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respects the economy of nature； selects his victims with careful foresight；
and after death does honour to their remains。 In the West the display of
flowers seems to be a part of the pageantry of wealth；the fancy of a
moment。 Whither do they all go； these flowers； when the revelry is over？
Nothing is more pitiful than to see a faded flower remorselessly flung
upon a dung heap。
Why were the flowers born so beautiful and yet so hapless？ Insects
can sting； and even the meekest of beasts will fight when brought to bay。
The birds whose plumage is sought to deck some bonnet can fly from its
pursuer； the furred animal whose coat you covet for your own may hide at
your approach。 Alas！ The only flower known to have wings is the
butterfly； all others stand helpless before the destroyer。 If they shriek
in their death agony their cry never reaches our hardened ears。 We are
ever brutal to those who love and serve us in silence； but the time may
come when； for our cruelty； we shall be deserted by these best friends of
ours。 Have you not noticed that the wild flowers are becoming scarcer
every year？ It may be that their wise men have told them to depart till
man becomes more human。 Perhaps they have migrated to heaven。
Much may be said in favor of him who cultivates plants。 The man of
the pot is far more humane than he of the scissors。 We watch with
delight his concern about water and sunshine； his feuds with parasites； his
horror of frosts； his anxiety when the buds come slowly； his rapture when
the leaves attain their lustre。 In the East the art of floriculture is a very
ancient one； and the loves of a poet and his favorite plant have often been
recorded in story and song。 With the development of ceramics during the
Tang and Sung dynasties we hear of wonderful receptacles made to hold
plants； not pots； but jewelled palaces。 A special attendant was detailed to
wait upon each flower and to wash its leaves with soft brushes made of
rabbit hair。 It has been written ＇〃Pingtse〃； by Yuenchunlang＇ that the
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peony should be bathed by a handsome maiden in full costume； that a
winter…plum should be watered by a pale； slender monk。 In Japan； one of
the most popular of the No…dances； the Hachinoki； composed during the
Ashikaga period； is based upon the story of an impoverished knight； who；
on a freezing night； in lack of fuel for a fire； cuts his cherished plants in
order to entertain a wandering friar。 The friar is in reality no other than
Hojo…Tokiyori； the Haroun…Al…Raschid of our tales； and the sacrifice is not
without its reward。 This opera never fails to draw tears from a Tokio
audience even to…day。
Great precautions were taken for the preservation of delicate blossoms。
Emperor Huensung； of the Tang Dynasty； hung tiny golden bells on the
branches in his garden to keep off the birds。 He it was who went off in
the springtime with his court musicians to gladden the flowers with soft
music。 A quaint tablet； which tradition ascribes to Yoshitsune； the hero of
our Arthurian legends； is still extant in one of the Japanese monasteries
＇Sumadera； near Kobe＇。 It is a notice put up for the protection of a certain
wonderful plum…tree； and appeals to us with the grim humour of a warlike
age。 After referring to the beauty of the blossoms； the inscription says：
〃Whoever cuts a single branch of this tree shall forfeit a finger therefor。〃
Would that such laws could be enforced nowadays against those who
wantonly destroy flowers and mutilate objects of art！
Yet even in the case of pot flowers we are inclined to suspect the
selfishness of man。 Why take the plants from their homes and ask them
to bloom mid strange surroundings？ Is it not like asking the birds to sing
and mate cooped up in cages？ Who knows but that the orchids feel stifled
by the artificial heat in your conservatories and hopelessly long for a
glimpse of their own Southern skies？
The ideal lover of flowers is he who visits them in their native haunts；
like Taoyuenming ＇all celebrated Chinese poets and philosophers＇； who sat
before a broken bamboo fence in converse with the wild chrysanthemum；
or Linwosing； losing himself amid mysterious fragrance as he wandered in
the twilight among the plum…blossoms of the Western Lake。 'Tis said that
Chowmushih slept in a boat so that his dreams might mingle with those of
the lotus。 It was the same spirit which moved the Empress Komio； one
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of our most renowned Nara sovereigns； as she sang： 〃If I pluck thee； my
hand will defile thee； O flower！ Standing in the meadows as thou art； I
offer thee to the Buddhas of the past； of the present； of the future。〃
However； let us not be too sentimental。 Let us be less luxurious but
more magnificent。 Said Laotse： 〃Heaven and earth are pitiless。〃 Said
Kobodaishi： 〃Flow； flow； flow； flow； the current of life is ever onward。
Die； die； die； die； death comes to all。〃 Destruction faces us wherever we
turn。 Destruction below and above； destruction behind and before。
Change is the only Eternal；why not as welcome Death as Life？ They
are but counterparts one of the other；The Night and Day of Brahma。
Through the disintegration of the old； re…creation becomes possible。 We
have worshipped Death； the relentless goddess of mercy； under many
different names。 It was the shadow of the All…devouring that the Gheburs
greeted in the fire。 It is the icy purism of the sword…soul before which
Shinto…Japan prostrates herself even to…day。 The mystic fire consumes
our weakness； the sacred sword cleaves the bondage of desire。 From our
ashes springs the phoenix of celestial hope； out of the freedom comes a
higher realisation of manhood。
Why not destroy flowers if thereby we can evolve new forms
ennobling the world idea？ We only ask them to join in our sacrifice to
the beautiful。 We shall atone for the deed by consecrating ourselves to
Purity and Simplicity。 Thus reasoned the tea…masters when they
established the Cult of Flowers。
Anyone acquainted with the ways of our tea… and flower…masters must
have noticed the religious veneration with which they regard flowers。
They do not cull at random； but carefully select each branch or spray with
an eye to the artistic composition they have in mind。 They would be
ashamed should they chance to cut more than were absolutely necessary。
It may be remarked in this connection that they always associate the leaves；
if there be any； with the flower； for the object is to present the whole
beauty of plant life。 In this respect； as in many others； their method
differs from that pursued in Western countries。 Here we are apt to see only
the flower stems； heads as it were； without body； stuck promiscuously into
a vase。
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When a tea…master has arranged a flower to his satisfaction he will
place it on the tokonoma； the place of honour in a Japanese room。
Nothing else will be placed near it which might interfere with its effect；
not even a painting； unless there be some special aesthetic reason for the
combination。 It rests there like an enthroned prince； and the guests or
disciples on entering the room will salute it with a profound bow before
making their addresses to the host。 Drawings from masterpieces are
made and published for the edification of amateurs。 The amount of
literature on the subject is quite voluminous。 When the flower fades； t