REKIHAKU

No.113 A Witness to History

The World of Mutant Morning Glories

During the Edo period, a sophisticated gardening culture developed in the great cities. By the latter half of the 18th century, samurais, wealthy merchants, and Buddhist priests in the city cultivate "kihin" (unusual varieties). A typical example of a kihin would be a mutant morning glory ('henka asagao') with unusual flowers or leaves.
Since 1999 the National Museum of Japanese History has displayed historical documentation referring to existing mutant morning glories in the special exhibition, "Traditional Japanese Morning Glory". We collect systenatically the documents of morning glory for this project. I would like now to introduce a part of this collection.

Illustration 1. Asagao-so (1817)	Illustration 2. "Santoiccho"
Illustration 3. Asagao Sanjuroku Kasen (Illustrations of thirty-six morning glory flowers) (1854)	Illustration 4. Asagao Zusetsu (1903).

　The cultivation of mutant morning glories experienced two waves of popularity during the Edo period. Playing a large part in these trends were illustrated books on Japanese morning glories. In the first wave (1804-1829), the illustrated books were illustrated reference books and the cultivators of the flowers are not mentioned (Illustration 1). This was probably due to the fact that the popularity of morning glory cultivation was focused in the intellectual classes in the large cities. These people organized amateur horticultural associations ('ren' or 'karen') where they measured their creations against each other.

On the other hand, in the illustrated books published during the second wave of popularity (1848-1860), flowers that had been highly appraised at fairs are shown with their cultivators' names (Illustrations 2 and 3). This is an indication that the popularity of morning glory cultivation had spread to the area in the Suburbs of Edo and that the number of cultivators had greatly increased. The books also show that the type of flowers that were most appreciated had changed considerably.

Illustration 5. Henka Asagao-zu (Illustrations of mutant morning glories) (Meiji to Taisho periods).
The illustration to the right is an actual printing made from the original in the center.

Illustration 5. Henka Asagao-zu (Illustrations of mutant morning glories)
(Meiji through Taisho periods)

Illustration 6. Asagao Nishiki-no-tsuyu (1902)	Illustration 7. Kengyuka Tsukai (1902). Section on how to sow seeds.

In the Meiji period, morning glory cultivation remained relatively forgotten for some time. The next wave appeared around 1888, and amateur associations, where cultivators exchanged seeds and measured their creations against each other, sprung up in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, and spread to various regions. Illustration 5 shows original illustrations of prize-winning flowers displayed on the covers of such associations' publications. New illustrated books (Illustration 4) and books on cultivation methods (Illustrations 6 through 8) were also published. In addition, Illustration 11 shows a re-edited version of an illustrated book from the Edo period. Despite containing many inaccuracies, such as modifications to the original illustrations, the book was popular among morning glory aficionados of the time, which gives an indication of the intensity of the people's enthusiasm.

Illustration 8. Asagao Tebiki-gusa (1902).
The illustration on the right shows the cotyledons, the one of the left shows the leaves. The illustrations are lettered according to the Japanese syllabary (iroha).

This year again, from August 6th through the 25th, various collected strains of mutant morning glories will be on exhibit in the Botanical Garden of Everyday Life at the National Museum of Japanese History. This year the exhibit will consist of the plants only. If you have interest in "The World of Mutant Morning Glories", please visit our special program!!

Reiji Iwabuchi
History Department
The National Museum of Japanese History

	Illustration 11. The illustration appears to have been taken from "Tohishukyo (1857) but the color has been changed (The right is the original, The left is the version re-edited in the Meiji period).
	Illustration 11. Meiji period re-edition of Tohishukyo (Meiji period). The title on the first page and the title of the preface (left page: "Ryochishu") are not the same, indicating that this book was a compilation made by editing several different books from the Edo period.
	tion 9. Flowerpot in the shape of a ship. This flowerpot was used by the gardener Sokichi, famous for mutant morning glories and chrysanthemum dolls. Illustration 10. Pressed morning glory flower (Meiji through Taisho periods). Twelve-centimeter "Yamato-nishiki". As it has the normal five petals, the flower is probably an immediate predecessor to the large strains.
	Illustration 10. Pressed morning glory flower (Meiji through Taisho periods). Twelve-centimeter "Yamato-nishiki". As it has the normal five petals, the flower is probably an immediate predecessor to the large strains.