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- Doon the Watter
- Dean Castle Arms and Armour
- Dean Castle Tapestries Collection
- The Boyds of Kilmarnock
- VE Day - 75th Anniversary
- Kilmarnock FC Through the Years
- The Dick Institute Auxiliary Hospital
- Ayrshire on a Postcard
- Lochlea Crannog
- Into the Archives: Dinosaurs of China, The Dick Institute, 1993
- Women's History Month
- Records of War - Photography and Letters from World War One
- World War I
- WWI - 1914-1918 - the Ayrshire Experience
- Sanquhar's Story - Words from the Great War
- The Battle of Loudoun Hill
- Moving Image: Seeing Things
- Disaster at Kames Colliery, Muirkirk
- Rowallan & the Earls of Loudoun
- Whatsits & Thingymejigs
- The Art of Ayrshire Needlework
- Hat Trick!
- Napoleon, Nelson and the Knight
- Historic Holiday- Clans, Tartans, and Edwardian Postcards
- Japan & South West Scotland
- When We Are Young
- Keir Hardie - 100 years on
- The Frank Gilruth Collection
- Witchcraft and Lore in South West Scotland
Japan & South West Scotland
The Importance of Nature
The Importance of Nature
Nature is an important aspect of Japanese culture. Shintō, the indigenous Japanese belief system, and Zen Buddhism both promote an appreciation of nature. Consequently, the Japanese are often said to live in harmony with nature.
Seasons
Japan has four distinct seasons, and the changing of the seasons is welcomed and celebrated. Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing parties, take place all over Japan. People gather with friends and family to picnic under the cherry blossoms. There are also full moon, autumn leaves, and snow viewing parties.
Flowers in Art
Ikebana (flower arranging) is a common hobby. Nature is often the main subject in poetry and is prominent in literature and art too. Many of the items in this exhibition, from kimono and inrō to sword guards and tea caddies, are decorated with flowers, trees, landscapes and other natural motives.
Flowers and trees can be featured in art for their symbolic meaning. The pine branches on the mirror and on the scroll of Jurōjin, represent longevity. Pine, plum and bamboo are believed to be lucky , and are called the three friends of winter. Plum is the first flower of the year to blossom, often when there is still snow on the ground.
However, flowers and trees are not always used symbolically. The autumn leaves on the pigeon scroll and the cherry blossoms in the Kuniyoshi print do not represent anything, but are there to be appreciated.
