Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-10-13
The ChrVSantheTn II nm

The ChrySanth emum.
The following history of the chrysan-
themum was written by Japanese pro.
lessor in the Maclay School of Theology
at San Fernando and sent to the ladies
in charge of the coming Chrysanthemum
Fair, which will open on the even
ing OF October Goth in the Simpson tab
ernacls on Hope street.
The chrysanthemum is said to be O ma
tive Of the Oriental country. 1t was loved
by the people in China and Japan. In
japan the blossom of the chrysanthe-
mum is the imperial crest from ancient
times, but it is uncertain for what reason
it was used as the crest. Some histor-
ians said that the Japanese chrysanthe.
mum came from China in the early time.
OF couree, at that time the intercourse
between Japan and China was very diff.
cult and infrequent, so that the chrysan-
themum, which came from China, was
thought as precious flower as if it had
fallen down from heaven, and it became
the crest of the Emperor. We have rea-
son to believe this tradition, because the
chrysanthemum is called "kiku" by the
Japanese. The word kiku is not jap
anese word; it is the sound Of character
in the Chinese language. The word was
used in early times in Japan. In ancient
poetry we frequently see the word.
1t is certain that the chrysanthemum
was loved by the highest classes of the
people of Japan in ancient times, and
they paid much attention to the plant
ing of it.
Kiyomori was famous warrior in
Japan, who lived about eight centuries
ago; his rank was the highest in that
time. One of his gardeners was very
skillful in making chrysanthemums
grow. Kiyomori gave him an honorable
title.
The chrysanthemum gave good SUBJ
ject to the Japanese poets. They call it
"heroic blossom" In autumn many
flowers decay and fall, but the chrysan-
themum blooms only after the cold wind
comes, and does not fear severe frost.
1t is compared to great man who en-
dures many troubles, misfortunes and
calamities, and who does not change his
mind.
1t is very curious fact that tho crest
of an ancient king of the Persians was
the flower of the chrysauthemum, just
like that of Japan. We can see the crest
on the ornamental stones in the ruins of
an ancient Persian palace.
In the history of China the chrysan-
themum was unknown until the fifth
century. About this time there was a
great scholar named Tong Yen Wing.
He liked the chrysanths very much,
making with it the fence on the eastern
side of his mansion. He said: "There
are many beautiful flowers in the world,
but these three are the principal bios
SONS, viz. chrysanthemum, peony and
lotos. The peony has the most gay, the
most beautiful flowers. 1t may be COM
pared to a rich man. The lotos grows in
swamps, but it can never be soiled by
unclean mud, as good man who cannot
be corrupted by bad customs. The
chrysanthemum blooms at the time
when many trees and grasses are decay
ing. 1t does not like the charming
spring. It looks SO like tranquility and
simplicity. prefer the chrysanthemum
to any Of the flowers. O, How many
people are loving the peonyl Gle
lamented that many people loved more
riches than virtue.)
Since about 427 A. D., or after Tong
Yen Wing published this composition,
the chrysanthemum has become pop
ular, although the avaricious instinct of
China ne YER diminished.
The colors of chrysanthemums are
various, but yellow is said to be the
original color, so that they are often
called the golden flower.
According to the old custom of Japan,
September 9th was the festival day of
the chrysanthemrm throughout the
empire. September 9th of old almanacs
occurs at the end of October of our pres
ent time
There are many kinds of chrysanthe.
mum in Japan. Ogiku (great), kogiku
s%slD; natsugiku , (summer2; k 1aslS
ern barbsrian), shingiku (this is pre-.
pared for cooking) are the principal
ones. Natsugiku and the common
chrysanthemum are the same, although
they have different names. If we cut off
the common chrysanthemum, not lesv-
ing single branch, just before blooming
time, in the early summer of the follow
ing year it will bloom. SAsAKT.