05. Japanese Birthday woods



★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: January
Pine 松
Meaning: Majesty, eternity, prosperity.
In Japanese, the pronunciation of pine is “Matsu” and it has the same pronunciation of “wait” in Japanese. Therefore in Japanese poetry of ancient times, these two words are always mentioned as a set. Pine is a tree that has dwelled in the hearts of Japanese people since ancient time.

 

★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: February
Walnut 胡桃　
Meaning: Intelligence, fertility, strength.
The walnut, which the nut is encased by a hard shell. In Japan, walnut is a food since Jomon period. Many people like walnut tree in Japan.

 

 

★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: March
Japanese Cypress (Hinoki) 檜Meaning: Indestructible, dignity, noble.
The origin of the name is it’s a tree that a Shinto shrine used so it is “the tree of spirit”. Another origin is it is a “tree of the sun” because it has the same pronunciation of sun in Japanese and sun also represents “supreme” and “the most ancient”.


★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: April
YamaSakura 山桜
Meaning: grin, elegance, affection.
Before the Meiji period, taking part in cherry blossom viewing means admiring Yamazakura. In Yamoto uta, Yamazakura was the preferred word of use to express the feeling of love and in the hearts of people who eagerly await the springtime.


★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: May
Cedar 杉
Meaning: magnificence, profundity, obedient.
The Japanese name of Cedar is derived from the meaning of “straight tree”. With roots deeply and firmly planted in the ground, the appearance of the cedar growing straight upwards can makes people feel a refreshing attitude to life.


★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: June
Camphor tree 樟
Meaning: patience, protection, vitality.
Camphor, which can protect clothing from insects, is made by distilling the branches and leaves of this tree.
This camphor is also the raw material for making Camphor injections, which the purpose is activate the contractile force of the heart.

　

★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: July
Horse chestnut 栃
Meaning: philanthropy, trust, peace of mind.
The horse chestnut is a tree that took root in east Japan mainly from long long time ago. The chestnuts which is similar to walnuts and acorns, is a food of Japanese people since Jomon period.



★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: August
Zelkova 欅
Meaning: sublime, splendid, harmony.
Because each individual Zelkova tree has different colors of autumn leaves (from red to yellow), it makes Zelkovas become beautiful roadside trees and provide a beautiful view to us.



★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: September
Magnolia obovata 朴
Meaning: sublime, gorgeous, harmony.
The leaves of magnolia trees are very big and the sweet smell have bactericidal action. Therefore it has been used as a substitute of tableware since ancient times.



★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: October
Chestnut 栗
Meaning: Fairness, sweetness, maturity.
Actually before the rice cultivation began, the Jomon people planted chestnut trees as a cornerstone of their peaceful lifestyle. Chestnuts have been cherished as a staple food of Japan since ancient times.



★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: November
Ginkgo 銀杏
Meaning: Longevity, wisdom, resurrection.
Although Ginkgo has a strong image of being a roadside tree and having beautiful yellow leaves, the ginkgo came to Japan from China as a medicine originally.



★Japanese precious wood Birthday Wood: December
Fir tree 樅
Meaning: Improvement, tenderness, compassion.
It is a tree that said to be the origin of the legend of Santa Claus and people used fir tree to prayed for people’s health.
Fir trees are still green in winter so it is a symbol of life and has been used to warding off evil spirits.