Seasonal Creature: Cho (Butterfly)
May 22, 2015An auspicious symbol being thought as taboo: Cho (Butterfly)
Here is a Japanese poem "Tanka" compiled in "Kokin Wakashu (an anthology compiled with the taken of order by emperors and retired emperors in the Heian period (8-12c))", composed by Soujou Henjou.
"Chirinureba Atowa akutani Naruhanawo Omoishirazumo Madou choukana"
Interpretation: Although the flowers become just dust once they fall, butterflies that don’t know about that fly around in search of flowers.
Gorgeous butterflies such as a swallowtail can be seen in early summer. Changing from larva to pupa, pupa to beautiful imago, the butterfly has always been mysterious in all ages. What did the butterfly mean to people since ancient times?
Translation: Hitomi Kochi, reviewed by Chan Yee Ting
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