※This article was published at November 2014.※
The dianthus is a charming pink flower that blooms from late summer to autumn.
It has five petals characterized by fine, threadlike edges.
It is one of Japan’s Seven Autumn Flowers that are viewed for their elegance, and the fact that Japanese people have been fond of this flower since long ago is reflected by its appearance in classics of Japanese literature such as Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leave) and Makura no Soshi (The Pillow Book).
The name of the flower in Japanese, nadeshiko, comes from the word naderu, meaning to stroke or pet, because the petiteness and charming color makes you want to stroke it like a small child. Because it blooms for a relatively long period of time compared to other flowers, it was also called tokonatsu (everlasting summer) in Japanese in the past.
While there are many types of dianthus plants, one of the most common types growing in the field, mountains, and riverbanks of Japan is the dianthus superbus, called kawara nadeshiko in Japanese.
Becuase this name kawara nadeshiko was similar to word kara nadeshiko used to designate dianthus chinensis that had come over from China during the Heian period, the native species dianthus superbus was then generally referred to as yamato nadeshiko in order to distinguish it.
As you may know the phrase yamato nadeshiko is used to refer to the idealized beauty of Japanese women.
While the pale pink color of the flower may be deceiving, in fact this is a strong flower that blooms for a long time.
These qualities are similar to the idealized beauty of Japanese women, consisting of an understated and dignified beauty, and for this reason the word yamato nadeshiko is used as word of praise.
In addition, in the language of flowers, this flower embodies the pure ideas such as pure love and yearning, as it is an elegant flower associated with a sense of sweetness, suppleness, and strength.
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