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nanabansama · 7 months

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Card Set Hanakotoba

Recently I was discussing with my lovely friend @istoleyourboat about the meanings behind the flowers in this new card set, and I felt the urge to chronicle them somewhere! I thought you guys might get a kick out of it, too, so this seemed as good a place as any to put it.

So without further ado...

1. Hanako-kun - Queen of the Night

The Queen of the Night (月下美人) is a cactus flower that blooms just once a year for a single night. Because of this, the most heavily associated meanings with the flower are "transient beauty", "fleeting love," and "the urge to see someone just once."

The short-lived life of this flower feels quite fitting for our ghosty boy! I also like how the flower looks both beautiful and unsettling...all around a fantastic choice by AidaIro.

2. Nene Yashiro - Strawberry Blossoms

If you have paid attention to the Hanakotoba in TBHK before, then Nene being associated with strawberries should be nothing new to you. Regardless, the prevalent Hanakotoba for Strawberry Blossoms (イチゴ) are "love," "innocence," and "you make me happy."

The "you make me happy" one makes me want to kick my feet around and squeal a little. Isn't that cute!? I also feel the strawberry is especially fitting for Nene because it seems like something she would grow in her Gardening Club.

3. Kou - Clivia

Otherwise known by the names Bush Lily or Natal Lily, the Hanakotoba for Clivia (君子蘭) are "sincere," "noble" and "good-hearted."

I think this all fits very nicely with our resident good boy Kou, hm?

4. Teru - Bird of Paradise

The Bird of Paradise (ストレリチア) symbolizes "faithfulness," "magnificence," "a bright future" and "superficial love."

Even at a glance this flower really pops out at you, making it a great fit for the ever-impressive Teru. I really, really love this choice!!

5. Sakura - Hellebore

Otherwise known as the Christmas Rose, the Hellebore (クリスマスローズ) represents "reminiscence," "never forget me" and "notice my woes."

The way this beautiful flower seems to cast its head down makes it look almost sad. I suppose that's why it has such pitiful meanings associated with it!

6. Natsuhiko - King Protea

King Protea (キングプロテア), also known as the Sugarbush, symbolizes "strength," "courage," "resilience," and "a king's quality."

If you notice, Natsuhiko always has a little crown-shaped tuft hidden in his hair, so AidaIro associating Natsuhiko with a flower that references royalty pleases me. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding him, but we can at least confirm that Natsuhiko is, indeed, strong and resilient.

7. Akane - Ivy

The plain, non-flowering ivy stands out in stark contrast to the other plants here, but that's because the hanakotoba for it is just that good. Ivy (ヘデラ) means "everlasting love," "I take this feeling to the afterlife," "faithfulness", and "marriage."

Like, if that doesn't scream Akane, I don't know what does.

8. Aoi - Hydrangea

Again, if you've been paying attention to Hanakotoba in the series, this will not be the first time you've seen Aoi paired with hydrangea. Regardless, hydrangea (アジサイ) represents "enduring love," "mystique," and "fickleness."

The hydrangea is also associated with rejection, more specifically the coldness of a person who rejects the romantic advances of another. It's just such a perfect Aoi flower, there's no wonder AidaIro is so attached to it.

💐🌸🌼🌻🌷🌹🥀🌺

Thank you for reading till the end! And I urge you to look up these flowers yourself and see if you can find any meaning to them I may have missed. You might find something brilliant that I completely overlooked!

#tbhk #jshk #toilet bound hanako kun #hanakotoba #aoi akane #akane aoi #hanako kun #nene yashiro #amane yugi #natsuhiko hyuuga #sakura nanamine #teru minamoto #kou minamoto

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ashxketchum · 6 months

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New collaboration with Loft & Amnibus was announced for Digimon Adventure!

Details about exact merch will follow soon, but the tweet states that the concept was decided by keeping the idea of 25th Anniversary in focus but the art itself is flower + wedding outfit themed. The collab will start in June which is considered a good month for brides in Japan and so we see many wedding themed anime illustrations get released during this time every year.

Now it is time for another certified Ayushi breakdown 🫡

Taichi and Agumon are seen holding Edelweiss, with a pattern of the flower drawn beautifully on Taichi's shirt as well. Edelweiss in Japanese Language of Flowers (Hanakotoba) is meant to symbolise 'cherished memories/大切な思い出' and 'courage/勇気', while in Western Language of Flowers it's meant to symbolise 'noble courage' and 'daring' - both of which are apt for our best leader 🧡

Yamato and Gabumon are seen holding Alstroemeria (Lily of the Incas, Peruvian Lily), and while the flower motif is not drawn onto his clothes, Yamato's coat's breast pocket is decorated with the flower as well. In Hanakotoba, Alstroemeria is meant to symbolise 'persistence/持続' or 'longing for the future/未来への憧れ', while in Western Language of Flowers it's meant to symbolise 'friendship' and 'devotion'. All meanings are apt for him imo, but especially persistence and longing for the future are very representative of his arc from the first series till Kizuna.

Sora and Piyomon are seen with Pink Carnations, with the neckline of Sora's jumpsuit lined with a bunch of the flowers. I personally love the visual of Sora in this pink jumpsuit, it plays into her slightly tomboyish yet extremely gentle personality so well! In Hanakotoba carnations symbolise 'innocent and deep love/無垢で深い愛' and pink carnations specifically symbolise 'love of a woman/女性の' 'passionate love/熱愛' and "beautiful gesture/美しいしぐさ'. In Western Language of Flowers carnations symbolise 'fascination' and love'. All meanings are pretty accurate for Sora, but red carnations are used to symbolise Mother's love in Japan so it would've been nice if they threw in a mix of red and pink to hint at her relationship with her mother!

Koushiro and Tentomon are seen holding Violet Sage, which at first glance I thought was Lavender. The flower pattern is also visible on his waistcoat and bowtie, which ties together his outfit very nicely! In Hanakotoba, Sage seems to have many symbolisations, 'respect/尊敬', 'wisdom/知恵', 'good home/良い家庭', and 'family love/家族愛'. But Blue (Violet) Sage specifically signify respect and wisdom. In Western Language of Flowers, Sage symbolises 'esteem', 'wisdom' and 'domestic virtue'. Again, a perfect choice for Koushiro, I personally would prefer to believe that they picked this not because of his crest but because of 'good home' and 'family love' since that part of Koushiro's arc in the first series was probably the most impressionable aspect of his character.

Mimi and Palmon are seen holding baby's breath, with Mimi's dress covered in a pattern of it. Even keeping my bias towards Mimi aside, this is possibly one of the prettiest outfit of hers till date, it genuinely looks like she's about to walk down the aisle as a flower girl for a very happy couple! In Hanakotoba, Baby's Breath or Kasumisou, symbolises 'pure heart/清らかな心', 'innocence/無邪気', 'kindness/親切', and 'happiness/幸福'. In Western Language of Flowers it symbolises 'everlasting love', 'purity of heart', and 'innocence'. All meanings apply to Mimi to the T, but they're also very apt for the whole wedding theme of the merch which makes this particular outfit + flower choice my favourite from the lot.

Jou and Gomamon are seen holding Violets or Sumire. I honestly struggled to figure out the flower for a while, at first glance I thought it was Periwinkle but since that was not mentioned in the Hanakotoba reference anywhere, I searched other people's interpretations and settled with Violets. His tie also has a cute pattern of the flower, and it makes me wonder if Koushiro and Jou went shopping for their outfits together! In Hanakotoba, Sumire symbolise 'modesty/謙虚', 'sincerity/誠実', and 'small happiness/小さな幸せ'. Depending on the colour, the symbolism can change in Hanakotoba, and purple Violets specifically represent 'fidelity' along with 'love'. In Western Language of Flowers it symbolises 'modesty' and 'faithfulness'. This is as Jou as a flower can get lol.

Takeru and Patamon are seen with White Gerberas. Like Yamato, Takeru's outfit doesn't have a pattern of the flower, but the Gerberas themselves are pinned to his suspenders. In Hanakotoba, Gerbera symbolises 'hope/希望' and 'always moving forward/常に前進'. White Gerbera specifically are used to symbolise 'hope' and 'honesty/律儀'. In Western Language of Flowers it is meant to symbolise 'cheerfulness' and 'beauty'. All meanings are accurate for Takeru, no comment needed!

