Kusudama "Gyo", Artificial flowers

The "Kusudama" was originally made during the Tango Festival to ward off evil spirits and contagious diseases. It contained medicinal herbs and spices and was decorated with artificial flowers. In the Unjo-ryu style there are three types: Shin (regular), Gyo (semicursive), and So (cursive). Tassels in two sets of six colors hang from the bottom of the ball to represent the twelve months of the year.
The "Gyo" is said to have been mostly employed by the court nobility. According to one's preference, a flat hexagonal wooden sheet is affixed with red-dyed silk and studded with flowers of different seasons. The types of flowers and their combinations are a matter of individual choice, and the stylistic variations are many.