floral raft; flower petals floating on water
Poetic image of flower petals fallen on water, resembling a raft. Used in traditional Japanese poetry and seasonal descriptions.
A floral raft is drifting on the spring stream.
Helwingia japonica (shrub)
A shrub species native to East Asia. The name comes from the way its flowers appear to float on the leaves like a raft. Usually written in katakana as ハナイカダ.
Helwingia japonica is a shrub that grows in mountainous forests.
oily perfume used under white makeup (archaic)
Archaic term for a scented oil applied beneath white face powder, historically used in traditional Japanese cosmetics.
In Edo-period makeup techniques, 花筏 was sometimes applied under white face powder.
Standard kanji spelling for the poetic image and the plant name.
Katakana spelling is usual for the plant name.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but seen in some contexts.
Literally 'flower raft'. The poetic sense comes from the visual resemblance of scattered petals on water to a raft. The plant name derives from the same image, as its flowers appear to float on the leaves. The archaic cosmetic term likely refers to the way the perfume spread like floating petals.