Outline of Exhibition

Traditional Antique Chrysanthemum

The chrysanthemum is not a plant native to Japan, but it is one of the Japanese representative garden plants. In the Heian period, chrysanthemum flower parties were already in vogue at the Imperial Court, and it is considered that the chrysanthemum, along with other cultural items, was brought into Japan from China during the Ritsuryo period.

In the Heian and Kamakura periods, the unique flowers based on the distinctive Japanese aesthetic sense were created in the ruling class. The “Saga chrysanthemum” which has brush-like petals was cultivated exclusively in Daikakuji Temple in Kyoto, and the “Ise chrysanthemum” which has petals that hang down was cultivated in connection with the Kokushi (official) of Ise and Ise Grand Shrine. The chrysanthemum had gradually established its privileged position for parties in the ruling class, in fine arts and as a symbol of agelessness and immortality.

In the middle of the early modern ages and thereafter, the chrysanthemum became popularized, and flower gardens in which a variety of garden species of chrysanthemum were planted and exhibitions of chrysanthemum works flourished. Such popular trends were supported by the “Higo chrysanthemum” which has sparse petals and the “Edo chrysanthemum” which has petals that change after coming into bloom. The traditional medium flowered species including the above types of chrysanthemums and the “Choji chrysanthemum” which has a hemispherical ball of petals at the center of the flower are called “classical chrysanthemums”.

At the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life, these “classical chrysanthemums” have been collected and exhibited since 1999. This year, the methods of tailoring in the early modern ages are displayed, and additionally, the difference between tailoring in the early modern ages and that in the modern ages is introduced with panel displays. The new seedling flowers that were cultivated from seeds at the Botanical Garden are also exhibited.

Period Nov 1 (Tue) - Nov 27 (Sun), 2011
Venue Botanical Garden of Everyday Life, National Museum of Japanese History
Admissions

¥100
Groups of 20 or more: ¥50 per person
* Free admission for children junior high school age and younger
* Free admission for high school students every Saturday

Hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (no entrance after 4:00 p.m.)
Closed

Nov 7 (Mon), 14 (Mon), 21 (Mon)

Sponsor National Museum of Japanese History

Exhibition Lineup

The classical chrysanthemums collected by/donated to and cultivated/bred at the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life (14 varieties of Saga chrysanthemum, 13 varieties of Ise chrysanthemum , 30 varieties of Higo chrysanthemum, 33 varieties of Edo chrysanthemum and 10 varieties of Choji chrysanthemum) and 10 varieties of Oushuu chrysanthemum which were created around the middle of the early modern ages, as were the Edo chrysanthemum and the Higo chrysanthemum, are planted in size-7 flower pots or size-9 flower pots and exhibited around the arbor and in the greenhouse and the marsh-reed screen exhibition site in the Botanical Garden. In addition to the panels explaining about the characteristics of classical chrysanthemums, the panels explaining about the methods of tailoring in the early modern ages and the modern ages and about seedlings are created and displayed in the arbor.

Saga-giku ”Saga No Izumi”

Saga-giku
”Saga No Izumi”

Ise-giku ”Gyoko”

Ise-giku
”Gyoko”

Higo-giku ”Inkunshi”

Higo-giku
"Inkunshi"

Edo-giku ”Ebarashigyoku”

Edo-giku
”Ebarashigyoku”

Oshu-giku ”Gokurakuden”

Oshu-giku
”Gokurakuden”

Choji-giku ”Hakuunmaru”

Choji-giku
”Hakuunmaru”

Note: Please note that items in the exhibition are subject to change.