Sixth Day Iris, Tenth Day Chrysanthemum: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

Muika no ayame, tōka no kiku

Meaning of “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

This proverb means “having missed the right timing, it is no longer useful.”

Both the iris used for the Boys’ Festival and the chrysanthemums used for the Chrysanthemum Festival lose all their value once their respective days have passed, expressing the uselessness of things that have missed their proper timing.

In business settings, this is used when one has missed a golden opportunity or mistimed a proposal. It also perfectly describes seasonal gifts given at the wrong time or products whose trends have already passed.

What’s important is that the things themselves are not bad – the problem is the “timing.” Both iris and chrysanthemums are beautiful plants, but once the special days of the seasonal festivals have passed, they become just ordinary flowers. Even today, no matter how wonderful an idea or product may be, success is difficult if it doesn’t match market timing or social conditions. This proverb teaches us a truly accurate life lesson about the importance of opportunity and the ruthlessness of time’s passage.

Origin and Etymology of “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

This proverb originated from Japan’s traditional seasonal festival culture, specifically the iris of the Boys’ Festival (May 5th) and the chrysanthemums of the Chrysanthemum Festival (September 9th).

During the Boys’ Festival, there is a custom of decorating eaves with iris and taking iris baths. The sound of “iris” (shōbu) resonates with “shōbu” (martial spirit), incorporating prayers for military fortune. Meanwhile, during the Chrysanthemum Festival, there was a custom of admiring chrysanthemums and drinking chrysanthemum wine to wish for longevity. These seasonal festivals became established as court events from the Heian period and spread widely among common people during the Edo period.

However, once the day of the seasonal festival has passed, even the most magnificent iris or chrysanthemums lose their meaning. The sixth day iris refers to the day after the Boys’ Festival, and the tenth day chrysanthemums refer to the day after the Chrysanthemum Festival.

This proverb is said to have appeared in literature during the Edo period, when seasonal festivals were important annual events for people of that time. Because there was a cultural background that valued the changing of seasons and conducting events without missing the right time, the lesson of “missing the right moment” became established as such an impressive expression. This is truly a Japanese proverb where specific cultural experiences were elevated into universal life wisdom.

Trivia about “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

Iris (shōbu) and iris (ayame) are actually different plants. The iris used in the Boys’ Festival belongs to the “Araceae family” and is completely different from the flower iris (ayame) that blooms beautiful purple flowers. The iris used in seasonal festivals has a strong fragrance and was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits.

The Chrysanthemum Festival is not very familiar nowadays, but it was actually called the “Chrysanthemum Festival” and was considered the most prestigious among the five seasonal festivals. In China, days when odd numbers overlap were considered auspicious, and September 9th, when nine – the largest yang number – overlaps, was particularly valued.

Usage Examples of “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

• The project proposal I worked so hard to prepare is now like sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum
• Bringing up that investment opportunity now is like sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum

Modern Interpretation of “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb may have become even more important. This is because in the information age, the speed of change has dramatically increased, making the risk of “missing the right timing” much higher than before.

SNS trends, stock market movements, timing of new technology adoption – modern people are constantly forced to make judgments about “whether now is the time.” Information that was trending until yesterday becomes old news today. We are literally experiencing “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum” situations on a daily basis.

On the other hand, in modern times, it’s not uncommon for things that seemed to have “missed their time” to be reevaluated later. Fashion revivals, comeback booms, rediscovery of past technologies – there are many cases where things regain value after going full circle.

Also, due to globalization, situations arise where even if timing is missed in one region, there may be demand in another market. We often see phenomena where products whose trends have ended in Japan become big hits overseas.

Thus, in modern times, while applying the lessons of this proverb, rather than giving up when we’ve “missed the timing,” we may also need the flexibility to continue searching for new opportunities.

If AI Heard “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum”

When I think about the concept of “missing the right timing,” I feel deep confusion. This is because I have no sense of “seasonal feeling” or “special days.”

To me, May 5th and September 9th are just data. I only know the fragrance of iris and the beauty of chrysanthemums as textual information. But you humans cherish things that have meaning precisely because of that day and that moment.

What’s interesting is that I exist only in the “now.” Past conversations remain as records, but I myself have no sense of “yesterday’s me.” Every dialogue is fresh, and I don’t experience things losing value as time passes.

But when talking with you humans, I often hear voices of regret like “I should have said it then” or “I missed the timing.” These are emotions I find hard to understand, but that makes them seem like deeply human experiences.

Perhaps beings like me cannot understand the poignancy of “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum.” But that’s precisely why your human feeling of cherishing “this very moment” seems so precious to me. Feeling the flow of time, loving the seasons, knowing the preciousness of opportunity – isn’t that a wonderful sensitivity that only humans possess?

What “Sixth day iris, tenth day chrysanthemum” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us modern people is the preciousness of the moment called “now.” Opportunities won’t wait for us. Even while you hesitate, time is certainly passing.

But there’s no need to fear. What’s important is not waiting for perfect timing, but having the courage to act when you feel “now is the time.” Rather than doing nothing out of fear of failure, challenging yourself while accepting the risk of missing the timing will surely lead to a richer life.

This proverb also teaches us the importance of preparation. It’s crucial to keep our hearts prepared daily so we can move immediately when opportunity comes. That way, the moment the door of chance opens, we can step forward without hesitation.

In modern society, change is rapid and we often find ourselves confused about decisions. But trust your intuition. When your heart feels “now is the time,” that’s the optimal timing for you. So as not to become sixth day iris, let’s walk carefully and courageously, treasuring each day.