Damien Hirst returns to the floral patterns for which he is so well known, but this time through the appropriation of historical Japanese forms and narratives. Bushidō: The Soul of Japan, published in 1900 by Nitobe Inazō, takes as its subject matter the Samurai code of ethics and translates it for a Western audience. In Nitobe’s account, this code is divided into eight virtues, which are responsible for customs such as the tea ceremony and behaviour like tranquillity even in the face of danger. Drawing on this ancient code, Hirst draws on the Western stylistic movements of Impressionism, Pointillism, and Action Painting to explore the joy and beauty of Spring and new life while also suggesting their ephemerality.