Spring Gardens

Motif

An Imaginary Landscape in Bloom

This obi represents two spring landscapes, but here, spring is understood in the wider, more poetic sense of the season unfolding.

From top to bottom, we can see plum blossoms floating around the two scenes. They are traditionally associated with the very beginning of spring and, under the old Japanese calendar, were among the first blossoms of the season, appearing as early as February.

Further down, the composition becomes fuller and more abundant, with cherry blossoms (today’s quintessential symbol of spring), peonies and chrysanthemums, while the willow branches begin to fill with fresh green leaves. Peonies bloom towards the end of spring, around April and May, when the cherry blossoms are gone and as the landscape becomes increasingly lush and green.

The chrysanthemums are an interesting addition. They are most strongly associated with autumn in Japan, but here they appear alongside spring flowers. They are also an auspicious symbol, and I often see them included in motifs representing different seasons, as if they are simply there to bring a cheerful floral element and contribute to an imaginary landscape.

Framing

When ordering a bag, you can choose the elements of the motif that you would like me to focus on.