Outline of Exhibition

Guide to the Traditional Seasonal Flora Exhibition on "Traditional Primrose"
Exhibition period: Tuesday, April 20 through Sunday, May 9, 2004
Garden open: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (entry permitted until 4:00 pm)
Venue: Botanical Garden of Everyday Life, National Museum of Japanese History
Garden entry fee: ¥100 for all age groups from elementary school level
(¥50 for groups of 20 or more)
Garden closed: April 26
Sponsor: National Museum of Japanese History

Exhibition Theme

The unique Japanese aesthetic and sophisticated techniques of Japanese horticulture saw it reach new heights during the Edo period when numerous varieties of many species of flora were created. However, many of these species have been lost due to rapid changes in Western horticulture since the Meiji period, while these sophisticated horticultural techniques have also come close to disappearing altogether. The National Museum of Japanese History has been involved in finding and preserving species that have been on the verge of extinction and presents this exhibition as one part of the combined results of basic research undertaken from both a biological and historical perspective, with the aim of promoting understanding of the history of flora.

Japanese primrose holds an important position among ancient horticultural plants created during the Edo period. Many varieties were bred during the middle part of the Edo period using mutations that were found among wild primrose.