Significance of the Sakura Tree

Significance of the Sakura Tree

Introduction

The Sakura tree or cherry blossoms is a tree that highly signifies Japan, especially in the West. Many Japanese people visit the Sakura tree during the spring to see its blossom in a ceremony known as Hanami (LOC). Additionally, the tree is highly celebrated in much Japanese literature including poetry and art (LOC). As such, this tree is more than just a plant to the Japanese culture. We shall review the history of the Sakura tree and derive the meaning that the Japanese people assign to the tree.

Discussion

History

The name Sakura is Japanese for cherry blossoms. As such, Sakura refers to the flowers of the tree. The tree only blooms once a year and the common type of the tree is the Somei Yoshino (BBC). The Sakura tree is more than just a plant for the Japanese people. In the early Japanese times, the tree was used to indicate various seasonal changes and indications. For instance, Japanese farmers used the blossoming of the tree as an indication of the planting time for rice (Helferich). This is around the period of March to April and the season is short, lasting about fourteen days (BBC). In Japan, a fully bloomed flower is known as ‘mankai’ while a flower that is blooming is known as ‘kaika’. During ‘kaika’ farmers would prepare their crop beds and during ‘mankai’ would engage in sowing of rice seeds. Perhaps due to the significance of the flower as an indication of the planting time, the tree is often associated with hope, beauty, and life.

Hanami

The tree also has significance due to the celebratory nature that surrounded it. Hanami is a celebratory season associated with the blossoming of the flowers. The origins of the hanami festival have varying stories. ‘Hanami’ is Japanese for literally looking at flowers. Due to the significance of the tree to farmers, during the blossoming season farmers would give food offerings to ‘tanokami’ (Hiroshi). Tanokami is the Japanese god of the rice paddy (Hiroshi). To this extent, the name Sakura is believed to have come from the farmers’ practice. ‘Sa’ is the Japanese name for god. ‘Kura’ is the Japanese name for a pedestal that is used to honor gods with food offerings (Kawano). As such, the name ‘Sakura’ was used to signify the coming of the rice god during the blossom season.

In another story, it is believed that the ruling class of Japan would often have picnics and other exotic parties during the Heian period of 794 to 1185 (BBC) to celebrate the blossoming of the tree. Emperor Saga is believed to have held the first flower-viewing party in 1812 (Kawano). The party had all the pomp and color which included music, food, and poetry.

The picnics grew to flower-viewing parties which were called Hanami (BBC). With time, the culture spread to other parts of the community. The samurai were first to adopt the practice before it spread to other commoners which marked an annual tradition (BBC). As a result, there more trees that were planted by the community members to encourage the tradition of picnics and flower-viewing. Moreover, poets and other literary works people wrote about the tree to express the period and soon the tree was immortalized in literary work.

Sakura and Japanese Culture Development

The growth of Sakura and Hanami at this time was of great significance to Japanese culture. Japan had a long history of spying on the Chinese. The Japanese were more interested in the culture and technologies of the Chinese. As a result, the ‘ume’ or Japanese apricot was the most significant tree and flower in Japan due to its influence from the Chinese culture (Yoshida). However, during the Heian period, Japanese people ended this spying (Kawano). Due to this end, the Japanese were free to develop their culture. The Hanami became a vital part of this period of cultural development which set the premise for the development of Japanese culture (Kawano). As such, the Sakura and Hanami are vital parts of the Japanese culture’s origins.

Sakura and Death

Another significance that made the Sakura tree have great significance is its use in marking of graves. In Japan, cherry blossom trees are gigantic and have existed for hundreds of years. In the early days, the tree was used as a grave marker (Hiroshi). This marks a desire by people to spend eternity under the tree’s beauty. In this way, the cherry blossom tree came to be associated with the memories of loved ones. In modern-day, many headstones surround the tree which signifies the deep-held desire and tradition of using the tree as a grave-marker. The tree also has very short blooming periods, unlike other trees. Together with its use as a grave-maker, the tree is highly significant in reminding the people of Japan of mortality and the eventual destiny of all mankind.

The Sakura tree has also been used in Japan to glorify death. The tree has been used by the government, for as recent as the 1930s as a sign of glory for dying for the emperor (Helferich 5). The classic poems that were written about the tree were reinterpreted by the government to emphasize the glory of dying for the emperor is significant just as the flower withers within a short but spectacular period. The soldiers who died in service were assured that they would live on as gods in Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine. As such, the Yasukuni shrine has hundreds of Sakura trees that were planted to signify this glorification of fallen soldiers.

The Sakura tree has been found in very ancient Japanese texts. The Kojiki is a record of the ancient matters mostly being oral accounts that were recorded of the origins of Japan. The Kojiki has an account of the Sakura tree (Knott). In the Kojiki, the presence of the tree is mentioned to exist in the modern-day Osaka and the Southeastern Nara Prefecture (Yasumaro 244). The Nihon Shaki is another classical ancient text of Japanese culture where there is a direct mention of the Sakura tree (Knott).

