Aki No Nanakusa – The Seven Flowers/Herbs of Autumn

In Japan, there are seven flowers that are representative of autumn and they are called Aki no Nanakusa秋の七草, meaning the seven herbs/flowers of autumn. The Aki No Nanakusa provide visual enjoyment due to their simplicity since they are small and delicate but with very beautiful colors. They are not well known to many people outside of Japan, as most place more flowers like sakura, fuji (wisteria), and cosmos with Japan. However, the Seven Flowers of Autumn have always been popular as a subject in haiku (Japanese poem) and other Japanese literature.

In the Man’yōshū (Manyoshu), the oldest extant anthology of Japanese poetry, they are named after typical autumn flowers in one of its verses. In the Heian Period (794-1185), the presence of these flowers in the gardens of the aristocracy was very common.

While the Seven Herbs of Spring are cooked into a soup that is eaten on January 7 and is prayed for a life free from disease, the Seven Herbs of Autumn Aki no Nanakusa are for enjoying the beauty of nature, so that are not used together for any ritual. The characteristic of the seven autumn herbs is that they are not only nice to look at, but also those that were familiar to the ancient Japanese as practical and medicinal flowers.

The Aki no Nanakusa are often depicted in paintings, lacquers, carvings, and kimonos. These flowers are also used in literature and poetry lines, such as the following by Yamanoue Okura, taken from the Manyoshu (an 8th century collection of Japanese poetry)

“秋の野に 咲きたる花を 指折およびおり かき数ふれば 七種ななくさの花”

“The flowers that bloom in the autumn field are among the best, and the number is seven kinds of flowers.”

Yamanoue no Okura

Hagiハギ

Known in English as “Bush Clover”, it is one of the most representative flowers of autumn and has often been found in family crests since ancient times.

Kuzuクズ

Its roots are used for cooking after being crushed to obtain a white liquid that is then dried for its medicinal use, although its flowers are colorful, the best known are its leaves, green at the top and white at the bottom. .

Obanaオバナ

Also known as “Susuki” ススキ, this herb is closely related to the moon since in the Tsukimi festival (celebrated in honor of the autumn moon), Susuki is part of the decoration along with the dango rice ball to celebrate the moon. beauty of the moon

Ominaeshiオミナエシ

In classical Japanese literature, this flower was identified as a beautiful woman, sometimes referred to as a “maiden flower.” Its stems are thin, straight, with few leaves and an attractive crown with small yellow or white flowers.

Nadeshikoナデシコ 撫子

It is also known as wild carnation and literally means “child that can be cared for”. An interesting fact is that the Japan Women’s National Soccer Team is also known as Nadeshiko Japan! ^^ In his book ” The Pillow Book “Sei Shonagon states that the beauty of the carnation is the first-class element among flowers.

Fujibakamaふじばかま

It is called so because its pale purple color and the shape of the valve is tubular and resembles a hakama (long pants with pleats in the traditional Japanese style). When dried, it has the same good aroma as cherry blossom leaves. Sakuramochi, so it is also used to wash hair and perfume. Today, they are designated as an endangered species and are rarely seen in the wild.

Kikyoキキョウ桔梗

It blooms in the shape of a star with bluish-purple flowers. Its name comes from the fact that the flower buds are round like balloons.

In the waka poem mentioned above, it is sung as ” morning glory “, but since this is a flower that came from the end of the Nara period to the Heian period, the theory that it has grown naturally since ancient times is predominant.