南天
THE MEANINGS WOVEN IN
nanten
A wish for troubles to turn aside, and good to find its way in.
Nandina
Kept safe →01
Where it comes from
Nanten is drawn from the nandina, an evergreen shrub whose deep green leaves and bright red berries show through the snow in winter gardens. One of its Chinese names, nantenshoku, is said to come from berries as red as a flame. Because nanten sounds like nan wo tenzu, turning trouble aside, it became a plant for good wishes. It was grown in gardens, used in flower arrangement, and by the Edo period bred into many varieties.
02
On the cloth
In Noh, nandina has been embroidered over a woven fence of thin cypress strips on a nuihaku robe. Small charms carved from nandina wood, shaped like mallets or gourds, were tied to the obi of little ones.
03
To give
Nandina suits the turn of the year, a recovery, or a fresh start after a hard time. Red rice for celebrations is served with a nandina leaf on top, for the same wish. It is a gift for someone you hope will see troubles turn into good.
A word to keep
難を転ず
nan wo tenzu
To turn trouble aside. The name nanten is heard in these words.
Two questions
What does the Nandina (南天) pattern mean?
A wish for troubles to turn aside, and good to find its way in. Nandina suits the turn of the year, a recovery, or a fresh start after a hard time.
Where does the 南天 pattern come from?
Nanten is drawn from the nandina, an evergreen shrub whose deep green leaves and bright red berries show through the snow in winter gardens. One of its Chinese names, nantenshoku, is said to come from berries as red as a flame.
