
A
chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums ( ), sometimes called mums or chrysanths, are flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. They are native to East Asia and northeastern Europe. Most species originate from East Asia, and the center of diversity is in China. Co ...
exhibition (菊花展覧会 ''Kikatenrankai'') is a
flower show that takes place in various parts of
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
every
autumn
Autumn, also known as fall (especially in US & Canada), is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Southern Hemisphe ...
from October to November. Other terms used are also “Chrysanthemum Festival” or “Chrysanthemum Competition”.
History

Chrysanthemums first arrived in Japan by way of
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
in the 5th century. By the
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
, the flower was cultivated throughout Japan. It represented the
noble class and the season of
autumn
Autumn, also known as fall (especially in US & Canada), is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Southern Hemisphe ...
, and the Japanese even had a Chrysanthemum festival. When the flower was adopted for the
Imperial Seal of Japan
The Imperial Seal of Japan or National Seal of Japan, also called the , or , is the ''Mon (emblem), mon'' used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial House of Japan, Imperial Family.
It is one of the national seals of Japan and is ...
some families also cultivated it to signal their support and good relationship with the
Imperial family
A royal family is the immediate family of monarch, monarchs and sometimes their extended family.
The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or emperor, empress, and the term papal family describes the family of ...
.
These flowers are much esteemed by the Japanese, who pay more attention to size and brilliancy of colour than to perfume.
Main exhibits

Exhibitions show works by individuals or groups. They tend to feature:
* Large chrysanthemums
** Single chrysanthemum grown from one seedling
** Three-tailoring - a technique of pinching one seedling and branching it into three. The flowers are supported by wheels
** Seven-tailoring - a technique to pinch one seedling and branch it into seven. The flowers are supported by a raised centre wheel and surrounding six lower wheels.
*
Chrysanthemum bonsai techniques
**
Diorama
A diorama is a replica of a scene, typically a three-dimensional model either full-sized or miniature. Sometimes dioramas are enclosed in a glass showcase at a museum. Dioramas are often built by hobbyists as part of related hobbies like mili ...
scenes using stones, figurines, etc.
** Suspended cliff tailoring - a technique in which a trunk hangs down a cliff and expresses the appearance of a growing tree
** Front cascade small cliff - a method of tailoring a cliff tail to the front, pinching a single seedling and branching a lot
** Front cascade large cliff - a technique to make more branches and branches
* Chrysanthemum dolls (''kiku ningyo) - a representation of a person or animal as a motif
* Chrysanthemum
flower beds
Reviews and awards
The flowers and installations are comprehensively examined by their size, shape of flowers and leaves, and the harm of insects. Bonsai will be examined for roots and trunks, which should gradually become thinner from the roots. For other works, the balance, shape, etc. are examined based on certain standards.
Various awards and prizes are given by the national and local government authorities, as well as private ones.
Exhibitions
The national exhibition is the All Japan Chrysanthemum Federation National Convention. The Prince Takamatsu Cup was the highest award until the prince's demise, nowadays the highest award is the Prime Minister's Prize. Each time, a new variety is announced with a flower name associated with the venue and is designated as a designated competition flower. There are about 15 divisions and 50 categories according to color and genus. Any member of the All-Japan Kikuhana Federation can participate by paying the participation fee.
Apart from the national exhibition various prefectures and cities have their own as well.
* The
Nagoya Castle
is a Japanese castle located in Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Castle was constructed by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period on the site of an earlier castle of the Oda clan in the Sengoku period. Nagoya Castle was the heart of one of the ...
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.
References
Bibliography
* Tameji Nakajima, H. Carl Young. ''The art of the chrysanthemum: Japanese techniques for creating bonsai, cascades, giants and other potted styles.'' Harper & Row (1965)
External links
{{commons category-inline, Chrysanthemum shows
* https://longwoodgardens.org/blog/2018-11-12/tiny-flowers-big-hit-chrysanthemum-bonsai
* https://www.library.metro.tokyo.jp/portals/0/tokyo/chapter1/title825.html
Seasons in Japan
Flower shows
Chrysanthemum