Sakura, the cherry blossom and its symbology

In Science Daily Online we love Japanese culture, both its mythology and some of its fascinating beliefs about the destiny of people.

One of the greatest symbols Japan's cherry trees are .These trees emanate a special peace with their flowers and seem to carry with them all the Zen culture of the Japanese country. The Japanese cherry blossom is called Sakura (桜) and although it does not receive the honor of being the official national flower, it is undoubtedly the most characteristic flower of the country.It is also native to China and Korea.

The name of the flower comes from Saku, which literally means «to bloom», and ra, which in Japanese is the plural ending. Cherry blossoming marks the beginning of the spring and the celebration of the Hanami (花見) , tradition by which the Japanese flock to parks and gardens to contemplate the trees in bloom, sharing food and be bidas or reflecting under its shadow.

The cherry blossom, briefly flowering (usually detaches around 10 days after flowering), has always been allegorically associated with concepts of philosophy and doctrine.It has also been, in certain moments in history, a symbol used by the military ideology and today some other simpler symbolic associations have been added.

Cherry blossom symbolism

Sakura in Philosophy and Religion

Its importance finds its origin in the Shinto and Buddhist thinking, philosophical-religious bases of the Japanese country. Shintoism places the veneration of nature and its events in a central place. M while Buddhism attaches great importance to the consideration of the transience of life. The expiration of life is reflected in the period of flowering of the cherry trees, because its flowers have a fleeting existence and fall a week or two after its outbreak.

Sakura, the cherry blossom and its symbology

The beauty of the last stage tends to stand out, when the flowers come off.For Buddhists it is the most beautiful stage.This particular assessment is summarized in a phrase of Zen Buddhism: "Monkey no aware", which means having empathy or sensitivity towards all things and their temporality.

In addition to the transience of life, cherry trees also teach us the concept of rebirth, flowering, after having overcome obstacles or, rather, having transformed them.

Sakura in the military ideology

As we have already seen, cherry blossoms tend to fall very soon.The sakura flower is extremely delicate and with the slightest breeze it detaches and perches on the ground.As a result, you can enjoy the fullness of its beauty throughout the flowering of the cherry tree, because the flower does not have time to wilt in place.

Sakura, the cherry blossom and its symbology

Here we find its relationship with the samurai code of Japan and why the flower was even the emblem of the well-known warriors.The ultimate aspiration of the samurai is to comply with the guidelines of the Way (Do) and become a noble gentleman.His life must be austere, sustained by loyalty and the sense of duty, which are even above the instinct to preserve Life itself The samurai surrenders himself, without fear of death, in his moment of maximum splendor , at the height of his wisdom in the art of struggle, and does not age or "wither away", just as the cherry blossom does not wither on the tree, it falls on the zenith of its Beauty.

«When a samurai is constantly willing to die, he has attained the mastery of the Way and can dedicate, incessantly, his entire life to the service of his lord»

Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Sakura, the cherry blossom and its symbology

On the other hand, there are two varieties of cherry in Japan: one of white flowers and one of pale pink flowers.There is also a legend according to which in ancient times there was only the white Sakura variety, while the pink Sakura would have an origin associated with the samurai culture :

During the Meiji period (1868-1912) there were a series of armed uprisings against the new government and against the process of political and economic changes that it imposed. The samurai were gathering forces, regardless of their age, to face the regime that spoke to them He had taken the privileges and that, with his military modernization, he condemned them to disappearance.These fighting was extremely bloody and the samurai were finally liquidated during the Satsuna rebellion, putting an end to a caste of warriors Millennials: On the other hand, many of the women of the soldiers that remained in their homes during these clashes, upon notification of the death of their husbands, made the decision to take their own lives and, apparently , they always did it in front of a cherry tree. The red of the blood that the earth absorbed would have melted with the white of its flowers, thus emerging pink cherry trees.

Other associations : Current vision and Chinese symbology

Today, the flower represents innocence, simplicity and spring .While China differs from Japanese concepts and the flower is associated with beauty and female dominance, as well as sexuality Give also feminine.

Sakura, the cherry blossom and its symbology

What is clear is that Sakura is a flower with a lot of history and that it also gives off an almost fairy-tale beauty.If you visit Japan, consult the report of the Japanese meteorological agency and plan your travel at the right time to attend this show.If, if you decide to participate in the Hanami, get to the idea of what Sooin left us in the seventeenth century:

"By contemplating the flowers my neck hurts"

If you are interested in Japan and its botanical curiosities, we encourage you to discover its amazing tunnel of wisteria.

Images: CK Tse, Yoshikazu TAKADA, Mitchell Joyce, Terao Kaionin.Les Taylor, Lorianne DiSabato, Agustin Rafael Reyes

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