Uguisu

Measures 25 1/2" L x 17" W

This wallhanging was inspired from my deck of Korean playing cards they measure 2 1/8" x 1 3/8", I fondly remember playing this with my mother as a young adult.  In Korea the flower card game is called "Hwatu" ( 화투 ) which translates as "battle of flowers" another name for the game is "Go Stop".

The bird depicted in this wall hanging is a Japanese Bush warbler (Uguisu) English name Japanese Nightingale, which sits on the branch of a plum tree amongst the beautiful blossoms (Prunus mume), commonly known as ume or Japanese apricot. The tree originated in China and later was brought to Korea, Vietnam and Japan. The blooms have colouring ranging from white to rose to deep red.

The Nightingale is famous for it's beautiful song and is much depicted in Japanese poetry.

The plum blossom, which is known as the meihua (梅花), is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been much used in Chinese art and poetry for centuries. The plum blossom is a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring. The blossoms are so beloved because they are viewed as blooming most vibrantly admist the winter snow, exuding an ethereal elegance,while their fragrance perfumes the air at even the coldest times of the year. The plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope,also beauty, purity, and the transistoriness of life. In Confucianism, the plum blossom stands for the principles and values of virtue.