Hard Times - Kurara

Japanese: 苦参 - くらら

〘Noun〙① A perennial plant of the legume family. It grows in the mountains and fields of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The stems grow to about one meter in height and are covered with short hairs. The leaves are pinnately compound, consisting of 10 to 18 pairs of narrow, oblong leaflets about two to three centimeters long, arranged alternately. In June, flower stalks grow to about 20 centimeters in length at the tips of the stems and branches, and produce numerous clusters of small, pale yellow-green , butterfly- shaped flowers. The fruits are cylindrical pods with narrow necks, about seven centimeters long. The dark red flowers are called murasakikurara. The dried roots are called kujin , and when boiled, they are used as a stomachic, diuretic, antipyretic, and roundworm repellent. In the past, fibers were extracted from the bark to make paper and fabric. The Japanese name is said to come from the fact that licking the juice from the roots is so bitter that it makes people dizzy. Chinese name: kujin. Fox offering. Kusaenju. Season: Autumn. [Shinsen Jikyo (around 898-901)] *Yamagashu (late 12th century) "Kurara rests on the ridge of the desolate Sawada rice field, and there is no way to wait for autumn." ② Used as an analogy for bitter things. *Joruri, Nasuyoichi Saikai Suzuri (1734) 3 "Kurara's reply to bitter words"

Ku-shin [painful suffering]

〘Noun〙 Old name of the plant "Kurara (Kurara)". Also, its dried root. Used for medicinal purposes. ※Bunmeihon Setsuyoshu (Muromachi period) "Kurara Kushin" [Honsho Komoku - Herbal section - Kurin - Collection]

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① マメ科の多年草。本州、四国、九州の山野に生える。茎は高さ一メートルぐらいになり、全体に短毛が生える。葉は一〇～一八対の狭い長楕円形で、長さ二～三センチメートルほどの小葉からなる羽状複葉で互生する。六月頃、茎の先端や枝先に花柄を伸ばし長さ二〇センチメートルほどになり、小さな淡黄緑色の蝶形花を多数総(ふさ)状につける。果実はくびれのある円柱形の莢(さや)で長さ七センチメートルぐらいになる。花の暗紅色のものをムラサキクララという。根を乾燥させたものを苦参(くじん)といい、煎じて健胃・利尿・解熱・回虫駆除薬などとする。古くは皮から繊維を取り、紙や織物とした。和名は、根汁を舐(な)めると目がくらむ（くららぐ）ほど苦いということによるという。漢名、苦参。きつねのささげ。くさえんじゅ。《季・秋》〔新撰字鏡（898‐901頃）〕※山家集（１２Ｃ後）中「荒れにける沢田の畦にくららおひて秋待つべくもなきわたり哉」② 苦いことのたとえにいう。※浄瑠璃・那須与市西海硯（1734）三「苦い詞にくららの返答」