Microseason: Daffodils Bloom

WINTER

WINTER SIGNALS

DAFFODILS BLOOM

17 - 21 November

While Japan is an island country, it is without doubt that its culture has been influenced by the Silk Road that spanned the Eurasian continent for 1700 years. Suisen, or Daffodils, are an expressive specimen of this.

Suisen are common imagery in the Japanese arts, so its hard to believe that they are not native to this terroir, arriving into Japan by way of China only about 1200 years ago.

Often seen painted on screens and scrolls, represented in pottery, textiles, as well as tea sweets. They are synonymous with the simultaneous beauty and danger that is present during the Winter months. Another word for Suisen is Secchuka, or Snow-covered Flower.

Other examples of flora that are significant to Japanese culture, but were received here thanks to the Silk Road include:

• pear

• walnut

• cucumber

• safflower

In turn, flora like hydrangea were shared from Japan with the rest of the world via the Silk Road.

Photo credit: Momoko Nakamura