Hikari and Tailmon are seen with Sunflowers. I personally feel that Hikari's outfit is a little too much compared to the rest, just the sunflower belt would've been enough but they added that extra line at the hem and it's kind of an overdose. In Hanakotoba, Sunflowers symbolise 'I gaze only at you/私はあなただけを見つめる', 'adoration/愛慕', and 'worship/崇拝'. In Western Language of Flowers, it symbolises 'adoration' and 'false riches'. I understand that they wanted to go with a bright or perky flower for Hikari but something like a Pink Aster which symbolises patience or Cosmos which symbolises harmony, peace etc. might suit Hikari better given the overall theme of the illustration. The only miss in the otherwise perfectly depicted theme and art!

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rutilation · 9 months

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youtube

This opening is replete with symbolism.

Flower language has been a recent fascination of mine.

Do you want to make my new hyperfixation your problem? If so, then let's take a deep dive into the first opening before the new one airs tomorrow.

Before I start, here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

While the use of flower language in this show mostly lines up with Japanese hanakotoba, there are still a number of flowers here that hold particular significance within Chinese culture, and thus have additional meanings that don't line up with those from Japan. I’ll be mentioning them alongside the Japanese meanings where I deem it relevant.

The following will contain light spoilers of content from the novels/manga which has not been animated at the time of writing. I'll try to be vague and sparing with it, but there are a few flowers I can't discuss without them.

Past the title card, the opening begins with eight blooming flowers dancing through the frame in rapid succession. These represent the storylines covered by the first cour of the anime in order of appearance, and each can be found in the episode(s) they signify. From the top:

Rhododendron: This plant is all over the first two episodes, so I'm going to cover its appearances before delving into its meaning. In episode one, there are two shots of the buds of this plant, one as Lihua gives birth, and then again as the doctor examines her baby. They're finally shown in full bloom as one of her ladies disregards the branch Maomao used to warn of the toxic makeup. In the following episode, Gyokuyou has seemingly taken a liking to the flower that saved her daughter's life, and a few clusters can be seen in a vase during several shots before Maomao uses them as an example of a seemingly innocuous plant that could cause accidental poisoning, and indeed, if you look closely at the background during the scene with the soldiers, you can see what appear to be rhododendron shrubs. There are actually quite a few different possible meanings for the many granular varieties of Rhododendrons/azaleas. Luckily, the characters said the name of the plant out loud for me: shakunage. So, this is Rhododendron subg. Hymenanthes. In hanakotoba it means dignity and majesty, but also, on account of its poison, danger and caution. Those last two meanings clearly line up with its ominous usage in these first episodes, growing and maturing as the babies grew sicker. But in addition to their function as a warning of danger, I think there's a case to be made that they also represent Gyokuyou herself. As I stated earlier, she starts keeping them after the first episode, and Hongniang later starts growing the closely-related azaleas in the jade pavilion as well. As for how its meanings apply to her, Gyokuyou is regal, magnanimous, and never loses her composure (unless it's at Jinshi's expense lol,) but she's also described by Gaoshun as shrewd and cautious, being unwilling to hire any lady she doesn't absolutely trust, and constantly gleaning information to send back to her family. These all fit with the dual meanings of rhododendron. In Chinese culture, rhododendrons and azaleas represent womanhood and passion, as well as home and a desire for homecoming.

Cotton rose: A type of hibiscus, this represents Fuyou, decorating both her person and her chambers in episode 3. It means 'delicate beauty' and 'graceful lover.' I think these are referring to both her skill in dancing, as well as her affectation of frailty and neuroticism. As far as I could dig up, its unique tendency to change color based on the time of day doesn't have particular bearing on its meaning in either Chinese or Japanese culture, but the story itself uses it as a metaphor for Fuyou hiding her passion, will, and cunning behind a wallflower exterior.

Balloon flower: In hanakotoba, it represents undying love, sincerity, and grace. These grow in the crystal pavilion, adorn the iconography of Lihua's furniture, and likely inform her blue and violet color scheme. Its last two descriptors gesture towards Lihua's style and personality. She's elegant and staid, but she also takes everything quite seriously, and wears her heart on her sleeve. As for the undying love element, I see that as alluding to her love for her son, her agony at his passing, and her hopes of reclaiming that love again through having another child.

Violet: This one actually tripped me up for the longest time. The flowers in the opening looked like hostas to me, but no matter how closely I looked at the backgrounds in this show, I couldn’t find anything along those lines. Eventually though, I caught on that these must be the violets from episode five, even if they’re a different color from those shown in the episode. And also droopier. Anyway, violets mean humility, sincerity, and ‘a little bit of happiness.’ In the episode proper, they are crushed underfoot as Maomao narrates about the lengths she had to go to keep herself safe while growing up in the red-light district, illustrating how even the modest aspirations of an ordinary peasant are in perpetual danger in such a cutthroat environment.

Chinese aster: Daisies and asters are my least favorite flowers to identify. They all look the same. As such, I’m a little less confident about this one, but I think it’s a Chinese aster. The leaves and buds look similar, and the context in which it appears in episode six suits its meaning. As Lishu’s ladies disparage her so-called pickiness, a shot of this flower opens the episode. While the Chinese aster’s meaning changes based on color, white in particular means ‘please believe me.’ I think that speaks for itself

Toad lily: This appears twice during episode eight, where Maomao gets drawn into the mystery of an attempted murder during her vacation. Toad lilies symbolize hidden thoughts and intentions, alluding both to the possible conspiracy on the part of the women of the brothel, and to the fact that Maomao will never really know the truth of the incident, having to content herself with speculation.

Sacred bamboo: This one is easy to miss, because while the plant is in full bloom in the opening, it’s laden with berries in the show proper. This is Nandina, a.k.a. the sacred bamboo, a mainstay of autumn and winter floral arrangements in both China and Japan. It’s considered auspicious, symbolizing a reversal of ill fortune into prosperity--the precise opposite of how it’s presented in episode nine of the show. There, Maomao fiddles with the plant as she contemplates all the instances she’s seen of good fortune being struck down by tragedy, and the prospect of that same sword of Damocles falling upon her head as well, a harbinger of eucatasrophe being used to symbolize straight catastrophe. Also worth noting is the fact that the plant is very poisonous, so much so that it has a reputation for killing any birds which try to eat its berries; I think that bit of trivia might be the inspiration behind the decision to ironically invert its lucky image. In addition to its central appearance in episode nine, it can also be seen in Lishu’s chambers in episode ten, mixed in among the vases of white camellias.

Japanese azalea: These mean passion and steadfastness, alluding, in my view, to Fengming’s devotion towards Ah-duo. Fun fact: did you know that honey made from toxic azaleas, termed ‘mad honey,’ is sometimes manufactured on purpose? It’s not super legal in most of the world, but apparently it can be used as a psychedelic.

After this, we see a panning shot of seven flowers, with the top four representing the high-ranking concubines, and the bottom three representing the high-ranking courtesans. While the first set of flowers grew from buds and flew across the screen, this set consists of still images. If I were to hazard a guess as to why, I'd say that it's because those previous flowers were conveying the movement of emergent stories, while these upcoming flowers portray the relatively static personality traits of individual characters. I'm going to tackle these in reverse order, as the first three flowers to appear are somewhat tricky to talk about.

Peony: This flower represents Gyokuyou, and in addition to appearing in her non-diegetic floral backgrounds, it also decorates the tapestries of the jade pavilion. In Chinese culture, peonies are one of, if not the most, important flowers. They represent feminine beauty, pride, honor, renown, wealth, prosperity, high-status, opulence, and a nobility of spirit. They are considered to be the king of flowers, and were historically only permitted to be grown by nobility. All of these superlatives are likely alluding towards Gyokuyou's status as the emperor's favorite consort, with the best shot at becoming empress.

Balloon flower: See above.

Lily-of-the-valley: This means purity, chastity, humility, and 'happiness will come again.' While the first three all seem to fit Lishu on their face, I find myself curious about the fourth meaning. I'm only partway through the third novel, but if this indicates that, at some point in the future, Lishu finally catches a break, then I'll certainly be happy to see it.

