red leaves of the Maple tree are as colourful as any flower. Like many people around the world Japanese enjoy seeking out groves of maple trees turning hillsides brilliant hues of red and yellow. ‘Momijigari’ is the word for maple leaf viewing.

 

 

The stag on the Tane (Animal) card represents gentleness. Together with the red Maple, they are a symbol of longevity.  This suit is more commonly known as 'Shika' (Deer) in Japan.

 

 

 

 

November (Frost month)

 

Yanagi (Willow)

 

a.k.a Ame (Rain)

 

 

 

November is known as the ‘Yanagi’ (Willow), or more commonly ‘Ame’ (Rain) suit. The Willow tree is a symbol of grace and strength. In China and Japan, the Willow symbolises the traits of an ideal woman and Geisha are often compared to the Willow. The ‘Tsubame’ (Swallow) is often shown with the Willow. They are seen as good companions and are symbols of happiness and harmony. Swallows are often associated with spring but there are species that migrate to spend the winter in Japan.

 

 

The other notable figure in the November suit is the man with an umbrella. This man is the famous Heian period calligrapher Ono no Toufuu (Ono no Michikaze is the more formal reading of his name). He is credited with creating a Japanese style of writing Chinese characters. Calligraphy in this case is more than just fancy writing. It was very important to have standard ways of writing, especially when using a writing system as complicated as Chinese. A popular story arose in the Edo period about how he was feeling particularly hopeless one rainy day and considered quitting his study of calligraphy. He stopped by a stream near a Willow tree and saw a small Frog trying to leap to a dangling Willow branch. He watched the Frog leap for the branch, but every time the wind would blow it just out of reach. Finally on the eighth attempt, the Frog clung to the branch. Ono no Tofu was inspired by the perseverance of the Frog, and continued his career to become one of the most famous calligraphers in Japan. There are doubts that the story is true, but it is an inspiring tale nonetheless.

 

 

 

The design of the Lightning/Storm card is somewhat abstract and it depicts the strong storms around this time of year. Typhoons usually arrive in Japan from September until November. The largest storms occur toward the end of the year. The card is filled with lightning and rain. The black and red form the outline of a tornado, or waterspout. Traditionally on the bottom is a large drum symbolising thunder.

 

 

December (Priest's Run)

 

Kiri (Paulownia)

 

 

 

‘Shiwasu’ is the last of the old month names that is commonly used in modern Japan. Since the nation switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1873 the months are only known by a number - month-one, month-two, month-three etc. The end of the solar year and the beginning of the New Year is one of the most important holidays in Japan. It is a very exciting and busy time for everybody, especially the priests. Every new year Japanese visit the Shinto and Buddhist temples to get their blessings for the New Year. The last month of the year is marked by the rushing about of busy priests as they prepare for New Year's Day. If you are in Japan on New Year's Day it will seem like every person in Japan is at their local temple at the stroke of midnight. The Japanese look to the New Year as a chance to shake off all the burdens of the previous year and get a fresh start.

 

 

The Phoenix is the symbol of righteousness and often connected with the Empress. It is a representation of the mandate from heaven giving the Emperor the authority to rule. Legend says that only the ‘Kiri’ tree is beautiful enough for the Phoenix to land on.

 

Paulownia

 

December is represented by the ‘Kiri’ (Paulownia) plant. The Kiri is the official symbol of the Prime Minister of Japan and of the democratically elected system of government. This was the 'Mon' (symbol) of the Toyotomi clan that ruled over Japan prior to the Edo period.

The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three 'unifiers of Japan'. Oda Nobunaga was another primary unifier and the ruler of the Oda clan at the time. Hideyoshi had joined Nobunaga at a young age but was not highly regarded because of his peasant background. Nevertheless, Hideyoshi's increasing influence allowed him to seize a significant degree of power from the Oda clan following Oda Nobunaga's death in 1582. As the virtual ruler of the most of Japan, Hideyoshi created a new clan name 'Toyotomi' in 1584 and achieved the unification of Japan in 1589.

 

When Hideyoshi died in 1598, his son Toyotomi Hideyori was still an infant. Five regents were appointed to rule until his maturity and conflicts among them began quickly. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu deposed Hideyori and took power after winning the Battle of Sekigahara. In 1614, Hideyori came into conflict with the Tokugawa clan, leading to Tokugawa Ieyasu's Siege of Osaka from 1614 to 1615. As a result of the siege, Hideyori was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide). After his death, the Toyotomi clan dissolved, leaving the Tokugawa clan to solidify their rule of Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

You can't get any more Japanese than Hanafuda - Part Two

Part Two - April, May and June

 

 

 

April (deutzia flower month)

Fuji (Wisteria)

 

 

The name for April, ‘Uzuki’, refers to the deutzia flower or ‘Unohana’, a flowering shrub. This is a popular flower in Japan that signals the beginning of summer.

