Hagi and signs of autumn at Koetsu-ji, Kyoto




collage-painting "hagi and the full moon" by my aunt

 "Hagi", or Japanese bush clover, is one of the most loved autumn grasses in Japan.  As it is written 萩 , which literally means “grass on top of autumn (秋)", it blooms earlier among “seven grasses of autumn” and delicate flowers start to scatter when the first cool and crisp wind blows.

hagi in my garden

The view of overhanging branches laden with reddish-purple flowers are lovely when they are swaying in the breeze.  The flowers bent in the rain inspire deep emotion.   No wonder more than 100 poems about the grass appear in Manyoshu Anthology, the oldest poetry anthology edited in 8th century.  (Here in Japanese.)

When I travelled to Takagamine, northern part of Kyoto, I had a visit to Koetsu-ji Temple (光悦寺).

Stone-paved path leads visitors to the precinct, from the bustle of cities to the serenity.

Above your head, shades of green and the blue sky.

Under your feet, green is lovely between the stones.

The belfry was completed in 1692 and restored in 1960.

Up to this place where the stonep-paved path ends, permission is free.  Over there, there are tea rooms, the retreat, and gardens once belonged to Hon'ami Koetsu, a Japanese craftsman, potter, lacquerer, and calligrapher.  He developed his style of painting which developed into the Rinnpa school.  The retreat was called Taikyo-an which was used as an artist colony as well as for prayers and meditation.

This hedge below is called Koetsu-ji style hedge (光悦寺垣). Taikyo-an is over the hedge.  The view of the hedge covered with blooming bush clovers or with crimson maple leaves is something.  I had thought it was the right time for the flowers but they were delayed this year....unfortunately.

These are some of few blooming bush clovers.

The flowering of bush clovers and a little yellowish green of the nearby mountains as borrowed landscape are signs of the arrival of autumn. 

The view from the Retreat is open, wide and high.

 On the moss-covered thatched roof, there are lives.

coral-like fruits

These Japanese maple leaves have just started turning red earlier than others.

In full sunlight high above, many maple leaves have turned yellow before becoming red.



What are  "seven grasses of autumn"?  The selection of seven autumnal grasses existed at latest  the time of Manyoshu Anthology as is shown by these ancient poems.

秋の野に　咲きたる花を　指折り　かき数ふれば　七種の花

萩の花　をばな葛花　なでしこの花　をみなへし　また藤袴　朝顔の花

 山上憶良/Yamanoue no Okura　(660 - 733)

Flowers blossoming

in autumn fields -

when I count them on my fingers

they then number seven

The flowers of bush clover

eulalia, arrowroot　

pink, patrinia　

also mistflower, and morning faces flower 

(をばな, or eulalia, is Japanese pampas grass.  朝顔, or morning faces flower,  is old name for 桔梗, bellflower.)

- Visit Our World from the icon on the sidebar. -