Dendrobium: In China, orchids in general are associated with elegance, refinement, and good taste, which fits with Maomao's description of the garnet pavilion as being beautiful in a minimalist sort of way. They also represent the virtues of an ideal gentleman-scholar: integrity, humility, temperance, and nobility. Furthermore, they are considered emblematic of spring; it, along with bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum blossom, represent the four seasons. Returning to Japanese symbolism, the flower associated with Ah-duo seems to specifically be Dendrobium nobile. Nobile in particular means 'honest and to-the-point' in hanakotoba, likely alluding to Ah-duo's candid personality, and the fact that she is on casual terms with the emperor.

Regarding the final three flowers, the show itself doesn't explicitly tie any one of them to a particular courtesan--their flowers only appear as a group in episode twelve. But, by contemplating their meanings, and with some help from the characters' wiki pages, we can make some educated guesses.

Yulan Magnolia: This one, I'm guessing, represents Joka. On one hand, I'm kind of dumping her with this because the other two flowers just seem to fit the other two courtesans better, but its attributes nonetheless seem to accord what we know of her character--which admittedly isn't very much. In hanakotoba the yulan magnolia means nobility, sublimity and a love of nature. In China, its pretty similar: purity, nobility, dignity. It's also worth noting that they're commonly planted around Buddhist temples in China, and have been for many centuries, granting them an air of spiritual profundity. Joka is said to be aloof and cold, which is part of her appeal as a courtesan. While chrysanthemums and plum blossoms have a warmer aspect to their meanings, the loftiness of magnolia hews more closely to her characterization. Then there's the matter of her name, which is apparently a stage name. It translates to 'Lady Ka' (or 'Hua,' if you want to go with the Mandarin pronunciation.) Now, the 'ka' in her name is written as 華, and in the story, that character is only permitted to be used by the emperor and his family. So, for her to use it, even as a stage name, is a pretty bold pretense to nobility.

Chrysanthemum: In Japan, chrysanthemums are associated with nobility and the imperial family. In China, they are associated with longevity, endurance, and vitality, on account of their long-lasting blooms that persist late into autumn. I think this is most likely to be Pairin's flower. She's one of the few courtesans who's in her line of work because she wants to be, and is flourishing in an environment where others are desperate and debt-ridden. That covers 'vitality,' and Lihaku can attest to her endurance, if you know what I mean... Moving on, its mentioned in the novels that she's actually in her thirties, but still looks quite young, again harkening to the chrysanthemum's persistence.

As far as symbolism is concerned, chrysanthemums do seem to fit her character better than magnolias. But, something that gives me pause is her name, which means 'white bell,' on account of yulan magnolias being white and having a bell-like shape. I still think it's most likely that the chrysanthemum, and not the magnolia, belongs to her, but it was too notable a coincidence to not at least mention.

Plum Blossom: We can safely assume this one refers to Meimei, as her name is written with the character for plum. As plum trees are among the earliest to bloom each year, and will even bloom while snow still covers their branches, both China and Japan associate them with resilience, hope, inner-strength, and renewal. We don't know much about Meimei either, but my impression of her is that she seems to be the nicest and most even-keeled of Maomao's sisters.

Following this parade of showy flowers, we finally glimpse the emblem of our protagonist, Oxalis corniculata, the creeping wood sorrel, downcast and huddled amidst the underbrush of a forest. Whereas the other flowers we've seen thus far are primarily ornamental (even if some are also edible/medicinal,) wood sorrel is herbaceous and weedy, and is unlikely to grace any vases, wreaths, or arrangements. If it were spotted in a noble's garden, it would likely be uprooted, but to the peasant who finds it growing in a ditch, it's a tasty snack.

In hanakotoba, wood sorrel means joy, 'shining heart,' and 'a mother's love.' All three descriptors, I believe, are relevant to Maomao's character. Despite her flat affect, Maomao has a strong passion and sense of joie de vivre driving her through life. Those further along in either the novels or the manga will recognize 'a mother's love' as (somewhat ironically) gesturing towards her complicated relationship with her mother. As for 'shining heart,' I think that will become apparent as we go further through the opening.

But, before we do that, I'd like to take a moment to examine the moments when wood sorrel appears in the show itself. Thus far, by my recollection, it has appeared in episodes one, three, and twelve. The opening shot of the first episode is of a wood sorrel, informing the viewer in no uncertain terms that this is Maomao's flower, (in case the opening was too subtle.) In the third episode, several wood sorrels dot the field where Fuyou sits with her lover, symbolizing how Maomao has aided and protected them. In episode twelve, a single wood sorrel is tucked inside a lavish bouquet of her sister's flowers, a visual gag paralleling them fussing and fawning over her.

Returning to the opening, Maomao is shown contemplating a subtle glow in her closed hands while a reflected, sunlit version of herself glances back at her. Then, as all the previous flowers fall away, as Maomao casts the light up into the air, its glow illuminating her face, the wood sorrel finally stands upright, and blooms in full.

Now is a good time to mention a relevant characteristic of creeping wood sorrel: it only blooms in direct sunlight. When crowded by other plants, it curls in on itself, closing both its flower and leaves. This serves as a clear metaphor for Maomao's personality; under most circumstances, she seeks to be invisible and unobtrusive, but when she's in her element, she commands attention and respect.

Following this, we have her magical girl-esque transformation sequence, with her outstretched hands forming the shape of a blooming flower as she dances through a whirl of yellow wood sorrel petals. She then bows down in imitation of the flower, taking the light back into her chest (there's that shining heart I mentioned earlier,) as she dissolves into the stoic, unassuming version of herself once more, closing out the opening. (Jinshi who?)

I'd like to end this analysis with an observation. While the real wood sorrel exists at the perpetual mercy of outside forces, Maomao is not merely reacting to a light source that exists beyond her control. The light exists within her, and she chooses when it will shine down for all to see, and when she will hide it away in the depths of her heart. To those who've gotten this far, thank you so much for reading.

#the apothecary diaries #i like being mean to a certain someone #but i will note that i'm familiar with the interpretation that the lyrics of the op are written from his perspective #and i would agree that that reading has merit

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alfieloveswriting · 1 year

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Floriography: Resources for Writers

For centuries, flowers, herbs, and other plants have been used to convey meaning, both in life and in literature. Many of the greats, including Shakespeare, Austen, the Brontë sisters, and Steinbeck referred to floral symbolism to delicately weave into their intricate works. Flowers influenced art for generations before us, and with luck, they will continue to inspire artists for generations after us--long after we've become them.

Victorian Floral Code.pdf

Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Flower Language by Jessica Roux

Language of Flowers Wiki

Hanakotoba - Japanese Flower Language Wiki

Ikebana - Japanese Flower Arrangement Wiki

Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers

Floral Emblem Guide

Plant Motifs In English, Russian, and Tatar (pdf)

Flower Language Myths

Language of Flowers.com

#culture #language #writers #author #writing reference #reference #victorian flower language #poets on tumblr #japanese folklore #slavic folklore #motifs #creative writing #indie author #floriography #for future reference #resources #writing tips #writing advice #writing tools

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croquis-el · 1 day

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The flower that represents Ryuichi Naruhodo (Phoenix Wright)

Hello

I came to you with a tiny post

(I'm not lost and I'm not going anywhere.)

Because we missed an important detail again!

My favorite case is 3-1. In which there is just a huge pile of information.

When Chihiro interrogates a witness about the reason for her interest in Naruhodo, she gives an answer in the form of a haiku (although it is difficult to assess its correctness).

････はかなげな、日かげに咲いたタンポポのような、たたずまい････

hakana ge-na, bikageni saita tanpopo no yōna, tatazumai

... An ephemeral dandelion blooming in the shade...

リュウちゃんの、そんなところにヨロめいてしまったのですわ。

ryuu-chan no, son'na tokoro ni yoro meite shimatta nodesu wa.

That's what Ryu-chan is like, and that's what made me fall for him.

儚い (はかない)

hakanai

• fleeting; transient; short-lived; momentary; ephemeral; fickle; vain

儚い or 儚げな can be used positively to describe some type of beauty found within weak/unstable/delicate things or people. It may be similar to so-called wabi-sabi.

げな (ge-na) - express the guess (it seems)

Madame literally calls Naruhodo "an ephemeral dandelion"

And gives a lot of food for thought, as it can be interpreted in many ways. After all, it is not just a randomly chosen flower.

