Plant Journeys blog post #11 – Plants for different months and seasons

Seasonal associations and references to plants are important in East Asian cultures. The Edo period (1615–1868) screen, below, shows this.

A plant can be linked with one of the four seasons or assigned its own month. We should remember, though, that when we explore the lists of plants and their appropriate seasons, the reference is to the lunar calendar, which was in use in China (until 1912) and Japan (until 1873). The new year will fall approximately between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar, though this is sometimes confused when an intercalary month (a month inserted to make the calendar year correspond to the solar year) is needed to regulate the yearly cycle. Another important point to remember is that New Year is the start of the spring season.

Some of these connections have already been indicated in the individual plant blogs of the Plant Journeys exhibition. These associations have changed and evolved throughout history. Besides, those plants that flowered for a long period, crossing seasonal boundaries, created a problem. An example of this is the iris, which began blossoming in the spring and continued through the summer, illustrated by a hanging scroll painted by Suzuki Kiitsu (1796–1858). Therefore, a debate arose about whether it should represent spring or summer in poetry and visual arts.

In Japan, the cherry blossom is closely linked to spring, while the vibrant maple leaves are synonymous with autumn. This connection between cherry blossoms and spring dates back to the Heian period (794–1185) with the Kokinshū, an anthology of waka poetry. Similarly, the association of maple leaves with autumn also emerged during this time. In contrast, China has long associated chrysanthemums with autumn, while the plum blossom (prunus mume) has been the prominent symbol of spring, overshadowing the cherry blossom.

The following comparative table illustrates the variations in monthly associations based on different periods and regions. While the lists have some similarities, the differences stand out more prominently. The entry from Japan 1214 is taken from Fujiwara no Teika’s (1162–1241) Jūnikagetsu kachō waka (Poems on Flowers and Birds of the Twelve Months) [2]; Japan 1542 is sourced from the Ikenobō Sen’ō kuden (Ikenobō Sen’ō’s secret Transmission) [2]; and the China 1912 entry comes from the lower Yangzi valley [3].

Dr Törmä’s research can be explored further in a new exhibition. Plant Journeys: Stories of East Asian Plants in Hornel’s Home and Garden, which runs until 31 October at Broughton House, Kirkcudbright.

Sources:

[1] H. L. Li. Chinese Flower Arrangement. Philadelphia: Hedera House, 1959.

[2] Shirane, Haruo. Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons: Nature, Literature, and the Arts. New York and Chichester: Columbia University Press, 2012.

[3] Weidner, Marsha, et al. Views from Jade Terrace: Chinese Women Artists 1300-1912. Indianapolis: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1988.