On the fourth Day of Fun I present... a new series! After almost every erikae and misedashi lately I’ve been asked what the motifs on celebratory kimono are supposed to represent and what they mean, so instead of doing an entire tab (although there will be a tab featuring all entries in this series), I figured that I’d start another series that highlights the motifs found on kimono, from the most common to the more obscure. These entries will be shorter than most as they’re more simplistic and don’t require you to read through an entire essay ^^;
Pine - 松 (Matsu)
Rarity: Common
Seasons: All, most celebrated during Winter
A symbol of endurance the world over, the pine tree is celebrated for its classification as a conifer, a tree that doesn’t go into hibernation during the winter. Pine itself is synonymous with the title “evergreen” and is the most popular conifer across most continents. During the darkest days and longest nights the pine will never fail to remind people that spring will return once again and that we just need to be patient, just like how the pine grows. Although it doesn’t have leaves, its clusters of branches often resemble those of deciduous trees. Each representation, coloration, and formation have specific meanings as well. They are:
Bushy (Full) Pine: Strength, Endurance, Masculinity
Snow Covered Pine: Strength, Endurance, Patience, Hope
Asian (Sparse) Pine: Strength, Endurance, Wa (和 - Natural Beauty/Harmony)
Green Pine: Freshness, Longevity, Fertility, Youth
Red Pine: Strength, Masculinity
In Japan it has the distinction of being a member of the Shōchikubai (松竹梅/Pine-Bamboo-Plum), the three friends of winter and the most common grouping of lucky plants. Pine’s role in the trio is to remind us that dark times will pass and we will see bright days ahead soon as long as we’re patient and steadfast.
