Does anyone ask
what is the spirit of this land, Japan:
The blossoms of the mountain cherry
shine in the morning sun.
Norinaga Motoori
The rhythm of the seasons naturally follows the life of man. A blooming tree, a calm lake surface, the chirping of birds, the autumn richness of fruits, the purity of snow are scenes in nature that sometimes make us stop and admire them, feeling enriched.
The beauties of nature in Japan, on the other hand, are more than passing images, they are vividly present in their tradition and culture through spring celebrations of enjoying cherry blossoms, through summer harvest festivals and observing the trees dressed in autumn colors. However, the cherry blossom is the most carefully observed and it is not unusual to spend an entire day admiring its enchanting canopy.
While in Europe this tree from the rose family is loved for its refreshing fruits, in Japan it is primarily valued for its flowers. In Japan, there are more than two hundred varieties of cherry trees that do not bear fruit but are cultivated for their beautiful blossoms.
the beauty and splendor of the flower.
The cherry blossom is a welcoming sight in spring after a long and cold winter, and in its simple beauty, it has inspired emperors, princesses, artists, poets, and ordinary people of ancient Japan, becoming one of the main symbols of the Land of the Rising Sun.
In Japan, the cherry blossom is called sakura, and it encompasses numerous symbolic meanings such as life, death, bravery, sadness, happiness, femininity, and attitude towards life…
The cherry tree blossoms before it leaves and for a short period of seven to ten days, it enchants with its blooming canopies that color the sky and surroundings with white, delicate pink, yellow, light greenish, and bright red petals, bringing a touch of spring to the air. The branches of certain cherry tree varieties touch the ground like willow branches, creating an ethereal impression of a flower cloud.
According to one legend, the goddess Ko-no-hana-sakuya-hime is responsible for the cherry blossom blooming. She floats above the bare branches of cherry trees at the end of winter, and her presence causes the flowering. h be your warm breath and remind that it’s time to dress in the most beautiful floral dresses, it’s time to welcome the new year.
Sakura is a delicate flower of short life that symbolizes the transient nature of life, and scattered petals on the ground beneath the tree are reminiscent of snow disappearing with the first rays of sun. The blossoming cherry trees also resemble large clouds drifting through the sky, dispersing and disappearing, metaphorically symbolizing transience and impermanence, which are associated with the Japanese aesthetic ideal of mono no aware. This ideal has roots in Buddhism: the appearance and transience of things evoke a sense of joy and sadness that intertwine and transform into enriching experiences.
Scattered cherry blossom petals
on the waters of rice fields –
the starry sky.
Buson
The beauty and symbolic meaning of the cherry blossom are described in music and poetry, expressed in art. The concept of sakura represents in one word the beauty, strength, and significance of a single moment in nature.
How much we The Japanese respect and love the cherry blossom in their reserved way, expressing it in numerous ways, from the motif of the flower on the hundred yen coins, to paintings, hand-painted kimonos, fans, greetings cards, to drinking cherry blossom tea at wedding ceremonies and singing traditional songs in honor of the sakura. It is an indispensable motif in kabazaikuu, traditional Japanese art of making decorative boxes from cherry tree bark used for storing teas, tobacco, and personal items such as fans.
Cherry blossom is also a symbol of Japanese warriors. Therefore, the covers of samurai swords are often painted with cherry blossoms. For a samurai, the cherry blossom represents a life that can be abruptly interrupted, just like the wind carries away the petals of a cherry tree in full bloom. The life of a cherry tree is connected to the life of a samurai because while a cherry tree completes its life cycle within forty-nine weeks, a samurai’s life is also expected to be intense, yet fleeting. It lives and grows without noticeable changes, storing strength in its roots that enables it to display its full splendor in just three weeks at the beginning of spring, regardless of the fact that this beauty will be short-lived. And just like the cherry blossom surrenders to the spring wind, the samurai surrenders to the spirit of the cherry blossom through their battles.
Hanami – observing the cherry blossom
Reviving
so many memories:
cherry blossoms!
Basho
The Japanese express their special fondness for the cherry blossom in numerous occasions, most prominently through hanami, the custom of observing and enjoying the cherry blossom.
Hanami is a custom that originated in the early 8th century, when equal attention was given to observing the cherry blossom, sakura, and the plum blossom, ume. The roots of this custom can be traced back to Shinto religious practices, and over the centuries, it became more secular but remained deeply connected to Japanese tradition.
In the beginning, hanami was a privilege reserved for members of the imperial court and nobility. For the ceremony itself In the imperial gardens, careful preparation of the space around the cherry trees was underway. It was particularly important to ensure peace in order to truly participate in this magnificent natural moment. Hanami was an occasion for writing poetry, practicing calligraphy, playing instruments, and performing dances in which the dancers enhanced the moment with ceremonial movements. Additionally, special meals of rice, fish, and vegetables were prepared, and sake was served. Sometimes, the empress, accompanied by her court ladies, would leave the palace to peacefully watch the blooming of wild cherry blossoms in nature.
Over the centuries, this tradition was adopted by ordinary people. Today, hanami is an essential holiday celebrated by the Japanese with excursions into nature, visits to parks, and trips to temples to celebrate the arrival of spring under the blooming branches. During these weeks, beautiful evening festivities take place throughout Japan, when colored paper lanterns are lit under the blossoming branches, and families and friends gather.
Observing the blooming of cherry blossoms is It is so popular that during the bloom period, the Japanese meteorological service regularly reports to the public on sakura zensen, “blossom front,” i.e. the movement of the beginning of the bloom from the warmer to the colder part of the Japanese archipelago. Because the beauty of hundreds or thousands of blooming trees in one place, the beauty of canopies touching the tops of magnificent pagodas and temples is more than tradition and culture. It is a way to celebrate the connection between man and nature.
The hanami ceremony is popular outside of Japan as well. Opening up to the world, Japan has often gifted cherry trees as a symbol of peace and friendship. Today, famous plantations include the one along the Potomac River in Washington, and the plantation of ten thousand trees in Berlin, which the Japanese government gifted in 1990 as a memorial to the Berlin Wall.
Watching sakura and experiencing hanami is truly magnificent. Whether we get the opportunity under the splendid cherry orchards in Japan or under blossoming canopies in our own garden, the moment is unforgettable. It is a moment imbued with the beauty of nature that is worth pausing for and storing in a golden treasure chest of memories.