Cherry Blossoms and Japanese Culture

-By Mark Olson.

敷島の
大和心を
 人問はば
 朝日に匂ふ
 山桜花

The poem above was written by Motoori Norinaga (1730–1801).  A loose translation reads "If someone asks about the spirit of Japan, it is the flowers of mountain cherry blossoms that are fragrant in the rising sun.".  These words shows the importance of cherry blossoms in Japanese culture.

Cherry blossoms only bloom over a short period of weeks each spring.  Of course, the blossoms are very beautiful.   Because of the short duration of the blossoms, when Japanese people view the flowering cherry trees, they are reminded of the transience of life.

Next weekend, I will write more about cherry blossoms.  Please look forward to it.

Mark

その和歌は本居宣長を書きました。英語の翻訳”"If someone asks about the spirit of Japan, it is the flowers of mountain cherry blossoms that are fragrant in the rising sun." その言葉は桜が日本文化の大切物とわかる。
毎年の春に二週間だけ桜を咲く。もちろん、桜の木はとてもきれいです。そうですから、日本人は桜を見えば、人生の無常をしみじみと感じる。

来週の週末に、桜についてもと書きます。お楽しみ下さいね！

 (This is a photo I took when the cherry blossoms were blooming this year in Washington, DC.
This year (2012) was the one hundredth anniversary of the Japanese government giving cherry trees to the city.)