The first thing that comes to mind is hanakotoba

In Hanakotoba (花言葉) Dandelions mean:

神託 (Oracle)

別離 (Separation)

幸福 (Happiness)

真心の愛 (Sincere Love)

愛の神託 (Oracle of Love)

Dandelions are known to be a fortune-telling flower which is why words like “神託 (Oracle)” are associated with it.

No less important meaning: dandelion is a symbol of courage, strength. Because this plant is able to grow in any conditions, and breaking through the asphalt, reaching for the sun.

Dandelion flowers also carry a meaning of wishing an ill person well, or happiness in times of darkness.

Suits our boy, doesn't it?

He represents each meaning: he was separated from his friend, he loved sincerely, he had a cold during the court hearing, and he found the strength to move on, making his own way when he was in unbearable pain.

We've dealt with the dandelion, now let's return to the "ephemeral".

On the one hand, everything is simple - dandelions look unreliable, weak, especially during the period of seed ripening. They are easily blown away by a weak breeze. Beauty and attractiveness that not everyone will appreciate. Why not ephemeral.

However, there may be much more meaning here. After all, another meaning is: short-lived

And then the phrase as a whole takes on a frightening meaning. She's literally says: he (the dandelion) will not be in this courtroom (in the darkness) for long. She literally predicts a "guilty" verdict for him, especially given her subsequent words. This is what she feels, what she wishes for him - to disappear into the darkness.

But her plans are not destined to come true, because the dandelion grows even through the asphalt.

___________________________________________

Well, and for comparison.

Mushrooms are often associated with spiritual growth, enlightenment, and rebirth. The mushroom's life cycle, with its ability to emerge from darkness and decay, represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and transformation.

This is probably a reference to Phoenix's name. Probably. That's all.

What do you think?

#ace attorney #gyakuten saiban #phoenix wright #naruhodo ryuichi #i said what i said #and yes i will use japanese names because i want to and i played the game with them. no complaining.#dahlia hawthorne #chinami miyanagi

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changewingwentz · 2 months

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This took a week but here it is vessel wears a kimono specifically for spring-autumn season :D!

It looks plain at first but you’ll see tentacles on the shoulders if the lightings juuust right

Watch as I ramble (too long abt the design) here’s another version without the Haori !

5 days from a family trip suddenly falling ill for ii days as I’m writing this, wanted to give up after thinking “man it kinda looks ass now” or looking at it too long but I’m too stubborn for my own good lol

Randomly remembered a YouTuber Im following already has a vid abt male kimonos so this is where the inspo started !

I use red, black, blue, yellow(gold) undertones trying my best to make it as close to the color palette of the band aesthetic as possible also I associate blue with Ves a lot haha, the spine probs came from the tomb brainrot, you can’t see it but the end of the sleeves has waves representing the track visuals, and cylcamen attached as a reference from @/chrishardy.design 's post from ig months ago after looking up the meaning both floral language& Hanakotoba , I gotta include it in someway…

The Haori-himo ( the string attached) has 12 beads representing how each 3 albums has 12 tracks, like the 3 blue diamonds (also ascensionism reference for fun) jokingly it can represent his bandmates cuz they all got blue eyes idk, originally it’s supposed to have the runes spelling out “worship” but felt like I’m adding too much besides male kimonos have pretty simple designs and I’m trying my best not to go maxilism grind mode in every character design:p

Oh yeah if you’re wondering abt the scarf it’s here!

alright that’s all! it was fun but I’m finally done whew😭🗣

#sleep token #vessel #vessel sleep token #fan art #sleep token vessel #hackus art #realizing this is also the first time I’ve drawn vessel that isn’t a chibi or shit post or furry aka my usual style #doodle #my art #sleep token fanart #kimono #fuuucck I’m so out of energy this month #but we pull through chat

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frostfires-blog · 11 months

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SNK FINAL ED: ITTERASSHAI

HANAKOTOBA ANALYSIS

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-> White Cherry Blossom

White cherry blossoms are the first flower featured in the final ending theme song credits. The cherry blossom (Prunus serrulata) is also known as the Japanese cherry and is the unofficial national flower of Japan. Its Japanese name Sakura (桜) has been derived from the word “saku” which means “to bloom”. Its meanings in hanakotoba are “beauty of spirit”, grace, chastity, excellent beauty, gentleness, good education and the “transience of life”. In Japan, cherry blossoms are also a symbol of the “beauty of impermanence”—a Shinto concept better known as “mono no aware” (物の哀れ) as their falling petals are a reminder that although life is short, it is beautiful and should be savoured. The Japanese concept of “natsukashi” (懐かしい) likewise emphasizes the fleeting nature of cherry blossoms. This concept refers to the happy-yet-wistful nostalgia for times and things that we will never be able to go back to. We will never get to experience those moments again, just like the ephemeral cherry blossoms, which makes them even more significant. Cherry blossoms bloom from March to April which is the start of the new fiscal year in Japan. As a result of this cherry blossoms have also come to symbolise new beginnings and springtime. Given that feudal Japanese soldiers associated cherry blossoms with honour, discipline, and dignity—falling flowers were thought to be symbolic of a Samurai's death. In Western floriography, cherry blossoms herald the changing of the seasons and symbolise renewal and rebirth. They also symbolise the fleeting nature of life, tenderness, forgiveness, strength, beauty, love, confidence, peace, friendship and gratitude. White cherry blossoms, in particular, represent purity, innocence, and simplicity, as well as hope and rebirth. White cherry blossom blossoms convey joy in the celebration of new beginnings. “Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai” (AOT ED1) depicts a young Mikasa rushing about looking for Eren in a dark, gloomy landscape before shifting into her older self. “Akuma no Ko” (AOT ED7) depicts a young Eren wandering around on his own in a dark cage until he breaks free into a colourful meadow before morphing into his older self. Meanwhile, the final ending, “Itterasshai”, depicts both a young Mikasa and Eren as well as an adult Mikasa and Eren uniting in a field of flowers beneath a picturesque sunset. Given that white cherry blossoms symbolise new beginnings, hope, and rebirth, their inclusion in this montage enhances its depiction of the pair reuniting in the afterlife—effectively tying the first and seventh ending sequences together. Various concepts embodied by the cherry blossom, particularly the transiency of life, mono no aware (the beauty of impermanence), and natsukashi (nostalgia for times and things we can't return to), are also significant themes in Attack on Titan's final arcs, making the flower's placement here appropriate.

-> Red Rose

The next set of flower featured in the final ending sequence are red roses. In Japan, red roses are called benibara (紅薔薇). In hanakotoba roses symbolise love and beauty while red roses in particular symbolize affection and passionate love; while rose thorns represent “happiness in misfortune”. In Western floriography, roses symbolize love, passion, beauty, romance and secrecy. Red roses symbolize enduring passion, desire, affection and romance. In the visuals for “Itterasshai” four red roses are seen growing alongside a white picket fence. A white bird is later seen flying with a single red rose in its beak. Four red roses are said to symbolise that “nothing will ever come between us”. While a single red rose symbolises love at first sight. This suggests that nothing, not even death, is capable of impacting the pair's feelings for each other and that they have been in love since their first meeting as children. While red roses are an international symbol of romance, passion, devotion and long-lasting love, in some cultures they symbolise sacrifice, martyrdom, bravery, and strength. These qualities embody Eren’s character pretty well.

-> Dandelion

In the above panel, Mikasa holds two dandelion flowers in her hands. Dandelions (Taraxacum) are known as Tanpopo (たんぽぽ) in Japanese. Its meanings in hanakotoba are sincere love, separation and a prophecy of love. Additionally, in English floriography, dandelions represent faithfulness, hope, healing, light and happiness. They also symbolise joy, youthful thoughts, endurance, prosperity and healing. Given that the dandelion is a symbolic representation of faithfulness, happiness, healing, light, hope and prophecies of love—their use in this ending sequence further reinforces the concept of Mikasa reuniting with Eren in the afterlife.

-> White Daisy

Daisies (Bellis) are known as hinagiku (デイジー) in Japanese, and they hold the hanakotoba meanings of patience, purity, “secret love”, hope, innocence, beauty, peace, and faith. In English floriography, yellow daisies symbolise joy, and growth as well as a turning point or new beginning. Considering the daisy's symbolic connotations, its usage ending sequence once more accentuates the depiction of the pair finally getting a new start following the events of the series' conclusion. Its meanings of patience, hope, faith and secret love in particular highlight Mikasa going through the rest of her life hoping to be reunited after death.

