Symbol of Japanese culture
Today, literally anyone can answer the question of what is sakura. At the end of March and beginning of April, there is a lot of talk about this. Everyone has heard more than once that a real miracle happens for the Japanese in the spring - sakura blossoms. Beautiful white and pink clouds of flowers cover gardens and squares.
What is sakura for the Japanese and why is it so dear to them? Let's try to figure it out.
This Japanese cherry has long been rightfully considered a true symbol of this oriental culture, and its flowering in Japan is a favorite holiday. Sakura has long been sung in poems and songs, flaunts in the paintings of the best artists. Many Japanese dances are dedicated to her.
Agricultural holiday
Some historians believe that the cult of sakura arose a very long time ago in connection with the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. The fact is that just the beginning of April, the Japanese consider the arrival of real spring. At this time, soft pink and white flowers of the local cherry blossom. It was believed that the more magnificent they bloom, the fuller and more generous it will be.harvest. Therefore, some even talked to the trees, danced to them and sang songs in order to appease them and thereby provide themselves with food for the next year.
Communication with ancestors
If you ask the majority of Japanese about what sakura is, almost all of them will answer that it is the abode of the souls of their ancestors. These people believe that admiring the beautiful flowers, they communicate with their dead relatives, ask them for grace for earthly life, feel unity with them.
The transience of life
For many Japanese who lived a little richer than ordinary farmers, the answer to the question: "What is sakura?" would be a little different. They consider it a symbol of the inexorable transience of life. The Japanese cherry tree blooms for only five to seven days, after which it sheds pale pink petals on young grass and asph alt paths. Many people think that sakura is a semblance of human life: it is just as beautiful, but just as short.
Some Facts
Modern breeders already know more than one hundred and fifty varieties of sakura, which differ in color, flower splendor, different climatic preferences, etc. Any guide to Japan will draw your attention to the fact that most of these varieties do not bear fruit, but simply deliver in the spring aesthetic pleasure for humble contemplators.
In our latitudes, in natural conditions, meeting sakura is quite problematic, even rather impossible. The flowers of our bird cherry are very similar to its delicate buds. However, we havefor some reason no one wants to go to the forest and admire the white fragrant flowers.
When talking about what sakura is, one should also mention the concept of "hanami". This is a whole movement (if you like, teaching or process) of admiring flowers in Japan. When these or other beautiful creations of nature bloom, the locals gather around them and have fun family picnics. There they eat and drink wine, communicate with relatives, say kind words to each other or simply remain silent, looking at the soft pink clouds of flowers, paying tribute to nature and beauty.
Unfortunately, our society has a slightly different idea of picnics.