 

 



April is represented by the ‘Fuji’ (Wisteria) blossom. In April and May, purple Fuji blossoms hang from boughs in many gardens. The Cuckoo and Wisteria are often shown together as symbols of late spring and the beginning of summer. The cuckoo usually calls in the dark of summer nights. The call of the Cuckoo is said to sound like someone calling, ‘return home’. The Japanese Cuckoo or ‘Hototogisu’ is often shown flying across the face of the moon. This image signifies honour and advancement in status and refers to the story of the samurai Yorimasa. The story is told in the Tale of Heike about the battles between two warring clans at the end of the twelfth century. The Heike Emperor was plagued every night by a flying monster. After several nights of failed attempts to banish the monster, someone suggested that the samurai Yorimasa ‘is a man who could subdue a monster’.

 

Yorimasa was a distinguished samurai who had served with bravery and success in many battles but had not gained the recognition or honours that he deserved. Yorimasa was already in his mid-forties and had semi-retired to be a Buddhist monk when the monster appeared. He was not interested in fighting any flying monsters but he could not refuse an Imperial order. Yorimasa stood bravely in the Imperial courtyard waiting for the monster with his bow and arrows. He armed himself with only two arrows. One for the monster and in case he missed the monster, one for the man who nominated him for the job. Fortunately, Yorimasa shot the monster out of the sky with one arrow.

 

 

After the monster died, the Emperor rewarded Yorimasa with a special sword. As he was being awarded, a cuckoo flew overhead calling in the night. Yorimasa then recited the following poem:

hototogisu
na o mo kumoi ni
aguru ka na

yumihari tsuki no
iru ni makasete

Translation:

The cuckoo's name soars,
its cadence resounding
in the realm of the clouds

It was merely drawn forth
by the sinking crescent moon

 

The first verse speaks of how he finally returned from retirement and achieved the great name and honour he deserved in the Imperial Palace or ‘Realm of the clouds’. The second verse acknowledges that his greatness is only due to his service to the Emperor, symbolised by the moon. The second verse can also be read to mean, ‘The shot from my drawn bow was in the hands of fate’ and that modesty is very important.

 

 

 

May (rice shoot planting month)

Ayame (Iris)

The name of the month refers to the time when Rice seedlings are transplanted. When cultivating Rice, the seeds are sown in a small field in the spring. When the seedlings have sprouted they are transferred to a flooded field where they will grow until they are harvested. The flooded fields not only provide water for the Rice but also control weeds and rats that can damage the young crops.

May is represented by the ‘Ayame’ (Iris blossom). The Ayame represents virility and is often displayed on Boys’ Day (5 May). The five point card depicts the ‘Ayame’ alongside a bridge. This is a reference to a chapter from ‘The Tale of Ise’, a collection of poems from tenth century Japan. ‘The Tale of Ise’ is a very well-known piece of Japanese literature.

The story is about a member of the Imperial Court in Kyoto who was assigned to a new post far to the East. He left his family behind in the capital as he travelled on his long journey. Along the way, he and his companions lost their way. They came to a place called ‘Yatsuhashi’ or ‘eight bridges’. This was a swampy area where a large river split into eight smaller rivers. Each of the rivers was crossed by a bridge. The whole area was filled with blooming Irises. The court official was feeling rather sad, was lost and missed his wife. The men stopped to rest and the court official wrote the following poem:

Karagoromo
kitsutsu narenishi
tsuma shi areba
harubaru kinuru
tabi wo shi zo omou

Translation:

I have a beloved wife
Familiar as the skirt
Of a well-worn robe
And so this distant journeying
Fills my heart with grief

 

At first glance, the poem seems to have nothing to do with Irises. However, the poem is an acrostic. The first letters of the Japanese poem spell out ‘ka-ki-tsu-ba-ta’ which is the Japanese name for the species of iris that filled the marshes.

 

The story had special significance to the lords of Edo Japan. At the time, the Tokugawa Shogun came up with a way to keep any rivals from starting a rebellion from their home provinces. He required every lord to spend part of the year in the capital Edo (present day Tokyo) and part in their home province. When the lords returned home, their families were kept as hostages in Edo—a guarantee that they would stay loyal while away. Also, the additional expense of maintaining two households and travelling back and forth prevented any rivals to the Shogun from getting to be too powerful.

 

 

June (month of water)

Botan (Peony)

 

 

The name for the month ‘Mi-na-zuki’ is an example of ‘Ateji’. The name Minazuki is made up of three Chinese characters: (water-not-moon). The middle character for ‘not’ was often substituted as the Ateji, or phonetic equivalent, for ‘na’ which is the possessive article ‘of’. So Minazuki can be read as both ‘the month of water’ and ‘the month without water’. June is usually toward the end of the spring rainy season. There is plenty of water and the rice fields are all flooded. The name of the month could be referring to the flooded fields or the end of the rain.

June is represented by ‘Botan’ (Peony), a beautiful flower native to China. In China and Japan the Peony is a symbol of wealth, good fortune and prosperity. The Peony is known for its medicinal properties and large fragrant flowers. It is often shown with butterflies in Chinese and Japanese paintings. The flowers are full of nectar and attract many insects.