───●◎●─── P.S. ───●◎●───

-> White Carnation

The flowers Mikasa places by Eren’s grave are the same flowers we see her holding after her passing. These flowers are known as carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) and are called Kānēshon (カーネーション) in Japanese. Its meanings in hanakotoba are innocent and deep love. White carnations in particular hold the meaning “my love is love” and pure love in Japanese culture. In Western floriography, they symbolise love, fascination and distinction. Carnations are the most popular flower used at weddings in China, while in Korea they express admiration, love and gratitude. Carnations are frequently given as gifts in Japan to convey affection for loved ones or to honour those who have passed away. White carnations, in particular, represent purity and are therefore commonly utilised in ceremonies and rituals. The meaning of these flowers makes them an excellent choice for this scene and ties well into Mikasa and Eren’s dynamic. The flower’s meaning “my love is alive” perfectly encapsulates Mikasa’s feelings in the aftermath of the series and is a fitting offering for Eren’s gravestone.

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╰┈➤ Attack on Titan ED7 Hanakotoba Analysis

╰┈➤ Anime Hanakotoba Posts Directory

[I wanted to contribute something towards the fandom considering that aot/snk has finally ended but I knew that doing a full-scale review of the episode would be a bad idea. In short, I want to say a lot of things but at the same time, there's nothing I want to say... When I saw the flowers featured in the final ed I knew I had to cover them. If you guys want me to do a Q&A for the show, I'd be willing to... So, feel free to send me questions to answer...

As a side note, I didn't go into a lot of detail here and stuck to focusing on eremika since I've already done a hanakotoba post for snk/aot--where I went into greater depth on the show's general themes.]

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glitchdecay · 7 months

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Birthday Flowers of FFXV: The Chocobros

(according to 季節の花300, a Japanese flower website) [x]

———

Ignis Scientia (February 7)

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii, previously Fritillaria verticillata var. thunbergii) [x]

(image credit: titanium22 on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Liliaceae (lily) family native to Central Asia. The bulb of this flower 浙貝母 (zhè bèi mǔ) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to relieve coughs and reduce phlegm, among other indications.

Hanakotoba (Japanese flower language): A modest heart.

———

Gladiolus Amicitia (April 2)

Reeves' spiraea (Spiraea cantoniensis) [x]

(image credit: KENPEI via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Rosaceae (rose) family native to China. Known as ko-demari (小手毬) in Japanese as its clusters of small flowers look like the patterns on temari, children's handball toys that are also symbols of great loyalty and friendship.

Hanakotoba: Friendship. (You know what else means "friendship?" Gladio's last name.)

———

Noctis Lucis Caelum (August 30)

Tiger lily (specifically Lilium lancifolium) [x]

(image credit: Maja Dumat via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Liliaceae (lily) family native to China, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East. The species name, lancifolium, refers to its leaves looking like polearms (i.e. lances). Its showy black-spotted orange flowers have made it a popular ornamental plant.

Hanakotoba: A wise person.

———

Prompto Argentum (October 25)

African milkweed (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) flower [x]

(image credit: Bernard Dupont via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family. Native to eastern and southern Africa, the plant is also found in Australia and New Zealand, where it is known as narrow-leaved cotton bush. Its thorny fruit pops when mature in late fall, producing cotton-like seeds.

Hanakotoba: A hidden ability. (I see what you did there, Square Enix!)

#final fantasy xv #ignis scientia #gladiolus amicitia #noctis lucis caelum #prompto argentum #birthdays #hanakotoba #february 7 #april 2 #august 30 #october 25 #noct's is the only one that is kinda...#???#?????#i guess it's a dramatic-looking flower for our dramatic virgo king #but the other three i completely agree with #also i said i'd be disappointed if gladio's flower isn't an iris #but i'm not disappointed at all

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just-sp-in-inginthevoid · 10 months

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Tokyo Revengers but Mikey has the same coping mechanism as Sunny (Omori)

It's an incomplete post so anyone can add things if they want!

'Manjiro' will be used to talk about irl!Mikey while 'Mikey' will refer to Headspace!Mikey

Sanzu is called Haruchiyo and takes on Basil's role (aKa he's important but Mikey doesn't want to either make him tag along/a member of the party or to confine him on the picnic blanket)

'Sanzu' would be The Stranger

Takemichi also has The Stranger role (in timelines where he truly left an impression on Mikey - so probably not in the first two unfortunately)

Shinichiro and Emma both play Mari's role

-> Shinichiro & Takemichi being the only one to call Mikey Manjiro

Senju and Izana share a common role (in Bonten)

The party is made of Toman founding members

Baji, Kazutora, Pah-chin have a dynamic similar to Aubrey and Kel

Draken takes on Hero's role, Mitsuya too, a bit

Draken is the one who takes pictures!!! (like in canon :) )

-> "Did I take this photo? Something about it feels so familiar... No... Emma, she's-"

(Draken has little flags to make Mikey (or other party members) happy during fights)

(Mitsuya is the one who can cook)

Unbread Twins = Kawata Twins (with their ramen shop ofc, no bakery here)

other members are a bit scattered everywhere, mostly the playground ofc (which is a mix of: Toman's gathering place, the playground Baji&Mikey used to play in as children with a huge jungle gym), and the garden and dojo in the Sano house)

There's also the beach which can be reached mostly by Toman members

There's a train but they move around in motorbikes (and Mucho's car)

Motor shop to fix the bikes! Shinichiro can be found there with other BD members :)! (for some reasons, Mikey doesn't like it when Baji and Kazutora are there, so they have to find alternatives to fix their bikes (most of the time they ask another party member to take their bike))

Somehow, Manjiro subconsciously remember the story of Taiyaki-kun so there's a lake where Taiyaki-kun lives (he wants to leave but he can't :( )

It's the dreamworld so everyone is happy and has good relationships with everyone else

Somwhere there's a plane. It doesn't fly, but it's there, lying on the ground. It mustn't broke. (when it does, it leads to Blackspace) (Sanzu always tries to lead Mikey here)

Manjiro/Mikey don't fear a lot of things but things that may upset/trigger them are: mirrors/any type of reflection; whenever he sees a plane (won't make him go back to Whitespace but it's really close sometimes); (people needing to go to the) hospitals (no matter if it's bc they're sick or badly hurt) & probably other things but they don't come to mind sorry

Mikey's 'Something' is just.. everyone. They're all horrifying in a different way, but each person Mikey has failed haunts him (emphasis on Izana & Senju during Bonten)

The Somethings telling him 'I love you' in Blackspace 🥹

Important flowers would be black lilies (curse), and red and white spider lilies at the very end :) (Red spider lilies symbolizing the inability to meet again, farewell, death, loss, abandonment and White spider lilies symbolizing rebirth, meeting (anew), purity)

Also poppies since in Hanakotoba they can symbolize fun-loving and success, and in the more Western flower language they symbolize peaceful sleep and death, remembrance/remembering the fallen and renewal/resurrection among other things

(not a flower professional - just did some google researches so be careful with what I'm saying)

Whitespace:

Old blanket

NES (that he irl has in his bedroom and must hold a lot of memories of family/friends game night)

Mewo being replaced by Peke-j? But Mikey is not close to Peke-j(/not that close from Chifuyu (unlike other ppl)) from what we know. Peke-j could also be used as a way to show how guilty Manjiro is about Baji (and Chifuyu? Kazutora?)

moto figurines laying around? Little flags?

Probably wouldn't have a laptop

The journal+drawings stay tho. He deserves to vent

Deserves to keep the tissue box and cry, too

Blackspace:

Mikey goes in and out of it; he never chooses if he pops up in Whitespace, Dreamworld or Blackspace. It depends on how is his mind irl. There are also some places where he can directly enter it (ex: whenever the Concorde is broken)

Haruchiyo keeps dying. Or having his lower jaw removed out of nowhere (also happens in headspace -> leads Mikey to go back to Whitespace on the spot)

If we do put Peke-j in this AU as Mewo replacement, which choice do you think Mikey would make in the Cat dissection room with our dear mister the Cat Butler? /genuine

The three first timeline are very similar. Senju and Haruchiyo/Sanzu have a lesser role here. In the 3rd/Bad Toman, Kazutora is here and is hurt less by Mikey (whereas if he ever is present in the two firsts, Mikey won't be merciful)

Manila:

"You loved them and you killed them. You should just die." — hits more in this timeline than any other

Rather than Manjiro completely loosing against Mikey; there's a feeling of acceptance at the end of their fight from both parts. They can't go back, but they can't go further either.

