子供の日（Kodomo no hi） Children’s Day    

On 5th May in Japan is held Tango no sekku or the Iris Festival. It was originally for boys. But in 1948 it was renamed Kodomo no hi or Children’s Day and was granted national holiday status. Carp shaped kites are displayed on this day. In Chinese classical literature a carp swims upstream becoming a dragon and flying to Heaven. This implies success in life. Samurai helmets or armour are also displayed on this day as a symbol of strength and vitality. Children take baths with Japanese iris leaves called Shōbu-yu. Because of their distinctive aroma, these scented baths are also thought to have power to ward off evil spirits. People also eat Kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes wrapped in an oak leaf) or Chimaki (rice or arrowroot cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves). 

This exhibition is a collaboration between Morley Advanced Japanese woodcut printmaking students and Japanese language students (Stage 4). Carol Wilhide Justin is the tutor for Japanese woodcut who knew Hisano Luttman from studying in her  Japanese language classes. Together they decided to collaborate on an exhibition related to the Japanese festival of Children’s Day on May 5th. Carol’s students chose aspects of the Children’s Day that inspired them for their prints: koinobori- the kites, kokeshi dolls, hana shobu iris leaf bath, carp and plum blossoms. Hisano’s students wrote the titles of the prints and artists names in Japanese characters and also made haiku and origami koinobori. 

The Japanese language is written in three different alphabets Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Usually foreign names should be written in Katakana but here the students tried differently. The first names of the artists are written in Kanji (Kanji here were chosen from the pronunciation) and the surnames in Katakana. They read from right to left- with the artist’s name on the right and the title of the print on the left.

For the Japanese Woodcut prints shina plywood was used for the woodblock, it has a fine grain and is easy to cut unlike the traditional cherry wood where you would use chisels and mallets. For printing instead of oily inks, watercolour pigments and nori -a rice starch were used. The watercolour is brushed onto the dampened woodblock using special Japanese brushes. Dampened Washi paper- that is Japanese paper developed specifically to deal with the technique is laid onto the block using the integral unique Kento registration system- notches cut into the block where the paper corners fit. No presses were used each print is handmade using a bamboo baren, transferring the pigment from the block to the paper. Inge’s print shows the use of karazurie or embossing, Margaret and Elizabeth experimented with urazurie or printing from the back of the print. Other techniques used include bokashi or graduated colour as seen in Veronica’s print. 

While researching this festival I was drawn to some of the significant plants used as symbols throughout the Children’s Day-Kodomo No Hi and its earlier emanation of Boy’s Day- Tango no Sekku. 

 Iris leaves and roots thought to promote good health and ward off evil spirits and used to make an aromatic bath water. Oak leaves used to wrap the little Kashiwa Mochi sweets, assure continuing   good health.  These seemed to be remnants of much older spring celebrations   similar to many cultures celebrating continuity of nature, birth and the recognition of the incredible life force and vigour contained within emerging leaves, buds and ultimately animal/ human birth.

The Japanese Oak is the Quercus Dentata sometimes called the Japanese Empereor Oak or the Sweet oak. It’s indented salted leaves wrapping the Kashiwa mocha as part of the Childrens Day food ritual. I loved the fact that the leaves are displayed with veins exposed or hidden to indicate what the filling is inside the mochi.

 I had a picture of the Japanese oak and admired its complex outline but somehow was not happy working from this second hand image. As  I was unable to travel to Osterley park in West London ((where there  is  an identified Japanese Oak )to find a specimen leaf  I  had to be content with an common English oak  leaf  ;Quercus robur, from a tree near my allotment in South London. Actually I had more personal connection with this leaf and thought the simpler shape more instantly recognisable as an oak and more symbolic rather than botanically accurate.

Looking at the type of Iris used in the childrens day  festival it appeared that in the past people used the purple  Iris tectorum or wall/roof Iris but in more modern times it is’ hana shobu’ or Japanese water Iris  which has bigger taller leaves. Googling iris tectorum I came across research  on the morphology  of  iris buds  by Botanists Jin Yan Guo and Carol Anne Wison   and I was intrigued by their microscope images. They reminded me of ultra sound scans of babies in the womb and I seemed to see little faces within .

I have decided to use these round iris bud medallions within the shape of the oak leaf whose shape is reminiscent of a body, an island and a shield.

 I wanted to try out the method of printing known as Urazurie or printing from the back and thought that it might be a good way of depicting the slightly transparent microscope images and also suggest  images and ideas that are perhaps  behind or underneath the surface imagery and rituals of Children’s Day 

The koi fish originated in China where there is a legend of one leaping over a waterfall called Ryumon and transforming into a dragon (representing power/success). However, the Japanese embraced its Buddhist symbolism of courage and it became associated with young boys and the hope they would grow into a dragon (great man). The koi is closely linked to Japanese national identity- if a koi has a red circle on its head this can represent the Japanese national flag. The koi is often shown swimming upstream – representing strength and determination in the face of adversity.

In Japanese culture, colours have traditional connections. In connection with Children’s Day: black represents a father, red is the mother, pink is a girl/daughter and blue and white are symbols of a boy/son.  Blue also represents peace, tranquillity and calm.

Origami

Hisano also delivers Origami and greeting card workshops related to the Japanese seasonal festivals in the class.

If anything in this exhibition has piqued your creative fancy, why not try a course? Follow the links below to sign up for Japanese Woodcuts, Japanese Calligraphy and Japanese Language courses at Morley College.