yet another theme question - this time akikusa and suzumushi

[rkg]

Hi again,

Here's another dumb theme question.  Does the combination of akikusa (fall flowers) and suzumushi (bell cricket) have a legend, story or some other meaning that they're both found in the fall?  Again, I'm trying to write up something, and...

Obligatory eye candy images of the theme:

 

Thanks in advance,

rkg

(Richard George)

 

[Babu]

The seven flowers of autumn are often depicted with the bell cricket (Suzumushi) 

Flowers are indigenous to Japan. Bush Clover hagi, Japanese Silver Grass susuki, Japanese Arrowroot kuzu, Pink nadeshiko, Valerian ominaeshi, Joe Pye Weed fujibakama, and Balloon Flower kikyo.

[Curran]

Ko-Mino and Mino f/k sets.   Same question applies to deer.

I associate the bell crickets more with late Momoyama Ko-mino on into Edo, but that may end up being entirely my own view.

 

This set has little silver beads imbedded in all the flowers, though hard to see unless you expand my so-so photo. We can't all be at RKG's level.

[Japan2112]

Hi Richard,

I think Adam said it best, an Autumnal association with flora and fauna. Here is a description found in the study of Akasaka motifs"

"The motif of this tsuba is autumnal flora and crickets combining to represent the Musashino. The elements of the grass and cricket fuse into an abstracted depiction of a pleasant autumnal scene:" Maybe this helps. BTW here is the tsuba this is referring to

Best Regards,

Mark

[Yasaka Azuma]

"Akikusa-zu" is said to be the theme of Rimpa school, which is a pictorial expression of a passage of "Laozi" "中秋良夜瓢風驟雨"   Meaning that unnatural events do not last long .

However, I don't know if it is the same expression in Mino School.

 

 

[rkg]

Thanks for all the replies!  I'll follow up on these observations.

 

Best,

rkg

(Richard George)

[Curran]

Ko-Mino and Rinpa are concurrent.

Given the nature of the times, the Memento Mori <-> Mushashino explanation makes sense.

[Yasaka Azuma]

During the Edo period, Japanese people interpreted akikusa-zu as a scene in which autumn grass in the field emerged in the darkness of the night under the moonlight. It suggests "野晒 Nozarashi - a weather beaten skull".

 

https://twitter.com/yakozen777/status/1230979390520999937

[Bugyotsuji]

The Suzumushi started about 10 days ago. They really do sound like little bells. I recorded them one evening! And the cool evenings they bring with them are sooooo refreshing at last, after weeks of stifling heat and incessant cicadas.

 

[MauroP]

The themes suzumushi, akikusa, Musashino and nozarashi sometimes overlap in some instances. Anyway each theme has its own origin in Japanese literature.
According to "Tsuba - Kodōgu Gadai Jiten" (vol. 1, p. 278) the suzumushi-zu refers to "‎The Pillow Book" (Makura no Sōshi - 枕草子) by Sei Shōnagon, a collection of writings from Heian period.
Here below the relevant entry from "Tsuba - Kodōgu Gadai Jiten" :