In some European countries (e.g., France,
Belgium, Italy, Spain,
Poland,
Hungary,
Croatia), incurve chrysanthemums symbolize
death and are used only for funerals or on graves, while other types carry no such symbolism; similarly, in China, Japan, and
Korea of East Asia, white chrysanthemums symbolize adversity, lamentation, and/or grief. In some other countries, they represent honesty. In the United States, the flower is usually regarded as positive and cheerful, with New Orleans as a notable exception. In the
Victorian language of flowers, the chrysanthemum had several meanings. The Chinese chrysanthemum meant cheerfulness, whereas the red chrysanthemum stood for "I Love", while the yellow chrysanthemum symbolized slighted love. The chrysanthemum is also the flower of November.
East Asia China red
lacquerware dish with carved chrysanthemums and dragons • The chrysanthemum is the city flower of
Beijing and
Kaifeng. The tradition of cultivating different varieties of chrysanthemums stretches back 1600 years, and the scale reached a phenomenal level during the Song dynasty until its loss to the
Jürchens in 1126. The city has held the Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival since 1983 (renamed China Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Cultural Festival in 1994). The event is the largest chrysanthemum festival in China; it has been a yearly feature since, taking place between 18 October and 18 November every year. • The chrysanthemum is one of the "
Four Gentlemen" () of China (the others being the
plum blossom, the
orchid, and
bamboo). The chrysanthemum is said to have been favored by
Tao Qian, an influential Chinese poet, and is symbolic of nobility. It is also one of the four symbolic seasonal flowers. • A chrysanthemum festival is held each year in
Tongxiang, near
Hangzhou, China. • Chrysanthemums are the topic in hundreds of poems of China. • The "golden flower" referred to in the 2006 movie
Curse of the Golden Flower is a chrysanthemum. • "Chrysanthemum Gate" (jú huā mén ), often abbreviated as Chrysanthemum (菊花), is taboo slang meaning "anus" (with sexual connotations). • An ancient Chinese city (Xiaolan Town of Zhongshan City) was named Ju-Xian, meaning "chrysanthemum city". • The plant is particularly significant during the Chinese
Double Ninth Festival. • In Chinese culture, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of autumn and the flower of the ninth moon. People even drank chrysanthemum wine on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month to prolong their lives during the Han dynasty. It is a symbol of longevity because of its health-giving properties. Because of all of this, the flower was often worn on funeral attire. •
Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China listed two kinds of chrysanthemum for medical use, Yejuhua and Juhua. Historically Yejuhua is said to treat carbuncle, furuncle, conjunctivitis, headache, and vertigo. Juhua is said to treat cold, headache, vertigo, and conjunctivitis.
Japan of a
wakizashi with chrysanthemums painted using
maki-e, a decoration technique of
Japanese lacquerware. 18th century,
Edo period. for a Young Woman (Uchikake). Motif: Chrysanthemums and fences. Chrysanthemums first arrived in Japan by way of China in the 5th century. The chrysanthemum has been used as a theme of
waka (Japanese traditional poetry) since around the 10th century in the
Heian period, and
Kokin Wakashū is the most famous of them. In the 12th century, during the
Kamakura period, when the retired
Emperor Go-Toba adopted it as the
mon (family crest) of the
Imperial family, it became a flower that symbolized autumn in Japan. During the
Edo period from the 17th century to the 19th century, due to the development of economy and culture, the cultivation of chrysanthemums,
cherry blossoms,
Japanese iris,
morning glory, etc. became popular, many cultivars were created and many
chrysanthemum exhibitions were held. From the
Meiji period in the latter half of the 19th century, due to the growing importance of the chrysanthemum, which symbolized the Imperial family, the creation of
ogiku style cultivars with a diameter of 20 cm or more became popular. In the present day, each autumn there are chrysanthemum exhibitions at the
Shinjuku Gyo-en,
Meiji Shrine and
Yasukuni Shrine in
Tokyo. The Yasukuni Shrine, formerly a state-endowed shrine (官国弊社,
kankokuheisha) has adopted the chrysanthemum crest. Culinary-grade chrysanthemums are used to decorate food, and they remain a common motif for traditional
Japanese arts like
porcelain,
lacquerware and
kimono. They are also grown into
chrysanthemum bonsai forms. • In Japan, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of the
Emperor and the
Imperial family. In particular, a "chrysanthemum crest" (菊花紋章,
kikukamonshō or
kikkamonshō), i.e. a
mon of chrysanthemum blossom design, indicates a link to the Emperor; there are more than 150 patterns of this design. Notable uses of and reference to the Imperial chrysanthemum include: • The
imperial crest of Japan is used by members of the Japanese imperial family. In 1869, a two-layered, 16-petal design was designated as the symbol of the emperor. Princes used a simpler, single-layer pattern. • The
