Meiji Shrine. A pocket of tranquility in the heart of a bustling metropolis that is Tokyo. A Shinto shrine built to commemorate the Meiji Restoration. It sits on a lush forest where an iris garden was once a favorite spot to visit by Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
Peaceful, serene and enveloped by an air of reverence, the shrine also offers a visual feast for a first-time traveler to Japan. When we visited, I felt that I had been immersed in the unique culture and history of Japan.
Being a certified anthophile (flower freak in plain lingo) I was ecstatic because of the abundance of chrysanthemums in the shrine. There was a chrysanthemum and bonsai exhibit – a treat because I like flowers and miniatures – on the day we visited.
Not only were live chrysanthemums on display but the flower was represented on many objects in the shrine – atop the Torii gate,
on lanterns
and carved on doors. It was this chrysanthemum door that first sparked my interest in portals as a photography subject. And now, also as a subject for my painting.
Meiji Shrine Chrysanthemum Door in watercolor
I was curious why the chrysanthemum (kiku in Japanese) is such a favorite. Apparently, the flower is the imperial emblem of Japan and the country’s national flower. A 16-petal chrysanthemum is the official crest of the Japanese emperor and stamped on passports and coins.
And what do you know, it also happens to be my birth month flower. So even if this blog is all about portals, I just had to make a watercolor painting of a chrysanthemum from the exhibit which I dubbed “Meiji Shrine Kiku.”