Plus, Manjiro never fought for a will to live to start with

Actually I'm not sure if there'd be a fight to start with

Izana, S62 & Kakucho are not present in the headspace of this timeline

Bonten:

there's an entire space dedicated to Senju and Izana. It's filled with always-falling snow and everlasting sakura; the party can make snowmen and other snow constructions! There's a pond with a giant majestic beta fish somewhere, too (maybe it could interact with Taiyaki-kun, maybe not)

Edit: They live in a snow castle

those two are either safe in this place (*cough* until the snow and sakura start to get tainted by blood out of nowhere and they disappear and the flowers wilt *cough* The snow melts a bit under the warmth of blood and suddenly it's less a childhood joy and more just... Hellishly cold. bc the cold refuses to leave ofc *cough*) or with Shinichiro and Emma on the picnic blanket. Kakucho is always found around Izana so he can be found in the snow, too! (He's the one staying there when Izana & Senju disappear; he's panicking and extremely worried)

*cough* canonical Oyasumi ending *cough*

Timeline where the Somethings are the most troublesome and present

eat irl then go puke in the toilet

sleeps less and sleeps badly

Kanto Manji & Final timeline:

Still developing, mostly Whitespace

Mikey and Manjiro are not two different entities yet - Manjiro is not at that point where he suppresses all of his traumas when he's in the Dreamworld as Mikey

not a great emphasis on Senju since she doesn't die, but she's still there, having a lesser role

Draken, on the other hand- (it doesn't last long anyway since he travels back in time no long after)(I mean. it's still three months so maybe it's a bit long)

The "I have to tell you something"-timeline/ending, if there has to be one

#i wanted to have more ideas but they arent coming to me :'d #tr headcanons #tokrev hcs #tokrev headcanons #how do i tag this #tr mikey #mikey sano #tr manjiro #tokrev manjiro #manjiro sano #tokyo revengers #tr #tokrev #tok rev #bonten mikey #manila mikey #omori

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grimalkinmessor · 3 months

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I finally sat down to take a look at the flowers in the season 3 intro, and I found some,,,,INTERESTING things.

So first off, here's Reigen's card for reference:

(And let me just reiterate that I'm not a botanist or anything so there might be some misidentification on some of these, but correct me if I'm wrong on the flower types!)

The biggest ones on Reigen's eyes seem to be cranesbills, or wild geraniums. Specifically the ground cover variant as it has more stamens and blooms more in pinks than blues or purples. (Yes I did also consider cherry blossoms here, but the petals seem to be too small and too far apart for cherry blossoms. It could also be peach blossoms but the petals shape isn't right. Still, just in case; the most common meanings for cherry blossoms are love and "life is fleeting"). Cranesbills tend to symbolize loyalty and fidelity, as well as reliability and the ability to endure and adapt. In Victorian flower language though they sometimes represent folly and foolishness. RIP Reigen lmao. But pink geraniums themselves symbolize gentle affection and a growing love that has yet to be announced :)

With that in mind, I'm pretty sure the small cluster of pink flowers behind his ear are also geraniums instead of hydrangeas likes I originally thought—just of the more popular garden variety. Like he puts up a pretty front on the outside but inside is more gentle and less flashy :3

Now I THOUGHT I recognized the blue flowers as anemones, but their petal structure is different to the ones shown here so I'm much more unsure on this one. I'll add it in anyway though because I think it fits :)

"...blue anemone flowers are often associated with expectations and anticipation. They symbolize the promise of a brighter tomorrow and the hope for a better future. The blue anemone flower is believed to hold a special energy that can help lift your spirits and bring about feelings of joy and contentment.

...blue anemone flowers are thought to bring a sense of calm to those who are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. They are believed to offer protection and guidance during times of change and uncertainty.

...[they] are often used in meditation practices to enhance spiritual awareness and intuition. They are believed to help individuals connect with their inner selves and tap into their subconscious mind. The blue anemone flower is also associated with the throat chakra, which is believed to govern communication and self-expression." (source)

Now who does that sound like? 👀 There are a few other meanings there as well that fit, but another popular one is longing for your beloved and mourning. Another fun meaning in Reigen's picture specifically is that anemones close their petals when rainstorms approach; meaning that while the petals don't match exactly, it might very well be because they're closing. Like in anticipation for a storm :)

The little purple flowers ALSO seem to be half closed, which makes them that much harder to identify (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠) I think they might be matsumoto asters given the color of them and the number of petals, but the size on the card is throwing me off a little. Still, in hanakotoba asters usually mean "I will not forget you", as well as being used frequently in memorials for the dead. In more European flower language asters represent the attraction of love, patience and wisdom, fidelity, charm, hope, valor, and farewell.

Then of course, the last two—the daisy and the rose. White roses symbolize innocence, silence, and devotion in hanakotoba. Sometimes they also symbolize death as they're also used in funerals and for mourning. The daisy however is also used in Mob's card, so I'll plonk that in here too and do that one first in between them :D

White daisies symbolize innocence, rebirth, and new beginnings. They've also been known to symbolize true love and loyalty. They're also part of the sunflower family!

As you can see above, Mob's card has quite a few more daisies than Reigen's, but I think that's because in season 3 the whole idea is centered around Mob's "rebirth", as it were. That, and in Victorian times it was popular for lovers to use daisies to send messages back and forth, and while an intact daisy means innocence, a daisy with a certain number of petals plucked is used to say either "love me" or "love me not". They're the origin of that ritual, apparently :3 Which is appropriate here because Mob's confession is essentially wondering whether or not Tsubomi will like him back—and the last flower in his bouquet that makes it out is a sunflower :) Which daisies are apart of :)

The flowers on Mob's eyes look like red chrysanthemums, but again considering the placement of the shadows in the middle I can't be completely sure. But while hanakotoba doesn't have a specific meaning for red chrysanthemums, white chrysanthemums and chrysanthemums in general mean honesty, royalty, and truth. In other flower languages, red chrysanthemums represent love at first sight, fidelity, and deep passion and emotions. It was also apparently a symbol for the Japanese emperor and imperial family, so do with that what you will.

On the left are a couple of hot pink roses, which symbolize gratitude and appreciation, as well as a sense of strength and conviction. And, something our boy Mob desperately needs: "Some believe that pink roses can facilitate emotional healing, encouraging forgiveness, self-love, and gratitude." 🙏

The ones on the bottom right are harder to see but I'm pretty sure they're daffodils, which have a lot of similar symbolism to daisies in that they're spring flowers that represent cheer, rebirth, and new beginnings. Daffodils also represent self-love/self-care in some cases though, because of the story of Narcissus. Something else our dear Mob desperately needs :') Though in hanakotoba, daffodils mainly represent deep respect, particularly for those older than you. Their japanese name also literally means "hermit by the water", which is,,,,,interesting.

Reigen seems to have more kinds of flowers than Mob, but Mob's flowers match his color scheme moreso than Reigen's do. I've said it before but it bears repeating; Reigen's flowers actually seem to follow Tsubomi's color scheme more than his own. The pink, the blue, the purple, the white... I don't know, I think it's interesting :3

If you've got any additions or corrections let me know!

#mobreimob #<- sacred wards #reigen arataka #kageyama shigeo #mob #flower language #mob psycho 100 #flower symbolism

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abybweisse · 2 years

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Ch198, Cover art flower language

@jack-littlecrow asks on this post what Sebastian's carrying in the cover art.

First off, Finny is carrying that decent-sized fir tree around like it's nothing, as expected of him. Germanic peoples were decorating such trees for Winter Solstice long before it became a Christmas tradition. To Pagans, such trees decorated with lights meant light after the dark, everlasting life, as well as fertility. To Christians, the decorated tree, particularly with lights, is symbolic of Jesus being a light in the dark world. It's also seen as a symbol of the Tree of Life in Eden.

All the Christians had to do was ascribe that light in the dark to Jesus and make the everlasting life part of it harken back to the Book of Genesis.

What Sebastian is carrying was also used in an ancient Pagan tradition before it became a staple of Victorian winter-time decorations. It's not as popular now as the trees still are, but you will still see references to them, and some people still bring real or fake ones into their homes. It's also a type of evergreen, but of a very different nature.

