EDO PERIOD (EARLY-MID 18TH CENTURY)

Kikujido was a favourite attendant of the Chinese King Mu. One of his rivals reported him to the King for inadvertantly touching one of his couch cushions with his foot. Before exiling him to a distant valley, where chrysanthemums grew in profusion, the Emperor taught him "a sentence of Buddha, to keep him safe". In order that he should not forget them, Kikujido drew the characters on chrysanthemum petals. When the morning dew washed the magic characters away the elixir of everlasting youth was formed.