Wand Woods: Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)

from The Encyclopedia of Japanese Wands

Black pine wands are lightweight and soft, but not especially durable if their owners neglect to perform regular maintenance on them. It is an excellent conduit of magic, producing consistent and stable spells.

The wielder of a black pine is malleable like the tree itself: adaptable to any situation and possessing of an enduring nature that perseveres through hardship without complaint. Although the black pine and its owner are unlikely to yield to outside forces no matter how much pressure is placed upon them, they are not especially stubborn about other matters.

Black pine is a common and versatile wand wood with no preference for one type of magic over another. It works well with any core except fox spirit whiskers.

About

One of the most commonly depicted pines in Japanese art where it is a symbol of longevity and a vehicle for the gods to descend from heaven. Black pines are often grown around shrines to mark their boundaries. It is also one of the most popular varieties featured in bonsai and Japanese gardens.

Although the black pine has less value as timber than the red pine, its resistance to salt and pollution makes it well suited to the sandy coastal areas to which it is native. It is highly susceptible to pinewood nematodes, however.

The softness of the wood makes the black pine well suited for fledgling wandmakers to practice on.

Etymology

黒松, more commonly written as クロマツ, literally means ‘black pine’.