Clement, Ernest W.

English

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TTHE JAPANESE FLORAL CALENDAR.III. THE PEACH. THE dolls' FESTIVAL.BY ERNEST W. CLEMENT, M. A.HIS blossom, coming between the plum, "of classical fameand predilection," and the cherry, "of patriotic boast," israther overshadowed by those popular favorites. And yet, as Mr.Conder adds,Mhe peach "excels in size, richness, and coloring.These blossoms are of numerous tints,—white, different shades ofpink, and a deep crimson remarkably rich in tone. The peach-1 Tkt Floral Art of Japan.164 THE OPEN COURT.blossom in mass, as it appears in groves and orchards, contributesfar more to the beauty of the spring landscape than its more hon-ored but severer brother, the plum-blossom." "The orchards ofpeach-trees in blossom are much frequented by the common peo-ple."Of the different colors, the pale pink is said to rank first. Thepeach blossom, the Japanese name of which is movio, meaning"hundred," is considered "emblematic of longevity," and is agreater favorite in China than in Japan. It is generally associatedwith oxen, as in the following Chinese saying, depicting a peacefulscene of prosperous country life: "Turn the horse on the flower-covered mountain and the ox into the peach-orchard."In the art of Japanese floral arrangement the peach and theTHE JAPANESE FLORAL CALENDAR. 165cherry-blossoms make an "objectionable combination." The peach-blossom is, however, most felicitous by itself, or with other blos-soms, on the occasion of the Dolls' Festival, often called the "PeachFestival," on the third day of the third month. Indeed, the peachis especially connected with girls.The peach is commonly supposed to have the mysteriouspower of driving away evil spirits, or keeping them at a distance.In Chines as well as in Japanese folklore arrows made of peach-tree wood are frequently used for the purpose of piercing the other-wise invulnerable hearts of devils.Chinese doctors sometimes use the extract of the peach leavesor kernels for medicinal purposes.

The Japansese Floral Calendar. III. The Peach. The Dolls\u27 Festival.

https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1729&amp;context=ocj

The Japansese Floral Calendar. III. The Peach. The Dolls\u27 Festival.

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