Benibana: Yamagata's Golden Flower

In the summer, Yamagata's mountains and fields are filled with brilliant orange blossoms. This unassuming, 3-4 foot-tall flower is the source of one of Japan's most brilliant dyes. Kurenai, a deep crimson-colored dye, was once so coveted, it was said to be more valuable than gold. Whatever the case, the benibana has had a long and fascinating history in Japan.

Benibana, or safflower, belongs to the chrysanthemum family of plants. It bears a striking resemblence to a thistle, and even has sharp thorns on its leaves. It is thought to have orginated in Egypt, or along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It was harvested chiefly for its dying properties, but also found uses in culinary arts for its dying properties and its oil-rich seeds.

The Benibana moved south with Arab traders into India, where its dye was used to color fine cloth and as a substitute for the expensive spice saffron. Benibana acquired the name "false saffron" because of this use. At this same time, traders took benibana with them along the Silk Road and into China. The Chinese adored the red dye that could be extracted from the flower petals, and used it to make brilliant silk garments. By the 7th century CE, benibana had made its way to Japan, and, along with many other parts of Chinese culture, completely won over the Japanese.

While benibana was considered an overall useful plant, its dyes were what the nobility coveted the most.  Court officials craved the red and crimson robes.  Multi-layered silk kimonos were coveted for their brilliance and for their suggested therapeutic properties.  Underwear dyed with benibana was reputed to keep the body warm.  The precious red lipstick made from its seed oil was used during wedding ceremonies, and still is used at special occasions.  The lipids from the seeds are well suited for keeping skin moisturized.  Used medicinally, benibana is reputed to help blood circulation, ease menstrual pains, and help reduce fever.

Due to its high demand in the imperial court, benibana was cultivated in the hills of northern Japan.  Yamagata seemed to be an area particularly well-suited for benibana cultivation.  Its rolling hillsides, cold winters, and moderate rainfall were perfect.  The rich feilds along the Mogami River proved most successful.  Farmers set up their fields and began producing benibana dye, which was then shipped down the river down the coast of the Sea of Japan, over Lake Biwa, and to the capitol in Kyoto.

In time, as the dye became more valuable due to an increase in demand, armed farms began to emerge.  The shogun in Edo allowed farmers to hire armed guards to protect their crops.  Farms erected high walls and dormitories for their hired gaurds.  The protected conglomerates continued producing benibana yearly, and shipped thier product ot Kyoto.  Ships would return with goods from the capitol, many of which have remained in the hands of Yamagata families.

(to be continued...)

Click here to see the photo I took of benibana while traveling in Nagano Prefecture.

Links:

There isn't much information on Benibana in English (apart from its uses in the oil and bird seed markets).  Still, I have collected a few interesting links that are worth checking out.

--Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture, where benibana are still farmed and harvested.  It has information on the history of benibana and pictures of thye step-by-step process of making beni-zome, or safflower dye.
--Chapter 6 - The Safflower (Suetsumuhana), links to a site at Cornell that shows an image from a  illustrated scroll of 'The Tale of Genji', and contains a description of the picture.

I also have a few good sources in print, but they're in Japanese.  If you're interested, please e-mail me.  I'll be happy to send some information your way.

back to 'Glimpses'.