Guide to Japanese patterns: Syoubu, iris field
Posted by 3Dsound at Sunday, December 09, 2007 5:06 PM and is filed under Design,Illustration,Graphic Design,Japanese patterns,Hiroshige,draggin' the line,Guide to Japanese patterns 
2nd in a Japanese design series (updated below)
Draggin' the line
During the Edo period in Japan (1603-1868), horticulturalists began planting fields of hanashobu iris (Iris ensata) near cities and towns – fields where people naturally came to admire the blossoms and which may have been the forerunners of the Japanese public garden. The Horikiri Iris Garden (Horikiri Shobuen) in Tokyo was established in 1801-1804 and still attracts visitors during Iris Festival (Katsushika Shobu Matsuri) in June.
In addition to hanashobu iris, other iris and iris-like species native to Japan include ayame iris
The Japanese relationship with iris embraces cultural traditions more sweeping than just horticulture. In the Japanese language, the word "iris" (shobu) is homonymic with a word meaning "military spirit." From early-on, the Japanese associated iris with militarism, which included recognizing the sword-like shape of the iris leaf and, hence, organizing men's participation in ritual "iris combat" (shobu-uchi). Such mock battles began during the Nara period (710-794) and became formalized during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). They were rituals celebrating iris as a protector, and they complemented the purifying and fertility rites of spring. This Shinto ritualism took place in the 5th month (May) and became known as Shobu-no-sekku (Feast of the Iris). Over time, Shobu-no-sekku became conflated with Tango-no-sekku (Boys Day), which historically included both martial displays and symbolism connoting the evocative properties of iris. Before the Japanese calendar was modernized, Shobu-no-sekku and Tango-no-sekku were celebrated closer to the height of iris blooming.
Shinto rituals and festivals often included the decoration of clothing and ritual dress with iris and the use of iris as body ornament. The syoubu pattern (also transliterated as "shoubu") captures these adornment traditions, as well as representing the riparian ecology of iris.
Syoubu depicts a riparian habit by positioning the rows of the pattern slightly askew, to suggest a water reflection. Alternatively, syoubu may include a depiction of flowing water.
Syoubu pattern shares formal similarities with the reed pattern (another water-loving plant), as both patterns depict upright, sword-like leaves and a central stem. Syoubu pattern does not necessarily include a depiction of the iris blossom, and the reed pattern never does.
Examples of syoubu pattern:
UPDATE, Tuesday, May 13, 2008: Included above is an original photograph by Pam (author of Tales From the Microbial Laboratory) of a quite beautiful Iris ensata blooming in her South Carolina garden.
Guide to Japanese patterns: See the series.
My first Iris ensata when into the ground last summer, after visiting a japanese iris festival here in South Carolina. The irises at the festival were in full bloom, and were just spectacular - and how fun to see some information on their history here.
http://talesfromthelaboratory.typepad.com/tales_from_the_microbial_/2007/05/japanese_irises.html
Cross post maybe?
Hope you've had a nice holiday.
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You are pressuring me to dig up the name of this one...which could take me, YEARS to do. Maybe. If I find it, I'll let you know. Oh - and another one from last summer is getting ready to bloom, in the next few days to a week.
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That would be cool to know -- and of course I'd it's a bit of information that I'd include.
But something else: I'm always impressed by the depth of color you get in your photos of your garden. What camera do you use?
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