Red Spider Lily, or Higan Bana ( Manjushage)

Recently, the third week of September is becoming to known as “Silver week” in Japan. The reason is that there are two national holidays in the third week. In Japan, a week with consecutive holidays in May is known as “Golden week”. So the long national holiday week in autumn became known as Silver week, as an opposite to the Spring holiday season.

22nd or 23rd September is Autumnal Equinox. Yes, just as Vernal Equinox day, the length of day and night are equal. If we look from astronomical point of view, it is just another day.

In Japan, Autumnal Equinox is known as Ohigan, when many people visit family grave and pay tribute to the loved ones. There are various articles on Ohigan on the internet, so I will refrain from further explanation.

Around Ohigan season, you might see flower called Red Spider Lilly, known as Higan bana (literary means "flower on he other side of river leading to Buddhist heaven) in many areas of the country. It is bright red flower, looks a little like Chrysanthemum. It has another name, which is "Manjushage".

When I was a child, I was told to stay away from the flower as it is poisonous. Adults mentioned that the flower is related to death.

There are many reason why the flower used to be known in association with death.

One is related to Buddhism. The heaven offered this flower to Buddha while he was preaching. The flower from the heaven is called Manjushage, in Sanskrit “manjusaka”. Manjusaka is an imaginary flower, and some theory said they were white flowers. As Buddhism came to Japan from China, manjusaka was given a meaning of “Red flower” through Chinese influence.

Another reason is its poisonous nature. The bulb of Higan bana is poisonous, but it is edible if poison is washed away properly in water. The flowers were planted by rice fields and graveyards to keep vermin away, such as mice, foxes or weasels (They might eat offerings to graveyards) Also, in old time, the flowers were planted as an emergency food supply during famine. So the flower were planted and tended as an important food supply during emergency, at the same time people were shunned away from the flower due to its poisonous nature. (quote from Shumijikan)

Today, the Higan bana no longer holds negative meaning, and many people visit parks and admire a field full of the flower. Kinchakuda in Hidaka city, Saitama prefecture boasts 5 million of Higanbana blooming under the cool and crisp autumn air. There are many other places to see the flower, by rice fields and temples. Recommended to visit there when Covid is over and the weather is good.