Chrysanthemum Throne is the name given to the position of Japanese Emperor and the throne. • The Supreme
Order of the Chrysanthemum is a Japanese honor awarded by the emperor on the advice of the
Japanese government. • In Imperial Japan, small arms were required to be stamped with the imperial chrysanthemum, as they were considered the personal property of the emperor. • The
Nagoya Castle Chrysanthemum Competition started after the end of the Pacific War. The event at the castle has become a tradition for the city. With three categories, it is one of the largest events of its kind in the region by both scale and content. The first category is the exhibition of cultivated flowers. The second category is for
bonsai flowers, which are combined with dead pieces of wood to give the illusion of miniature trees. The third category is the creation of miniature landscapes. File:Imperial Seal of Japan.jpg|Chrysanthemum crest on the
battleship Mikasa File:高台寺蒔絵-Sake Ewer (Hisage) with Chrysanthemums and Paulownia Crests in Alternating Fields.jpg|
Maki-e Sake Ewer with Chrysanthemums and
Paulownia Crests in Alternating Fields. Early 17th century,
Azuchi–Momoyama period. File:Flower show-J. M. W. Silver.jpg|Chrysanthemum shows have been traditionally held in many Japanese towns. File:Hirakata-kikuningyo3231.JPG|"Hirakata Chrysanthemum Dolls Exhibition" (2005) File:Chrysanthemum,kiku,katori-city,japan.JPG|Chrysanthemums in the Japanese
Ogiku (lit., great chrysanthemum) style
Korea The flower is found extensively in inlaid
Goreyo ware and were reproduced in stamp form in
Buncheong wares. Several twentieth century potters, especially Kim Se-yong, created double-wall wares featuring each individual petal painted in white clay against a
celadon background. A vase produced using this technique and presented in 1999 to
Queen Elizabeth II can be found in the
Royal Collection. Laying a wreath of white chrysanthemums to mourn at funerals has been common since the early 20th century. Before the 20th century, white clothing was traditionally worn in funeral settings. However, the introduction of Western culture made black the prevalent color. White chrysanthemums were instead used to preserve the tradition of using white to mourn at funerals. Korea has a number of flower shows that exhibit the chrysanthemum, such as the
Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival. File:Funeral parlor for the Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul.jpg|White chrysanthemums at a Korean funeral parlor File:Double-openwork celadon moon jar with chrysanthemums.jpg|
celadon moon jar with chrysanthemums, Kim Se-yong File:청자 상감 국화 넝쿨 무늬 완.jpg|
Goryeo ware bowl with chrysanthemum inscription. early 11th century,
Goryeo dynasty. File:Celadon inlaid peony and chrysanthemum pattern melon-shaped bottle.jpg|Celadon inlaid peony and chrysanthemum pattern melon-shaped bottle, Goryeo dynasty File:Chrysanthemums in Masan port during gagopa chrysanthemum festival.jpg|Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival
West Asia Iran In Iran, chrysanthemums are associated with the Zoroastrian spiritual being Ashi Vanghuhi (lit. 'good blessings, rewards'), a female Yazad (angel) presiding over blessings.
Oceania Australia In Australia, on Mother's Day, which falls in May when the flower is in season, people traditionally wear a white chrysanthemum, or a similar white flower to honour their mothers. Chrysanthemums are often given as Mother's Day presents.
North America United States • On 5 and 6 November 1883, in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), at the request of the Florists and Growers Society, held its first Chrysanthemum Show in Horticultural Hall. This would be the first of several chrysanthemum events presented by PHS to the public. • The founding of the chrysanthemum industry dates back to 1884, when the Enomoto brothers of
Redwood City, California, grew the first chrysanthemums cultivated in America. • In 1913, Sadakasu Enomoto (of San Mateo County) astounded the flower world by successfully shipping a carload of Turner chrysanthemums to New Orleans for the All Saints Day Celebration. • The chrysanthemum is the official flower of the city of
Salinas, California. • The chrysanthemum is the official flower of several
fraternities and sororities, including
Chi Phi,
Phi Kappa Sigma,
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia,
Lambda Kappa Sigma,
Sigma Alpha, and
Triangle Fraternity.
Europe Italy Italian composer
Giacomo Puccini wrote
Crisantemi (1890), a movement for string quartet, in memory of his friend
Amedeo di Savoia Duca d'Aosta. In
Italy (and other European countries) the chrysanthemum is the flower that people traditionally bring to their deceased loved ones at the
cemetery and is generally associated with mourning. A probable reason for this is the fact that the plant flowers between the end of October and the beginning of November, coinciding with the
Day of the Dead (2 November). Poland Chrysanthemums are placed on graves to honor the dead during
All Saints' Day and
All Souls' Day in
Poland.
United Kingdom The
UK National Collection of hardy chrysanthemums is at Hill Close Gardens near
Warwick. == Gallery ==