 

 

 



You can't get any more Japanese than Hanafuda - Part 1

Flower Cards are like holding Japan in your hands...

Part One - January, February and March

January (affection month)

 Matsu (Pine)

The name ‘Mutsuki’ refers to the time of year for family and friends to come together and celebrate the New Year. There wasn't much to do in the cold dark of winter besides spending time with those closest to you.

January is represented by the ‘Tsuru’ (Crane) and the ‘Matsu’ (Pine). Both are symbols of long life and good luck. The pine tree is known to live for centuries and it never sheds its leaves. No matter how cold the winter, the pine tree stays green and alive.
 

 

 





The script on the poetry scroll is ‘Akayoroshi’ which translates as ‘clearly better (than)’, which is a reference to the other four plain red scroll cards.

 

The 'Crane card' recalls the flag of Japan. The flag is officially called Nisshōki (‘sun-mark flag’) in Japanese but it is more commonly known as Hinomaru (‘circle of the sun’).

 

The red-crowned Cranes are sacred birds in both China and Japan. They are called the ‘bird of happiness’  because their mating dance makes them appear to be jumping for joy as they leap into the air and float back down on outstretched wings. They also are said to mate for life, making them symbols of marital harmony.

 

 

February (changing clothes month)

Ume (Plum blossom)

February (‘Kisaragi’ meaning ‘wear more clothes’) is represented by ‘Ume’ (Plum) blossom, which is the first of the flowers to bloom in the year. The Plum blossom and Japanese Bush Warbler (, ‘Uguisu’) are frequently shown together to symbolise the coming of spring.

 

 

Hanging in the plum tree is a red strip of paper with writing on it. This is called a ‘Tanzaku’ or ‘small book’. Tanzaku probably originated sometime in the Heian period (794 - 1185). The small strips of paper had poetry written on them and they were bound together in anthologies.  Tanzaku have a variety of uses but they are traditionally used for writing short poems. Another popular use is to write wishes on them and hang them from a temple tree in hope that they will come true. Tanzaku appear on ten different cards, three red Tanzaku with writing, four blank red Tanzaku, and three blank blue Tanzaku.

 

The script on the poetry scroll is ‘Akayoroshi’ (the same as on the January scroll card) which translates as ‘clearly better (than)’, which is a reference to the other four plain red scroll cards.

 

The Japanese Bush Warbler (,Uguisu), is a passerine bird more often heard than seen. Its distinctive breeding call can be heard throughout much of Japan from the start of spring.  Some other Japanese names given to the bird are haru-dori (‘spring bird’), haru-tsuge-dori (‘spring-announcing bird’) and hanami-dori (‘spring-flower-viewing bird’). Its place in Japanese poetry has also given it the names uta-yomi-dori (‘poem-reading bird’) and kyo-yomi-dori (‘sutra-reading bird), the latter because its call is traditionally transcribed in Japanese as ‘Hō-hoke-kyo’, the abbreviated Japanese title of the lotus sutra.  The beauty of its song led to the English name ‘Japanese Nightingale’ even though the Japanese Bush Warbler does not sing at night.  This name is no longer commonly used.

 

An ‘uguisu-jō’ (jō = woman) is a female announcer at Japanese baseball games, or a woman employed to advertise products and sales with a microphone outside retail stores. These women are employed because of their beautiful 'warbling' voices. They are also employed to make public announcements for politicians in the lead-up to elections.

 

 

 

March (new life month)

Sakura (Cherry blossom)

'Hanami' - Blossom Viewing

 

March is represented by ‘Sakura’ (Cherry) blossoms. Although the Plum is the first blossom of the year, the cherry tree marks the beginning of spring and new life. Cherry blossom viewing (Hanami) to welcome the spring is popular in Japan. People go to the parks and countryside to sit under the blossoming trees. Sometimes, a multi-coloured curtain is put up to designate the sitting area for viewing. This was so that the elite did not have to look at their neighbours. Occasionally, Sakura inspires writing poetry (which is called ‘Ontanzaku’).

 

The word 'Miyoshino' appears on the scroll card. 'Mi’ is a term of respect and ‘Yoshino’ is the place name (in Nara prefecture) where the Emperor had a villa. Thus, ancient Japanese people called the place ‘Miyoshino’ out of respect for their Emperor.  Some 30,000 Cherry trees are planted around Mount Yoshino.

 

Yoshino, Nara Prefecture

 

 

 

Sakura has very deep meaning for the Japanese. Buddhism is an integral part of Japanese culture. Buddhism teaches that nothing is eternal or unchanging. Everything eventually decays and disintegrates. A blossoming cherry tree is a beautiful sight but it does not last very long. In a moment, a strong wind can strip a blossoming tree bare. The cherry blossom is a symbol of the brevity and uncertainty of life. Youth, pleasure, fame and misfortune, all blossom and fade like the ephemeral cherry blossom. The cherry blossom is a reminder to focus on the present.