Strengthening of the Sakura

Some events have had a significant effect on the significance of the Sakura tree and Hanami. In 1594, Hideyoshi had a Hanami party that was attended by about 5000 people in the Nara prefecture (Kawano). Another event was in 1598 led by shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Kawano). Hideyoshi was a powerful warlord at the time and became the most powerful man in Japan. Hideyoshi organized one of the most extravagant Hanami at the time. Hideyoshi was also heavily involved in tree planting activities of the Sakura tree in the capital of Japan, Tokyo.

Another leader, Yoshimune believed that the tree could stop flooding. The leader argued that the tree would attract lots of people. The people would walk around the riverside leading to compacting of the ground and as such, it would not easily be washed away (Kamano). This explains where numerous Sakura trees are found alongside rivers in Japan.

National Symbol

In the modern-day, the Sakura flowers have been elevated to the status of a national symbol. The 19^th century saw Japan begin to end its isolation period and opened up to many ideas from the outside (Helferich 2). During this period, the Meiji government promoted the Sakura as a symbol of loyalty to the emperor (Helferich 2). Sakura was also made to be a symbol of modernity and as such, was used as a symbol for diplomacy. As such, Sakura was displayed in several international exhibitions to represent the country and at times, used as a gift for welcoming dignitaries. This made the Sakura a sign of friendliness between Japan and other states.

To show the significance of the flower as a sign of friendliness, Japan donated some seeds to the United States in 1912 (Ghosts of DC). Under the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki,  Japan donated 3000 flowering cherry trees to the US. The first lady Helen Herron Taft and the Mayor of Tokyo’s wife planted the first trees together (Ghosts of DC). This is a signal that aimed at creating lasting friendships between the countries.

The Cherry Blossom Festival

In the US, the 3000 trees that were donated have led to the longstanding Cherry Blossom Festival. Every year, the 3000 trees donated by the Major of Tokyo in 1912 to the US is celebrated by the Washington and other participants (National Cherry Blossom Festival). The festival is a celebration of the enduring long-standing friendship between the people of Japan and the United States. The festival takes place for about four weeks and attracts more than one million people.

Threat of Extinction

The Sakura tree has faced near extinction due to the rapid modernization of Japan. As of 1926, Ingram – devote cherry lover – recounts that he was disappointed by the high rate that the trees had been cut down to pave way for industries (Helferich 4).  Japan had lost hundreds of the original Sakura tree varieties. The surviving was the Somei-Yoshino and was mainly due to its easy-to-propagate nature. One of the varieties that have been at a high risk of extinction is the Taihaku variety. However, efforts from Ingram saw the reintroduction of the Taihaku variety into Japan (Helferich 4).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sakura tree is highly associated with the Japanese people. As part of Japanese history, the Sakura tree has been able to shape the cultural practices of the people, especially through the Hanami. Now an internationally-celebrated culture, the Hanami is celebrated as the Cherry Blossom festival in the US. This festival still coincides with the spring period where the Sakura tree is known to fully bloom. The beauty of the flower has also been used by the Japanese people as a sign of friendliness and development of long-term friendships with other countries. However, just like other indigenous trees, the Sakura tree has been faced by the threat of deforestation and climate change. With its rich heritage, there is a need to have greater conservation measures especially for the rare varieties of the Sakura tree.

Images of Sakura Tree

 (Prykhodko)

 (Jabjainai)

Works Cited

BBC. “Cherry blossom: Why is it important to Japanese culture?” 2019. Web. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47816450

Ghosts of DC. “Japan Donates Cherry Trees To Dc.” 2014. Web. Retrieved from https://ghostsofdc.org/2014/04/23/japan-donates-cherry-trees-dc/

Helferich, Gerard. “The Sakura Obsession’ Review: New Life for a Tree.” 2019. Web. Retrieved from http://www.naokoabe.com/images/The_Wall_Street_Journal_pdf_version.pdf

Hiroshi, Takahashi. “Venerable Blossoms: Three of Japan’s Most Revered “Sakura”. 2017. Web. Retrieved from https://www.nippon.com/en/views/b05310/venerable-blossoms-three-of-japan%E2%80%99s-most-revered-sakura.html

Kawano, Kirsty. “The History of Hanami: Cherry Blossom Viewing Over The Ages.” 2020. Web. Retrieved from https://savvytokyo.com/history-of-hanami-cherry-blossom-viewing-over-the-ages/

Knott, Matthew. “Pretty in Pink: Cherry Blossom in Japan.” 2009. Web. Retrieved from https://www.historytoday.com/archive/pretty-pink-cherry-blossom-japan

LOC (Library of Congress). “Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship.” Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/cherry-blossoms/cherry-blossoms-in-japanese-cultural-history.html

National Cherry Blossom Festival. “Welcome To The Nation’s Greatest Springtime Celebration!” 2020. Web. Retrieved from https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/about-us/

Yasumaro, No. “The Kojiki: An Account of Ancient Matters.” Columbia University Press. New York

Yoshida, Reiji. “The centuries-old charm of Japan’s cherry blossoms.” 2016. Web. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/14/reference/the-centuries-old-charm-of-japans-cherry-blossoms/#.Xo4fBv0zbIU