Morning-Glory (asagao)

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Morning-Glory (asagao)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: various, see below
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

These simple beautiful flowers capture the mind of any poet !
Convolvulaceae family. Morning glories

The plant was introduced into Japan 1200 years ago by embassies to Tang China which brought back seeds for medicinal use. Crushed, the seeds were used as a powerful laxative and diuretic. From the Edo period the plant was widely cultivated for decorative purposes, and towards the end of the 19th century was introduced to Europe, where it was referred to as "Japanese Morning-Glory".
There are famous markets in Edo, and even now in Tokyo, where these flowers are sold.



Asagao, the Japanese means "Morning Face".
Let us look at some kigo with them.

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................... Kigo for Summer

Market selling Morning-Glories, asagao ichi　朝顔市
Market at Iriya in Edo, Iriya asagao ichi 入谷朝顔市

Click HERE to see the Market !

This was the most famous market for these flowers in Edo and is still held in our day at the Temple of Kishimo-Jin in Iriya.


http://www.midoricho.com/shitamachi/asagao/asagao.htm

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

seedlings of the morning-glory, asagao no nae 朝顔の苗
kigo for early summer

Click HERE to look at them !

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................... Kigo for Autumn

Early Autumn

morning-glory, asagao　朝顔
..... kenngyuuka 牽牛花
..... 蕣 (this kanji is also used for the Rose of Sharon, mukuge)

Western Morning-Glory, seiyoo asagao 西洋朝顔
Morning-Glory with a heavenyl color,
sora-iro asagao 空色朝顔

Click HERE to look at them !

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Late Autumn

Seed of the Morning-Glory, asagao no mi 朝顔の実
..... tane asagao 種朝顔

Click HERE to look at them !


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

A sweet called "Morning Glory", in memory of Chiyo-Ni, the famous poet
A sweet for July



©　Seasonal Sweets of Japan


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HAIKU

朝顔に　釣瓶とられて　貰い水
asagao ni tsurube torarete morai mizu

these morning glories
entangle the well-bucket -
I go elsewhere for water

Chiyo-Ni
Tr. Gabi Greve

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あさがほに我は飯くふおとこ哉
asagao ni ware wa meshi kuu otoko kana

by the morning-glories
I am this rice-eating
fellow

Matsuo Basho.
And More about the Morning-Glory

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朝顔のこく咲にけりよ所の家
asagao no koku saki ni keri yoso no ie

morning-glories
blooming thick...
someone else's house


朝顔や下水の泥もあさのさま
asagao ya gesui no doro mo asa no sama

morning-glories
even in sewer mud
a morning scene

Issa

Read more of Issa's Haiku.
Translated by David Lanoue

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a morning glory pot
cool breeze
before the rain

Etsuko Yanagibori


bindweed --
along the dirt road side
errosion

"chibi" (pen-name for Dennis M. Holmes)
Cherrypoetryclub

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sunflowers aligned
to the sun ~ rainbow birds
flutter morning glory ~

( Jul. 30, 2004)
More haiku and a photo are here:
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/PH_detail?photo_sn_in=1459


morning glory in
twilight breeze ~
solar parables for
dancing dervishes ~

( Aug. 18, 2004)
More haiku and a photo are here:
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/PH_detail?photo_sn_in=1069

Narayanan Raghunathan, July 2006

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today again
I choose the longer way –
morning glories

Tomislav Maretic, Croatia, 2007


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Related words

***** Evening Face, yorugao 夜顔
..... "Night-meeting flower" 夜会草
Kigo for early autumn

Click HERE to look at it !


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***** Bindweed (hirugao) 　昼顔
Kigo for mid-summer
Fa. Concolvulus

Bindweed is the common weedy version of the morning glory. It has white to blue flowers, smaller than the cultivated types, and the flowers open and close daily, as opposed to morning glories that bloom only for a single day.

bindweed clambers
around the swingset
with no swings

M. Kei, US
WKD : Chesapeake Saijiki


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Reference

Sweets from Japan (wagashi)

Chiyo-Ni (Chiyoni), Kaga no Chiyo jo (1703-1775)


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