Description
The Balloon flower, known as 'Kikyō' in Japanese, is a historically cherished flower that has been loved in Japan for centuries. It's one of the 'Seven Flowers of Autumn' and is featured in the ancient Japanese poetry collection, the 'Manyōshū' (circa 759 AD). During the Sengoku period (1467-1615), famed samurais like Akechi Mitsuhide and Katō Kiyomasa used the Kikyō crest as their family emblem. It was also a favorite subject of Ogata Kōrin, a renowned mid-Edo period artist, prominently featured in his famous work 'Autumn Grasses Pattern Picture Kosode' Even today, its design remains one of the most popular motifs in various forms of art and fabric decoration.