GIFT: Fuji no Maiko

HAPPY BIRTHDAY *Lems
I hope you like your little present <3!

Fuji no Maiko 「藤の舞妓」 literally means the maiko of the wisteria.

As symbols of love we see the wisteria in the 1820s Japanese kabuki drama Fuji Musume (Wisteria Maiden). The Wisteria Maiden is depicted in a painting holding a wisteria branch, until one day she becomes smitten with a young man and steps out of the painting in an effort to capture his attention. Here the wisteria meaning and symbolism speaks of love lost, but also of the ability for the heart to endure in spite of rejection. In other words, here the weeping wisteria expresses sorrow, but it is also an incredibly durable vine, able to live (even flourish) through mistreatment and harsh conditions.

We see more duality in love symbolism from the Victorian era, in which the language of flowers was quite intricate. The symbolism of wisteria in this age dealt a warning of clinging love and understanding that love is the fruit, but our obsession with it will be as choking as the vine.

The wisteria meaning deals with:
Honor
Memory
Patience
Endurance
Longevity
Exploration
Creative expansion
Releasing burdens
The duality of love
Victory over hardship

Okay so I put all that because there's actually a story behind this picture. I'll translate what is says in japanese so you have a better understanding.

日向ヒナタ - Hyuuga Hinata
舞妓 - Maiko
藤 - Wisteria (Fuji)
ヒナタの優しい目が彼を助けていた。- Hinata's gentle eyes saved him. (Hinata no yasashii me ga kare wo tasuketeita)
京都の祇園甲部 - Gion Kobu of Kyoto (Kyoto no Gion Kobu)
置屋．．．眠れる花 - Okiya… Sleeping Flowers (Okiya… NemureruHana)
しこみだった時に哀愁、悲嘆を感じていた。- When she was a house maid, she felt sorrow and grief. (Shikomidatta toki ni aishuu, hitan wo kanjiteita)
寂しく感じていた. - She felt alone. (Sabishiku kanjiteita)
苦しかった。- It was painful. (Kurushikatta)
しかし、彼女．．．サスケと出会えた。彼女が置屋に来てヒナタは初めて幸せだった。- But, she…met Sasuke. For the first time since she came to the Okiya, Hinta was happy. (Shikashi, Kanojo…Sasuke wo deaeta. Kanojo ga Okiya ni kite Hinata wa hajimete shiawasedatta)
ヒナタは舞妓だった時に彼女はサスケに向かって、彼女の気持ちの気付いていた。- She realized her feelings towards Sasuke when she was a maiko.

That's pretty much the summary of the story. But there are some aspects missing. I won't unclose as many details since I want to write this into a fanfiction. Can't give spoilers, can I?

Also, this may be taken as a remake and pimped up version of this --> [link] Changed pretty much everything, tho. In the earlier version the kimono was wrong, since I missed like 4 layers of juuban, naga juuban, etc. The Obi is COMPLETELY WRONG, since maiko actually use a darari obi (like the one in here) and I drew a kind of messed up version of a darari obi fabric with a taiko bow…madness. It was a weird mix between a yukata girl, geisha and maiko. Damn me, good thing I did my homework in here and got it right this time.

Also, every single part of the kimono was cut and pasted (I used some cute origami paper I bought in Japan 2 years ago). It was a pain in the back. Shadows were done with Copic Markers. Messed up the face tho...

*Lems, my dear. I am sorry I couldn't fit dear Sasuke anywhere xD this drawing practically took a mind of its own. You can appreciate his hand near the bottom (with Hinat's) and his name. If you want me to I can tell you more about the story, since is I ever find the courage to actually write it, I will totally blame you as what drove me into writing it. Want your opinion, hun!

Okay, enough ramble, enjoy this thing!

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Hyuuga Hinata & Co. © Masashi Kishimoto
Art and story © Me *Saladiita12
Gift © *Lems