Microseason: Peach Blossoms Smile

SPRING

INSECTS AWAKEN

PEACH BLOSSOMS SMILE

10 - 14 March

During this season peach buds flower. The second of the trifecta of Spring tree flowers that are celebrated this time of year. In the Japan of yesteryear, “smiling” referred to “blossoming”, which is why the term is used to communicate this microseason.

Peaches appear in mythology, folklore, and seasonal traditions.

The character for peach is a combination of “tree” and “trillion”, pointing to abundant possibilities, particularly is association to fertility and regeneration.

Two of the most well-known references to peaches in Japanese mythology comes in storytelling.

In the ancient text, Kojiki, Izanagi-no-Mikoto, one of the gods of creation, escapes from the underworld and throws peaches at pursuing demon spirits, successfully driving them away. Establishing peaches as a symbol of protection and divine favor in Japanese culture.

And in the folktale, Momotaro, a baby boy who emerges from a large peach floating down the river, goes on to protect his village by defeating a large evil ogre with the help of his animal allies. Reinforcing peaches as a form of protection and divine favor.

The peach motif gained popularity in Japan for its use in ceramics from around the late 1800s. Borrowed from Chinese design, peaches were incorporated into tableware and flower vessels. Imari Pottery antiques remains one of the most recognizable peach designs.

Photo credit: Momoko Nakamura