Snow, Moon and Flowers (雪月花, setsu-getsu-ka or setsu gekka) is a Japanese expression and theme in art and design originating from a poem by Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi. [1] It became popular in the late Edo period. It is a Japanese metonym for beautiful sceneries in nature.
This threefold theme usually refers to the seasons of the year: [2] snow refers to winter, moon refers to autumn and flowers refers to spring. But one could also think it as representations of three whites: blue-white refers to winter, yellow-white refers to autumn and pink-white refers to spring.
Ukiyo-e artists liked to sell prints in series, sometimes even scrolls were painted to be hanged together. Artists liked to combine it with three women, three well known landscapes (moon always with reflecting water) etc.
"Snow, Moon and flowers" appear also as decoration on boxes, backside of traditional mirrors etc.
Katsukawa Shunshō (1726–1793) | Sakai Hōitsu (1761–1828) |
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from left to right: --- Sei Shōnagon (winter) ------- Murasaki Shikibu (autumn) ------------ Ono no Komachi (spring) |
Snow Moon Flowers |
Snow, Moon and Flowers (雪月花, setsu-getsu-ka or setsu gekka) is a Japanese expression and theme in art and design originating from a poem by Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi. [1] It became popular in the late Edo period. It is a Japanese metonym for beautiful sceneries in nature.
This threefold theme usually refers to the seasons of the year: [2] snow refers to winter, moon refers to autumn and flowers refers to spring. But one could also think it as representations of three whites: blue-white refers to winter, yellow-white refers to autumn and pink-white refers to spring.
Ukiyo-e artists liked to sell prints in series, sometimes even scrolls were painted to be hanged together. Artists liked to combine it with three women, three well known landscapes (moon always with reflecting water) etc.
"Snow, Moon and flowers" appear also as decoration on boxes, backside of traditional mirrors etc.
Katsukawa Shunshō (1726–1793) | Sakai Hōitsu (1761–1828) |
---|---|
![]() |
![]() |
from left to right: --- Sei Shōnagon (winter) ------- Murasaki Shikibu (autumn) ------------ Ono no Komachi (spring) |
Snow Moon Flowers |