More About SHIKIMI

#shikimi #staranise #japanesestaranise

Chinese Star Anise and Japanese Shikimi are 2 closely related plants of the same genus that seem to originated somewhere in Yunnan and been spread across the rest of  Asia by humans.

Shikimi however unlike Chinese star anise is ALERT toxic dangerous poisonous

Do not ingest it

It seems to have been planted around Buddhist temples shrines and graveyards as an insect and animal deterrent and because of its limited medicinal applications (experts only!) and the use of the leaves for making incense when dried and powdered and because of the lingering fragrance of its flowers and leaves made it popular as a plant for altars.

Do not confuse it with Chinese Star Anise which is called Ba Jiao and is perfectly safe 

If you're tempted to plant it for the fragrance and religious and cultural associations make sure people know its fruit and seeds are dangerous and INEDIBLE

While researching this nearly every site describing this plant mentioned stories of people confusing the two plants even in Asia and mixing them together.

Yes its that dangerous but I can see how those white flowers would appeal to the Japanese !

Next time back to Hydrangeas

Shikimi tsumu by Kojiju

Kojiju a Heian woman poet and courtier who became a non later in life wrote many #waka

This one was a response to a set theme of a Buddhist winter Retreat or Sanka written about 1200 AD

I was unable to find a kana or kanji version of the text even on wakanet  but I did have the romaji

Its SKKS 1666? or 4 The 2 texts I consulted for notes had mismatched numbers!

I have no idea what sort of Nun Kojiju was but given her a courtier perhaps Tendai ?

She may have looked like the woman wearing black and white at the back of the print?

Shikimi tsumu

yamaji no tsuyu ni

nurenikeri

akatsuki oki no

sumizome no sode


Shikimi also known as Jinko is Japanese star anise a plant that looks very similar to Chinese Star Anise but its fruit is toxic tho the leaves and branches are used for offerings and incense by the Japanese

I will provide more detail on this on the next post

tsumu gather pluck pick

yamaji mountain path and tsuyu dew

nure be wet soaked damp nikeri past action leading to present result

akatsuki oki no

she got up at dawn to do this but wait akatsuki can also refer to enlightment and can be written with a kanji that can also be read as satori and a further possibility is akatsuki meaning dirt attached or entirely dyed

sumizome no sode ink / black dyed sleeves of a nuns robes

so she got up at dawn and got her sleeves soaked wet not having a romantic affair or picking a branch of flowers to send with a note to a lover but to collect plants for an offering and while doing so may also have had a "dawning" or moment of clarity and insight?

Perhaps she's also gently chiding courtiers who wrote love poems with a reminder poetry can be used for other things?

Artwork as prints screensavers and poemcards inspired by this verse will be posted to my https://www.patreon.com/JVartNdesign soon

Japanese Hydrangea prints

#hydrangea #japaneseprints #Bairei

Some of the most beautiful hydrangea prints come from #ShinHanga artists.

Perhaps because of the new aniline dyes ?

Bairei chose white hydrangeas as a subject and uses the mass and size of the bloom as a focal point .

#Koson uses more blue and adds a bird for contrast and contrasts large with small for both flowers and leaves and likewise a strong contrast of dark and light tones.

Hokusai and Hydrangeas

#ajisai is the japanese naeme for #Hydrangeas and also a #june #kigo

Here's 2 prints by #Hokusai  featuring #hydrangeas

Note  that the Japanese don't seem to regard lighter colored hydrangeas as less attractive than the deep blue ones.