Chinese Wall Fans :: Prosperity Blossoms

All things have a story...

The cherry blossom, also known as the sakura, is a floral favorite in Asia and many places around the world. The Chinese were the primary influence in bringing the cherry blossom to Japan, which occurred around 700 AD. For the Chinese, the cherry blossom tree represents beauty and the feminine or yin side of life. The Japanese, however, look at the cherry blossom, or sakura, as symbolizing the transient nature of life. This is due to the short blooming season of the pink cherry blossoms.

Additionally, it can be said that the Japanese see the sakura as being a living metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. This concept has a strong tie-in with Buddhist beliefs and the Japanese call it “mono no aware” (mo-no no a-wa-re). It means a transient life and a bittersweet feeling for the passing or death of something and was coined in the 18th century. The dramatic blooming of a Japanese cherry blossom flower with its extreme beauty, short life and unfortunate demise have made it something the Japanese like to use in their films, manga, anime, artwork and musical performances.

Cherry blossom are celebrated in Japan and are a sign of love, affection, prosperity and good fortune. So important are sakuras to the Japanese, that during World War II, their pilots would paint them on their planes before embarking on kamikaze missions. The Japanese government told its people that downed soldiers or warriors would reincarnate as beautiful cherry blossom flowers. And through the centuries, when Japan conquered a foreign land, they often planted cherry blossom trees as a way of claiming the new land and making it theirs.

In 1912, Japan presented the U.S. with over 3,000 sakura trees as a gift. The trees were mostly planed in New York and Washington D.C. The attractive pink cherry blossom tree written about here still continues to dazzle people today. One can see them walking through certain parks in Japan, China, Korea, or the U.S. There is little doubt that the sakura tree will remain a favorite of people all over the world and marveled for its brilliant pink flowers. Most cherry blossoms reach full bloom in early spring and they endure throughout the year in the myriad number of art pieces that portray their stunning beauty.