紫陽花 (Ajisai) – Hydrangea

７th June – 水無月

紫陽花 (Ajisai) -the beautiful and huge flower that blooms in June to July in Japan, is from Japan and it went through breed-improvement in Western countries. Now　some says there are around 2000 species exist in the world.

In this season, many tourists go to the temples to see the colorful Ajisai, as there are several famous temples where have splendid view of Ajisai. However, behind the history, temples with Ajisai have sad meaning. In the past, June was the time when many people died due to the frequent change of the climate. Thus, people offered Ajisai for the deceased. Temples where have plenty Ajisai means there had an epidemic disease. However, those history made today’s beautiful view of the Ajisai.

Now Ajisai is loved by people, however it was not like this in the past, including the reason.

Ajisai already have existed from Nara period and one poet read:

言問はぬ　木すら味狭藍　諸弟らが　練の村戸にあざむかえけり

(Koto tohanu, ki sura ajisai morotora ga, neri no murato ni azamukaekeri)

Meaning: Even the trees which do not speak are also being fickle just like Ajisai (Changing colors = capricious, cheater), I have been deceived by (your) words.

because Ajisai change its color as it grows (Green – Yellow – Blue – Red – Purple), it was used as the metaphor of unfaithful, cheating – Ajisai’s language of flower came from this, too.

Ajisai are very beautiful and charming, but it has many negative histories behind!