Discussion

Saikan'niyū sumi-e on paper from the Kanō School. 

. See Discussion.

Plum (ume 梅)

The ume (plum) is one of the shikunshi (Four Gentlemen) painting subjects we studied earlier this semester. Rather than repeat the information about it here, refer to SHIKUNSHI SUBJECT -- Plum Blossoms, Winter Plant, Harbinger of Spring and SHIKUNSHI SUBJECT -- Red Plum Blossoms and Kōrin for a review.

Camellia (tsubaki 椿)

Camellia's are flowering plants native to eastern and southern asia but now cultivated throughout the world. They are sometimes called  Rose of Winter. There is an ongoing debate over how many species there are with estimates ranging from 100 to 300. There are over 3000 clutivars. Tsubaki, the Japanese name for the species camellia japonica or c. japonica, grows throughout the country with the exception of Hokkaidō, the northern most of Japan's four main islands. Its great popularity in Japan began when Shōgun Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) began to use the flower in his tea ceremony.

Camellias are evergreen shrubs or trees that can grow up to 66 feet tall. Tsubaki generally top out at about 20 feet, but can grow to as much as 36 feet.

Camellia flowers can be up to 4.5 inches in diameter. Their colors vary from white to pink to red. A yellow variety grows only in South China and Vietnam. Tea varities are always white. Cultivated varieties can be multi-colored. In the wild, flowers bloom from January to March.

The largest collection of camellias in North America, sheltered under a canopy of coast live oak trees, is located in Descanso Gardens at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 in Los Angeles County.

All of the camellia flowers depicted below are from Descanso Gardens.

Fruiting occurs in September to October. The "fruit" is a dry capsule with up to eight seeds inside.

Oil extracted from the seeds has long been used in Japan for hair care. Anti-inflammatory medicine can be made from the plant.

Camellias were cultivated in the gardens of China and Japan for centuries before they were seen in Europe.

Wild tsubaki flowers and plants often popular in Japanese gardens are simpler than most cultivated varieties. The photos below show examples.

Tsubaki are ideal for bonsai.

Tsubaki are represented in textile patterns. The image below is of a type that would be used for obi's, the sashes that hold kimono's closed.

This ikebana flower arrangement of Two Friends in Winter, camellias and plum blossoms, was done by Junko Torigoe, a student in this semester's Thursday class. The flowers are from her garden.

The ukiyo-e print below was by Ohara Koson (1877 - 1945), an artist who was part of the shin-hanga (new prints) movement. After Japan opened up to the world in the late 19th century, Japanese artists, impressed with their first exposure to western art and techniques in centuries, moved enmasse to adopt them for themselves. After some decades, however, new generations of Japanese artists rediscovered the virtues of traditional Japanese art and began to apply them anew, though influenced by modern sensibility. Shin-hanga was part of that restoration movement.

Utegawa Hiroshige II (1826 - 1869) was a student and son-in-law of the famous ukiyo-e artist, Ando Hiroshige (1797 - 1858). He inherited Hiroshige's name when the elder artist passed away. This ukiyo-e print, Camellia at Ueno Shimotera in the Eastern Capitol, part of his Thirty-six Selected Flowers series, was executed in 1866.

The saikan'niyū (Two Friends in Winter) sumi-e on paper below came from the Kanō school in the 19th century.

This last painting saikan'niyū painting on a byōbu is done in the Rinpa school style. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to learn any more about it.