The Dragonfly (Tombo) as a Motif in Japanese Art

Posted on | July 17, 2010 | No Comments

According to a legend, the first divine emperor of Japan, Jinmu, is said to have stood on the top of a mountain to survey all of Yamato (the old name for Japan) and remarked that it resembled the shape of tombo (how they form a ring) in flight. It is from this phrase that Yamato also became known as Akitsushima, ‘akitusu’ being another reading of the characters for tombo, and ‘shima’ meaning island. Tombo is perhaps the oldest design in Japan having been found on the oldest discovered primitive pottery.

Tombo are also known as kachimushi or ‘victory insect.’ The fact that they are quick to attack and catch other small insects in mid air and have such a fierce name, the tombo motif was a favorite among the warrior classes, who used it on military implements such as helmets and especially arrow quivers–for both sword and arrow should fly straight and fast like the insect. Tombo were often combined in designs using arrows as well as the iris motif with its straight sword-like leaves.

In modern Japan, the tombo has acquired a more nostalgic (natsukashii) image of long ago days of childhood chasing dragonflies through the rice paddies. Although they are seen in abundance in early summer, tombo have become associated with the autumn and are often represented in Japanese art flying among the autumn grasses. A folk belief persists that the tombo is the steed of departed ancestors who return to visit their families at the summer feast of Obon.

Dragonfly and Cricket Quilted Wall Hanging

Available for purchase on my Etsy Store

Hoozuki Ichi Festival Asakusa, Japan

Posted on | July 7, 2010 | No Comments

Every year on July 9th and 10th, the popular Hoozuki Ichi (Chinese Lantern Plant Market) is held at the Sensouji Temple in Asakusa. The market festival dates back to the Edo era when booths were first set up on the temple grounds to sell the plants. Today, as then, people dressed up in summer yukata stroll through the temple grounds, purchasing ground cherry pods, wind chimes and hoozuki plants. July 10th, the last day of the market, also coincides with Shiman Rokusen Nichi (46,000 days). It is believed that if you visit the Sensouji Temple to pray on this day it will be the equivalent of visiting 46,000 ordinary days. The festival often coincides with the end of the dreary rainy season and the beginning of summer.

The hoozuki, (aka lampionflower, physalis, winter cherry, husk tomato, Chinese lantern plant and “Demon’s Lantern”) is a native of southern Europe, east across southern Asia, and Japan. It is a perennial and a relative of the eggplant. In spring small pale yellow green flowers bloom and in summer red seed pods appear that are shaped like tiny lanterns which makes this a favorite plant to celebrate the season. In addition the orange color brings with it good luck. The seed pods are hollow with a small opening on one end which when blown into produces a noise, a favorite pastime of children.

Japanesque Accents Quilted Wall Hanging on Etsy

Category: Japanese Festivals
Tags: asakusa > demon's lantern > hoozuki > japan > japanese festival > lampionflower > matsuri > Sensouji Temple

The Hare "Usagi" as a motif in Japanese art

Posted on | June 17, 2010 | No Comments

There is an old Chinese/Taoist tale of a hare that resides in the moon and pounds the magic herbs to make the elixir of eternal life. The hare was considered sacred and was believed to live a thousand years–becoming white only when it had reached the end of the first five hundred years. This belief was assimilated by the Japanese who see the hare in the moon pounding mochi or rice cakes instead of magic herbs.

Because the moon is deemed to shine its brightest in autumn, the full moon and the hare motif has also become associated with autumn in Japanese art. ”Aki no nana kusa,” or the seven grasses of autumn, often appear with the rabbit in the moon and have provided a motif for Japanese art since the Nara Era (710-794). The seven grasses are, ”kikyo,” purple Chinese bell flowers, “hagi,” Japanese bush clover, “susuki,” Japanese pampas grass, “kuzu”, millet, “nadeskiko,” fringed pink flowers, “fujibakama,” boneset, and “ominaeshi” which resembles Queen Anne’s lace.