Mistletoe.

In Victorian and other western flower languages, mistletoe is given meanings like these: love/romance, friendship, life/vitality, survival during hardship, wisdom, and even fertility.

Hanakotoba, or Japanese flower language, gives similar meanings about love/romance and surmounting difficulties.

As a contracted demon, Sebastian is all about surmounting difficulties for his young master. And by this time, our earl's mere existence is a testament to survival during hardship.

But also keep in mind that mistletoe is a poisonous and parasitic plant.

So, the mistletoe emphasizes that Sebastian surmounts difficulties and provides our earl with continued survival during hardship... but he's essentially poison and a parasite.

#black butler #kuroshitsuji #ch198 #flower language #victorian flower language #japanese flower language #flower symbolism #plant symbolism #mistletoe #fir tree #observation #analysis #hanakotoba #mar 17 2023

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littleeyesofpallas · 2 years

Note

IM just curious, can you talk about gotei 13 and zero divisions'flower symbolism in BLEACH ?

I don't know that there's much to add outside of canon. I think Kubo mentions in various supplemental materials what his reasoning was, and I believe they all line up with pretty standard Japanese floriography, i.e. hanakotoba[花言葉] lit. "flower language."

I was cross referencing things with the Bleach wiki and I realize that I have no idea where Kubo actually confirmed his preferred/intended readings for there, and the wiki doesn't have any citations on it (because of course they don't) so I'm just going to list everything I found on hanakotoba.com and point out anything that feels appropriate...

Kiku[菊]: Chrysanthemum(Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Noble/Virtuous/Lofty

Truth (White chrysanthemum specifically)

It is also more broadly associated with Longevity, Rejuvenation, and Royalty as it is the crest of the royal family of Japan. Its use with 1st division is mostly likely just evoking a seat of authority rather than flower language.

Okina-gusa[翁草]: Nodding Anemone(Anemone cernua)

Unspoken love

Ask for Nothing

Treacherous Love(a love that betrays you)

Really just laser focusing in on Sui Feng specifically here. Aptly reflects her whole thing with Yoruichi, although I don't remember offhand when the first time we actually see 2nd division's flower insignia specifically. I do know we don't even really see Omaeda properly until right before the execution (and the lt. badges are the only place we see the flowers) so it could also have been assigned after their big fight and hsitory/relationship reveal.

Kinsen-ka[金盞花]: Marigold(Calendula officinalis)

Desolation/Loneliness

The Grief of Separation

Mourning

Loss of Hope/Despair

This one at least came up in the actual manga when Kira fought Abirama. But it does seem like another character specific and relationship based one at its inception. Reflects Gin's whole self isolation from Rangiku in his pursuit of revenge, as well as Kira's abandonment in the process.

Rindou[竜胆]: Autumn Bellflower(Gentiana scabra)

To Love the Grieving

Faithfulness/Fidelity

Sincerity/Good Faith

Justice

Reliability

I assume the face value reading here is meant to focus on the "Reliability" part as the medical team. That or maybe "Love the grieving" as a reference to a sort of doctor/nurse's bedside manor. The "Faithfulness & Fidelity" reading does suit Isane's quiet devotion to Unohana though.

Ase-bi[馬酔木]: Lily-of-the-Valley(Pieris japonica)

Sacrifice/Scapegoat/Victim

Dedication/Devotion

Self-sacrifice

Another rather personal jab. A clear indicator of Hinamori's fate. "Dedication" and "Devotion" on the surface might still suit the division, but ultimately Hinamori being a "victim" and "sacrifice" of Aizen's ambition very starkly foreshadowed in this.

Tsubaki[椿]: Camellia(Camellia japonica)

Pride/Honor

Modest Splendor/Modest Virtue

Unwavering Elegance

The red tsubaki is also kind of a classically samurai associated flower on its own, hanakotoba not withstanding. When the camellia dies the flowers drop off their stems without wilting and it's seen as a kind of metaphor for samurai ethics; Better to die quickly and with your good image intact than suffer the indignity of a prolonged wilting.

This I assume is a kind of adjacent meaning to "Pride/Honor" and "Unwavering elegance." And certainly that kind of fixation on the appearance of honor and dignity suites Byakuya's slavish devotion to law and propriety even at the cost of his wife's dying wishes, and indeed any pretense of familial obligation to Rukia as his adopted sister.

Gokurakuchou-ka[極楽鳥花]: Bird-of-paradise(Strelitzia reginae)

pretentious love

to love a man concerned with his appearance

It took me a moment to really parse this. Most elaborations I found just danced around terms for a "fop" or a "dandy" in describing what I eventually boiled down to just "a man concerned with his appearance" so the particular tone of vanity was misleading. But I think the joke is just that Komamura hiding his wolf head under a series of masks and helmets does indeed count as "concern with appearance" just not in the otherwise implied flamboyant way.

Also the term "pretentious love" sort of fits with Tetsuzaemon's overwrought yakuza-like loyalty and deference to Komamura as his boss. It's not a simple modest devotion it's overplayed and loud and draped in pomp and ritual. He isn't just devoted in action, he has to give the express appearance of devotion as well.

every single time... I don't know why these two always tri me up. I even told myself when I was shuffling the images around, "remember you always screw up komamura and shunsui's flowers, so whatever your instinct is, remember to switch that." And apparently that means i actually had it right first and actively made it wrong

Well, in the very least this makes the various terms floating around like "dandy" and "fop" make much more direct sense, as Shunsui is very much a fashionable and frivolous personality when he's first introduced...

Ayame[菖蒲]: Siberian iris(Iris sanguinea)

good news

hope/desire/ambition/expectations

I dunno this feels weirdly absent of real relation to Kyoraku or even Nanao. I will come back to that "Hope/Desire..." one though. So stick a pin in that...

...However now I don't know what to make of the ayame in relation to Komamura.

(and of course people reblogged this before i could get around to correcting it, so likely no one will ever see this edit >:T)

Shiro Keshi[白罌粟]: White Poppyseed(Papaver somniferum)

thoughtfulness/consideration/compassion

pity/sympathy/understanding

death/sleep/forget/oblivion

I don't really know what to make of this... The specificity of White Poppy means the reading really should be "Death" or "Sleep" and I guess that kinda ties into Tousen losing his friend. But that feels like a stupidly loose connection. On the other hand the more general meaning of the poppy as "compassion/pity/sympathy" seems to match more of Tousen's actual relationships with his dead friend, with Komamura, and even to a lesser degree with Hisagi.

To "forget" or be lost in "oblivion" however feels like a very knowing and ominous point in the direction of Tousen having lost his way and forgotten himself in his quest for justice.

Suisen[水仙]: Daffodil(Narcissus tazetta)

esteem/respect/reverence

unrequited love

Another rather personal one. The general tone of Respect and Reverence and High Esteem could maybe refer to Hitsugaya's need to be taken seriously despite his age and stature, but that feels like loose and far too general fit at best. His unrequited love for Hinamori however suits this far better.

Nokogiri-sou[鋸草]: Siberian yarrow(Achillea sibirica)

to fight/to struggle

bravery/courage, but also healing/a cure/recovery

Obviously the "Fight" bit is super literal. Honestly that may be all there is to it though.

Azami[薊]: Japanese Thistle(Cirsium japonicum)

indepencence/separation

retaliation/revenge

strict/strern

not to be touched

I'm not actually so sure about this. The general theme of "sternness/strictness/discipline" I guess kind of fits? But I think the general kind of natural warning sign of "Do Not Touch" is really the best fit for both Mayuri and the department as a whole, although it feels oddly informal as a reading compared to the rest.

Matsuyuki-sou[待雪草]: Snowdrop(Galanthus nivalis)

relief/ease/comfort/solace

hope/desire/ambition/expectations

So the "Relief/Solace/etc..." bit certainly seems to fit Ukitake's demeanor as his terminal illness does indeed require him to frequently take an aside to lie down. But I was surprised to find that the "Hope/Desire/etc..." reading appeared here as well as with the Ayame, and I don't think it's coincidence that Kyoraku and Ukitake have matching themed flowers for their divisions.

Incidentally this also ties into Kaien as lt. since the Shiba name echos this same meaning of "Ambition".

