Sakaki - Sakaki

Japanese: サカキ - さかき

An evergreen tall tree of the Theaceae family (APG classification: Sakaki family). Young branches are green, but turn brown from the following year. The leaves are entire, thin elliptical, 7-12 cm long, and grow flat on the left and right sides of the branches in two alternate rows. In summer, 1-4 flowers with stalks grow in the axils. There are five sepals and petals, and the numerous stamens are fused to the base of the petals. The ovary has 2-3 chambers and bears many ovules on the central placenta. In autumn, it bears spherical, black-purple berries. It grows in warm temperate forests, and is widely distributed from the Kanto region to Honshu westward, through Kyushu, and into Chugoku.

It is often planted in shrines and gardens. It is written as Sakaki because its leaves are green all year round, and the character Sakaki comes from its use in Shinto rituals. The wood is used for utensils, umbrella handles, chopsticks, and building materials.

In Tohoku and Hokkaido, where there are no Sakaki trees, the very similar Eurya japonica Thunb. is used in Shinto rituals instead. The bark of the Eurya japonica Thunb. is gray, the leaves are sawtoothed, it is dioecious, and the flowers are small. The Magnoliaceae Magnolia compressa Maxim. ( Michelia compressa Sarg.) also has leaves very similar to Sakaki, and is used in Shinto rituals in the same way.

[Akiko Sugiyama March 22, 2021]

In the APG classification, the genera Sakaki, Eucalyptus, and Trifolium are separated from the Theaceae family as the Pentaphylacaceae. The Japanese name for the family is sometimes Sakakiaceae, Trifolium, or Pentaphylacaceae. There are about 350 species in 12 genera, mainly in the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Africa, and America. Four genera are found in Japan.

[Editorial Department, March 22, 2021]

Folklore

Some shrines regard Sakaki as a sacred tree, and in the Iroha Jiruisho (Iroha Jiruisho) compiled by Tachibana Tadakane, it is said that Yoshida Shrine in Kyoto regards it as its deity. Also, from the Heian to Muromachi periods, when the monks of Kofuku-ji Temple made a strong appeal to the Imperial Court, they would enter Kyoto together with the priests of Kasuga Shrine, offering Sakaki as a tribute. "I came here in search of the fragrance of Sakaki leaves, and found eighty clan members living there in peace" (Kagura Uta), but the trees seen today have no scent. There is also a popular belief that Sakaki is effective in warding off evil spirits and treating illnesses.

[Tokihiko Oto March 22, 2021]

[References] | Ogatamanoki | Eastern Japanese laurel

Sakaki
The leaves are thin and oval, growing flat on the left and right sides of the branches. Young branches are green, but turn brown the following year. It is an evergreen tree that has been used in religious ceremonies since ancient times, and is often planted in the precincts and gardens of shrines. ©Seishohmaru ">

Sakaki

Sakaki flower
From June to July, the axils bear five-petaled flowers measuring 12 to 15 mm in diameter. They are white at first, but later turn yellowish. ©Seishohmaru ">

Sakaki flower

Sakaki fruit
A spherical berry measuring 5-9 mm in diameter. It ripens to a dark purple color in autumn. ©Seishohmaru ">

Sakaki fruit

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

ツバキ科（APG分類：サカキ科）の常緑高木。若枝は緑色であるが、次の年からは褐色となる。葉は全縁で細い楕円(だえん)形、長さ7～12センチメートル、枝の左右に平らにつき、2列互生である。夏、柄(え)のついた花を1～4個、腋生(えきせい)する。萼片(がくへん)、花弁ともに5枚、雄しべは多数で花弁の基部に合着する。子房は2～3室、中軸胎座に多くの胚珠(はいしゅ)をつける。秋、球形で黒紫色の液果を結ぶ。暖帯林中に生え、関東地方以西の本州から九州、および中国に広く分布する。

　神社や庭によく植える。栄樹と書くのは年中葉が緑色であるためで、榊の字は神道(しんとう)の神事に用いることによる。材は器具、傘の柄、箸(はし)などや建材とする。

　サカキのない東北、北海道では、よく似たヒサカキEurya japonica Thunb.を神事に代用する。ヒサカキは樹皮は灰色、葉は鋸歯(きょし)があり、雌雄異株で花は小さい。また、モクレン科のオガタマノキMagnolia compressa Maxim.（Michelia compressa Sarg.）は葉がサカキとよく似ており、同様に神事に用いる。

［杉山明子　2021年3月22日］

　APG分類ではサカキ属、ヒサカキ属、モッコク属などはサカキ科Pentaphylacaceaeとしてツバキ科から独立した。科名の和名はサカキ科またはモッコク科、ペンタフィラクス科とすることもある。アジア、アフリカ、アメリカの熱帯から亜熱帯を中心に12属350種ほどが知られる。日本には4属がみられる。

［編集部　2021年3月22日］

民俗

サカキを神木としている神社もあり、橘忠兼(たちばなのただかね)撰(せん)『色葉字類抄(いろはじるいしょう)』には、京都の吉田神社はこれを神体としているとある。また平安から室町時代にかけて、興福寺の僧徒らが朝廷に強訴(ごうそ)するときは、春日(かすが)神社の神人(じにん)とともにサカキを捧(ささ)げて京都に入ったという。「榊葉の香をかぐはしみ求(と)め来(く)れば八十氏人(やそうじびと)ぞ円居せりける」（神楽歌(かぐらうた)）というが、現在みられる木には香りはない。またサカキは、魔物除(よ)けや病気治療に効果があるという俗信がある。

［大藤時彦　2021年3月22日］

[参照項目] | オガタマノキ | ヒサカキ

サカキ

サカキの花

サカキの果実

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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