Minneapolis Institute of Art

Plum and Camellia Branches

Nagayama Kōchoku

Date

1829

Medium

Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Plum and camellia trees both blossom in early spring. Since New Year's typically occurred in spring according to the traditional lunar calendar, these flowers came to be emblematic of renewal and regeneration in Japan. Housewives would cut branches from the trees, as seen here, and bring them indoors where the buds would open to form a festive decoration for New Year's celebrations. Asia

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