Jinchou-ge[沈丁花]: Winter Daphne(Daphne odora)

Glory/Honor

Immortal/Indestructible/Eternal/Timeless

This one seems pretty obvious. "Glory" and "Indestructible" describe their reputation well enough, although they turned out to be far from indestructible, unfortunately.

It always kind of confused me that Kubo put their flower insignia inside the Gotei diamond, not only because they aren't supposed to be part of the gotei, but because it just seemed to break so many other design patterns... but then I realized that the only parts of the shinigami uniforms where the flowers are ever visible are on lt. badges(limiter stamps and the little sewn in tags being hidden) and there weren't any lieutenants in the royal guard.

Feels like a halfbaked idea to slap them on the coats just to make sure they show up somewhere, but then so was most of their introduction and role in the plot.

#bleach #bleach meta #shinigami #gotei 13 #yep....#sure enough everyone is reblogging some version the unedited post #with my flagrant errors intact and on display #and none of the corrections #=______=

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demonslayedher · 2 years

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Why is it that demons are averse to wisteria? I have been trying to look into the meanings behind wisteria but I can only find what wisteria symbolises in European cultures. Is the relationship between demons and wisteria something that already exists in Japanese folklore, or something Gotoge decided, and if so, what might have been the reasoning/symbolism for choosing that particular plant over others?

AHA!!!! I knew I had written this up before, I just couldn't find it! I finally remembered that is was in my longer post theorizing that Muzan was from an offshoot of the Fujiwara clan! That wasn't exclusively about wisteria, but I'm copying-and-pasting here the long part that was, see below the cut. The Prof. Owada I refer to below is a retired Shizuoka University professor who wrote a book called “Japanese History of Demon Slayers” to directly capitalize on the success of Kimetsu no Yaiba, and to dive into a lot of ties between the series and what it may pay homage to throughout Japanese history and culture. It is not an official Shueisha publication and therefore not canon material, but it takes canon and fan theories into according pretty thoroughly. Since he's already done the breakdown of "why wisteria" I'm simply borrowing it. Short answer: No, this does not already exist in Japanese folklore and is unique to KnY. However, Gotouge usually has reasons for things and people love to ponder those reasons.

One such question is, why were wisteria lethal to demons? According to Prof. Owada’s research, there is no historical basis for this. Some of the talk online is that: 1. Wisteria are in fact poisonous, and consuming too much of them would cause vomiting and diarrhea (though I’ve also seen people make jam out of them because of the fragrance, so, like???) 2. Beans are thrown around at Setsubun to ward off demons (like so, Feat. Muzan and Kimetsu Beans), and wisteria are of the bean family 3. Wisteria like sunlight, so perhaps like Nichirin, they soak up some of the sun’s properties that are lethal to demons 4. In the language of flowers (Hanakotoba), wisteria symbolize kindness, welcomeness, refusing to leave someone’s side, being drunk with love, being straightforward and truthful, not losing the humanity in one’s heart, thereby containing a lot of meaning contrary to the conduct of demons Interesting, but some of its kind of a stretch. While still finding it a stretch to apply it to wisteria being poisonous to demons, Prof. Owada goes on to say that since ancient times, while the wisteria has some negative connotations of how it was sometimes written with characters meaning “doesn’t heal” (不治) and growing downward with smaller and smaller flowers like symbolize the slow downfall of a family line, it conversely also carries positive connotations of longevity and flourishing family due to the fact that its vines grow upward.

Now, you might picked up at some point that the Japanese word for wisteria is “fuji.” Not to be confused with Mt. Fuji (that’s written differently), it IS the same fuji as in “Fujiwara”: 藤.

Prof. Owada goes on to explore the association with the use of Wisteria crests in Kimetsu no Yaiba, especially on the houses of supporters of the Demon Slayer Corp. His recurring thesis is that the pandemic is partly responsible for Kimetsu no Yaiba’s popularity since demon legends have long since had origins in epidemics, and he supposes the Wisteria crest has a protective effect on the houses, similar to a talisman used in a lot of real life rituals for warding off illness and then often displays in or on the entries of houses to protect the family every year (I have one such item gifted to me, it stays by my doorway, along with a couple sticks of charcoal (but the culture of charcoal is a post for some other day)). The talisman is in reference to a god of Hindu/Chinese origins being treated with hospitality by the So clan, so although other families perished in disaster/disease, he promised to always protect the So clan descendants, so the talisman says “Descendants of the So Clan” so that any household may try to claim that divine protection. The gratitude-exchange of hospitality and protection and sure sounds familiar! Prof. Owada isn’t done yet. While the crest design used in Kimetsu no Yaiba isn’t an actual family crest in in real life, there are lots and lots and lots of family crests that use a wisteria design and have the character for “wisteria” in the name. Any time you hear “—tou”, like Satou, Saitou, or even Gotou, you can typically assume it’s 藤. It’s very common nowadays, but the first family to be granted the use of this name was the Fujiwara clan, when one of the pre-Heian and very powerful emperors granted their clan head this surname, which was a major honor, and it marked the start of the Fujiwara clan’s political dominance (there was already influence leading up to this, but meh, we like clear-cut stuff to simply centuries of history, don’t we?). Furthermore, although we often think of the Fujiwara clan for their influence at court, and we might think of the Minamoto clan for warrior heroes who fought demons, Prof. Owada concludes his argument of wisteria’s protective influence by pointed out a long list of Heian period Fujiwara warriors who also were the heroes of demon slaying legends, stating that their name has also long been tied with demon slayer culture.

#kny nerdery

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golvio · 2 years

Photo

Here’s an aborted WIP of my attempt at designing a Malice-themed flower to contrast with the Silent Princess. The reference I used was a photo of Fritillaria camschatcensis. It’s called the Kamchatka lily, rice lily, or chocolate lily, but it’s not actually in the lily family, but an evolutionary relative known as the fritillary. One of the key things that distinguish fritillaries from their lily cousins is that their main pollinators are flies and other carrion seeking insects, not bees. To attract pollinators, rather than producing sweet nectar, the flowers give of a scent that smells like decaying meat, tricking the flies into coming to it and covering themselves with pollen while trying to figure out where the yummy food is. This scent is why they’re known colloquially as “stink lilies” or “outhouse lilies.”

However, they’re called “rice lilies” by the indigenous peoples of Alaska because their bulbs, which are made up of multiple “rice grains” that come apart when the mother root is dug up, are edible. In fact, since these flowers bloom in winter, they’re a reliable source of starch and were highly prized by people weathering the harsh winter storms in the areas they grow. These flowers also grow in Hokkaido, and the Ainu people regarded these nourishing plants as a symbol of love, with people trying to help a young couple get together secretly placing these flowers near a young person looking for love. Whoever near that person reached for the flowers first would be that person’s soulmate.

However, the Yamato Japanese regard these flowers in hanakotoba as a symbol for “cursed love,” due to their association with the story of the samurai Sassa Narimasa and his lover, Sayuri, whose name contained the characters for “lily.” According to the legend, Sayuri was Sassa’s concubine, who loved him faithfully but was slandered by the other concubines in the household who were jealous of the attention she received from the master of the house. Sassa, who became convinced by the rumors that Sayuri was being unfaithful, brutally murdered her and her entire extended family in a jealous rage. Outraged by her beloved’s betrayal, her soul lingered by the river where she died and became a frightful apparition called a furaribi. At the moment of her death, the white lilies on the manor grounds all turned black, becoming kuroyuri or “black lilies.” They served as an eternal reminder of Sassa’s crimes and Sayuri’s dying curse, condemning her former love to a life of failure and misery.

The flower’s double-meaning clouded by colonialist incursion, plus its association with both curses and death and life and love persevering in the harshest of climates, suited Ganondorf. Furthermore, it felt fitting to have the foil to Zelda’s signature flower, which resembles a “true lily” that produces nectar, be a so-called “false lily” that doesn’t produce nectar and is associated with less-prized-by-humans but still ecologically important animals like flies. Also, the fact that it’s native to colder climates and blooms in winter makes it feel like you could find this flower around the snowy Gerudo Highlands. It was part of a fic idea born from speculation about his backstory/origins in BotW that I’ve currently got on the backburner.

#long post #my art #legend of zelda #loz thoughts #ganondorf #princess zelda #silent princess #botw #totk #flowers #kamchatka lily #fritillaria

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