2026/05/08 23:43
五月の京都は、眩しいほどの新緑が街を駆け抜けていきます。
花札の五月の札は、「菖蒲に八橋」。
しかし、この一枚には、単なる季節の描写にとどまらない、
「いずれが菖蒲（あやめ）か、杜若（かきつばた）」の深意
よく「いずれがアヤメかカキツバタ」と言われますが、
では、なぜあえて「菖蒲（あやめ）」と呼び習わされてきたのか。
それは、古来より日本人がこの青紫の揺らぎを、
境界線を越える「八橋」の魔法
十点札に描かれたジグザグの橋――「八橋（やつはし）」。
これは平安時代の古典『伊勢物語』
八橋は、単に川を渡るための道具ではありません。
「あちら側」と「こちら側」、あるいは「過去」と「未来」
ARTRADのアート花札をよく見てください。
伝統的な図案の静寂を破るように、
指先が知る、100年の重み
手に取ったとき、あなたの指先に触れるのは、
一枚の札を眺めることは、
季節を「読む」愉しみを
伝統工芸は、ショーケースの中で眠るものではありません。
季節が巡るたびに、その月の札を飾り、
次に水辺で青紫の花を見かけたとき、あなたの心の中にはどんな「
五月の風とともに、この「菖蒲に八橋」の物語を、
京都アート花札
https://www.artrad.jp/items/103192886
Vol. 7: The Allure of the “Yatsuhashi” Crossing Borders—Rebooting Tales of Love and Journeys in the May Iris.
Hello, this is Hiroshi Yasukouchi from ARTRAD KYOTO.
In May, Kyoto is swept by a rush of dazzling new greenery. Along with the breeze of the "May Fair Weather" (Satsuki-bare) and the traditional Boys' Festival, the season is colored by the cool blue-purple of flowers blooming at the water’s edge—the Iris (Ayame), the star of the May Hanafuda card.
The May Hanafuda card depicts "Iris and the Yatsuhashi (Zigzag Bridge)."
However, this single card holds more than just a seasonal depiction; it conceals a narrative of "Love and Journeys" that has been etched into the Japanese heart for over a thousand years.
The Depth of "Which is the Ayame, which the Kakitsubata?"
In Japan, there is a famous saying: "Izure ga Ayame ka, Kakitsubata"—meaning "both are so beautiful it is impossible to choose between them." Botanically, it is widely believed that the flower depicted in Hanafuda is actually the Kakitsubata (Rabbit-ear Iris), as Ayame grow on dry land while Kakitsubata thrive in water.
So why has it been traditionally called "Ayame" in the world of Hanafuda?
Perhaps it is because, since ancient times, the Japanese people have cherished the shimmering blue-purple flowers not through rigid classification, but as a "poetic atmosphere" reflecting the heart. Beauty expands when we allow things to remain undefined. This is the essence of "Iki" (sophistication) that we value at ARTRAD.
The Magic of the “Yatsuhashi” Crossing Borders
The zigzag bridge depicted on the ten-point card is the "Yatsuhashi."
This motif originates from a scene in the Heian-period classic The Tales of Ise. The protagonist, believed to be the poet Ariwara no Narihira, found himself deep in a journey, longing for his wife left behind in the capital. He composed a famous poem where the five syllables of "Ka-ki-tsu-ba-ta" began each line, capturing the profound solitude of travel.
The Yatsuhashi is not merely a tool for crossing a river.
It is a symbol of a borderline—connecting "that side" with "this side," and "the past" with "the future."
Look closely at the Yatsuhashi in our Art Hanafuda.
Contemporary colors accentuate the bridge's silhouette, breaking the silence of the traditional design. It is a bridge of quiet rebellion, stretching from the "shore" of tradition toward the "new frontier" of modern art.
The Weight of a Century in Your Fingertips
When you hold it, what you feel is the physical "weight" of the Washi paper, meticulously layered by craftsmen. This is the "Goushi" (lamination) technique preserved by the artisans of Tamura Shogundo. Its crisp, solid texture is nothing less than the "layers of time" polished over many years.
To gaze at a single card is to embark on a journey through time and space, feeling the breeze of the Heian era.
The Joy of "Reading" the Seasons
Traditional crafts should not sleep inside a showcase.
Every time the seasons change, you display the card of the month and share the stories hidden within. Such moments of "play" add color and depth to our lives.
The next time you see blue-purple flowers by the water, what kind of "bridge" will be built in your heart?
Along with the May breeze, please savor the story of the "Iris and Yatsuhashi" in the palm of your hand and within your daily life.
Kyoto Art Hanafuda
