Period of increased number and characteristics of plant species designed on the outer garment

Abstract

The species of plants painted on the outer garment as designs have been reflected the backgrounds such as the society, culture, or people’s interest. We studied species of plant pictures on the outer garments in different periods. At first they were found from Heian period. The total number of plants increased from Azuchi-momoyama period, especially in late Edo period. The plants with the largest number were Chrysanthemum, following Pinus, Prunus mume, Prunus sp. (Cherry blossoms), Phyllostachys sp., Acer, and Paeonia suffruticosa. The number of plants were little in Heian period, as Phyllostachys sp. and Paulownia tomentosa. In Kamakura period, the Chrysanthemum, Prunus sp., Salix babylonica, Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus and Patrinia scabiosaefolia appeared for first time. In Muromachi periods, Acer, Paeonia suffruticosa, Lespedeza sp., Camellia japonica, Taraxacum platycarcum, Viola mandshurica, Equisetum arvense var. arvense, Eupatorium fortunei, and Gentiana scabra var. buergeri were begun to use. In general the species of plants used as designs tended to change at each periods. Especially, Camellia japonica much increased number of species in Azuchimomoyama period, but decreased the number from Edo period. We discussed the reason of the fact from the viewpoint of social background or other’s reasons.