The Chrysanthemum

Floating Chrysanthemums and Wisteria, Koju Yamashita, Hanakata Pattern Album, c. 1900.

Designs of chrysanthemum, known as kiku (菊), pervade many domains of Japanese culture, appearing on textiles, ceramics, and prints. In the Nara period (710-794), the flower was imported into Japan for its strong medicinal properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic). For the Japanese, chrysanthemums became traditionally seen as an auspicious symbol of longevity. 

The plurality of the chrysanthemum design results from the large variety of species found in Japan, which is no less than 350 types out of the 200,000 existing in the world. To distinguish chrysanthemums found in the Japan from the ones growing overseas, the term wagiku, literally meaning Japanese (wa-) chrysanthemums (-kiku), was attributed. The chrysanthemum is celebrated during the annual Chrysanthemum Festival (kiku no sekku), held in honour of the flower's beauty and significance.  

Resulting from this traditional practice of taking care of and appreciating the beauty of chrysanthemums in Japan, the flower became a symbol of care and love. The appearance of the flower was not all about the gardener’s technique. Sometimes, the caretaker’s efforts were answered with good results; other times they did not. It was believed that the flower would always reflect the soul of the Japanese individual. 

 For the reasons cited above, chrysanthemums – specifically a sixteen-petaled chrysanthemum – were eventually adopted as the official symbol of Japan’s imperial household. During the Meiji period, the chrysanthemum became a popular design to demonstrate the power of the nation. This national symbolism has been strongly reasserted over time as the imperial seal now appears on the cover of Japanese passports, on some Japanese coins, and over the doors of Japanese diplomatic facilities overseas. 

Beyond its association with the imperial family, the chrysanthemum symbolises other virtues and attributes in Japanese culture. It is often linked to the concept of bushido, the samurai code of ethics, representing qualities such as loyalty, honour, and resilience. 

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