Peonies.
No less common flowers in Japan are also numerous varieties of peonies. They are the most popular decorative flowers. The brightness of colours, elegance and fragrance distinguish this flower from other plants. While the loach always serves as the embodiment of the feminine image in poetry and painting, the peony is always masculine, masculine. Therefore, peony is often called "husband" or "king" among flowers.
In Japan, where the cultivation of these flowers began about 1400 years ago, there are several hundred varieties of this amazing flower. The peonies have always been admired by Japanese and Chinese artists and poets who, in their inspired creations, praised the charm of these beautiful flowers.
Narcissus.
Speaking of the flowers loved by the Japanese, it is impossible not to mention the daffodils. Unusual tenderness and delicate fragrance of the daffodil flower, the aesthetic pleasure caused by it has won him, love, won him one of the honoured places in the life of the people. Narcissus loves water. And the people born an amazing legend about the history of the emergence of this flower.
Long ago, at the foot of Yuanshan Mountain, near Zhangzhou, there lived an old poor widow and her son. One evening, when she boiled the remains of rice and was waiting for her son to return, a poor old man entered the house. He looked miserable and miserable.
The old beggar was deeply touched by the widow's words and asked Where is your land? Over there, at the foot of the mountain, the widow answered. Without saying anything else, the old man was floating in the direction indicated. When he came to the field, he stood on the ground for a while, and then rushed to the nearby pond. When the widow noticed this, she ran out of the house and started calling for help. All the villagers gathered at the pond. People sank into the water, trying to save the old man, but in vain. The next morning the villagers noticed that a wonderfully aromatic flower had grown on the spot where the old beggar stood.
Since then, everybody has been saying that the poor old man is nothing more than a water spirit, but a flower that grew up in the field of a widow was called a narcissus - "a flower of water spirit". There are several names for daffodils - "dragon's paws", "golden cup". "crystal jasper." The climatic conditions of Japan allow growing daffodils almost all year round. Live daffodils decorate the dwelling both in spring and winter.
Lotus.
Whoever has been to Japanese parks with their ponds and lakes, should be well acquainted with the thickets of water plants with huge dark green leaves and water-transparent white or pink lotus flowers. Lotus flowers have attracted the attention of artists and poets since ancient times. In an ancient Chinese poetic monument, the "Book of Songs", a memory of the lotus is found in folk songs and poems. Gentle and fragrant lotus flowers, proudly rising above the surface of the water, have long been the embodiment of genuine purity and chastity.
It is noteworthy that the lotus flower, which is in the minds of the people embodiment of moral purity and chastity, was used by Buddhism and turned into one of its religious symbols, indispensable temple attributes. In Buddhist painting and temple sculpture, which have received extraordinary development in Japan, the Buddha and his companions are often depicted seated on the throne of giant lotus flowers.
Sakura.
Flowers and trees are very popular in Japan. Here, first of all, it is necessary to name the famous Japanese cherry, the cherry sakura, sung in Japanese poetry and most widely depicted in the paintings of artists of different generations. The cherry flowers that appear on the naked curved branches of the cherry tree in the spring can be found in simple and terry branches, in various colours and shades, including pink, cream and yellow. During the cherry blossom period, each Japanese house is decorated with its beautiful branches usually placed in elegant porcelain vases or special flowerpots. "Sakura is visible by its flowers" and the Japanese spend hours admiring the charm of the spring day when white and yellow0 pink petals blossom on the branches of the cherry tree. This folk custom to admire the blossoming cherries is praised in the numerous creations of Japanese poetry.
In the sunny days of early spring, residents of Japanese cities are eager to get into a park or garden, and you can often see crowds of fascinated people, standing, watching for hours a white or pink cloud of cherry blossoms. It is no coincidence that this worship of flowers has been echoed in the special concept of "kinase" ("kinase" is a Chinese word that comes into Japanese): it means "to look". "Look at it "watch", "keep an eye on". Do not take your eyes off and see the beauty!