Another hare motif that is very commonly seen in Japanese art is the the hare and ocean wave motif. This unusual combination originated from a story in the Kojiki (Japan’s oldest history book) called “Inaba no Shirousagi,” or the “White Rabbit of Inaba” (present day Shimane prefecture). According to the legend, a white rabbit crossed the ocean from Okino Island to the mainland at Inaba by using the backs of sharks as stepping stones and thus appeared to be running over the tops of the waves. This story became the theme of a Noh song that translates roughly, “While the moon floats over the ocean, a rabbit runs over the waves, what interesting island scenery.”

Rabbits, Moon and Waves

Rabbits, Autumn Moon and Fall Flowers

Rabbits, Moon and Autumn Grass

Category: Japanese symbolism & Motifs
Tags: hare > japanese lore > japanese motifs > japanese symbolism > moon > seven grasses of autumn

The Iris as a Japanese Motif

Posted on | June 4, 2010 | No Comments

The iris has captivated the hearts of Japanese since ancient times. A native species, called kakitsubata, became especially popular from a story in the 10th century, “Tales of Ise.” An aristocratic poet, weary of the fashionable life in Kyoto, set out on a long journey. Arriving at Yatsuhashi (meaning ‘eight bridges’), he saw irises in full bloom in a marsh crisscrossed with the eight bridges that gave the area its name. The sight filled him with such longing for his wife far away that he wrote a verse for her, beginning each line with a syllable from the flower’s name, ka-ki-tsu-ba-ta. Ever since, kakitsubata and zigzag wooden bridges have been linked as a motif in art, literature and gardening.

The iris is also known as hanashoubu, ‘hana’ meaning flower and ‘shoubu’ a play on words that can also mean ‘martial spirit’ or ‘victory or defeat’ as in a match or a showdown. Designs of hanashoubu and dragonflies were often stamped into tanned deerskin and worn into battle.

It was once believed that iris gave protection from the evil spirits that were abroad on the fifth day of the fifth month, and traditionally boys would bathe with its sword-like leaves on this day. The iris also symbolizes the warrior spirit, and along with the koinobori (flying koi pennants), is displayed on May 5th as part of what was once Tango no Sekku but has now become known as Children’s Day.

This furoshiki panel shows the bridges and iris as in the legend.

Iris by a moving stream is another well used motif.

Serene scenes such as these bring good feng shui in ones home and may be found in my

Etsy Japanesque Accents Store .

Category: Japanese symbolism & Motifs
Tags: footbridges > iris > japanese lore > japanese motifs > japanese symbolism > tale of ise

The Koi in Japanese Art

Posted on | June 1, 2010 | 1 Comment

Nothing is more soothing and meditative than to watch koi swimming lazily in a pond and yet the symbolism for koi is anything but peaceful. There is a well-known legend dating back to ancient China about one koi that traveled the long distance upstream against the strong Yellow River current and successfully made it over the infamous Dragon Gate Falls, a seemingly overwhelming barrier. It was such an impossible task that the koi was rewarded by being transformed into a dragon. This legend was later introduced to Japan where it became part of Japanese lore, and the koi became a symbol of worldly aspiration and achievement, tenacity of purpose, and indomitable courage to the Japanese. Families display koinobori (flying carp banners) outside their houses each year on May 5th, what is now called Children’s Day (known in the past as Boy’s Day or ‘tango-no-sekku’), as a visible prayer that their children will grow up strong and healthy and be able to stand up against all the fierce currents of adversity. The koi symbolism is also appropriate for students who have done well in their examinations and for wishing anyone continued success in life.

One example of this legend is seen in a design on a fabric panel wall hanging. It shows the koi approaching a waterfall and at the top right is a small dragon. The kanji on the upper right reads “Gateway to Success” which makes this a great gift to inspire any student or someone starting out in business.

Koi, Dragon and Waterfall Quilted Wall Hanging