Daruma Flower

nnnnnnnnnnnn TOP nnnnnnnnnnnnn

Daruma Flower (Darumasoo, Japan)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Spring
***** Category: Plant

*****************************
Explanation

Daruma Flower, Darumasoo 「達磨草」（だるまそう)

This flower is also called
Zen Meditation Flower, zazensoo 座禅草 （ざぜんそう）
Symplocarpus renifolius

It resembles Daruma Daishi, the founder of Zen.

It belongs to the family of sweet potatoes. renifolius refers to the kidney-shape of the flowers. In Japan, this form is more associated with the halo of a Buddha statue. And protected by this halo, Daruma sits quietly in Zen meditation !

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~t_hirata/zazensoo.htm

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Perennial growing to 0.5m. It is hardy to zone 4. It is in flower from February to April, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist or wet soil.

Read more about its medical and poisonous properties:
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Symplocarpus+renifolius&CAN=LATIND

*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU


Copyright © 2000 Shunji Mori
http://www.dynax.co.jp/sinsen/photo/hana_koyomi/gf_zazensou.html

More photos of this plant
http://www.dynax.co.jp/sinsen/gallery/hakuba/zazensouen.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

覆はれて首すくめをり座禅草
oowarete kubi sukume-ori zazensoo

covered
ducking its head -
Zen Meditation Flower
(Tr. Sakuo Nakamura)

足立武久 Adachi Takehisa
http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~t_adachi/akanaF.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

座禅草思ひおもひの座禅組み　
zazensoo omoi-omoi no zasen kumi

Daruma Flowers -
sitting in Zen meditation
in so many ways
(Tr. Gabi Greve)

堤　ふさを
http://www.town.kusu.mie.jp/kusu380/ks7m.html
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

水ひそむ木道端の座禅草
mizu hisomu mokudoo-bata no zazensoo

hiding in water
along the wooden pathway -
Zen Meditation Flowers
(Tr. Sakuo Nakamura )

Nakagawa
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cas67510/haiku/haisakuhinb.html

Pathways for visitors, made of logs lead through many of the swamps of Japan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On the way to the temple
a Zen Meditation Flower bows down
all the pilgrims

Vasile Moldovan, RO


*****************************
Related words

***** Skunk Cabbage (Mizu Bashoo)

*****************************
Please send your contributions to Gabi Greve
worldkigo@yahoo.com

WHC Worldkigo Discussion Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WHCworldkigo/

Back to the WHC Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/