The Lively and Dramatic Cherry Blossoms of Japan: What Do They Symbolize?

They say follow the customs when settling in a new place, and for me, since 2000, seeing the cherry blossoms in March has become a yearly habit.

I remember the day I arrived was March 25th, which was the time when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Huge, fluffy cherry blossoms, blooming all over the branches, reflecting against the azure sky, incredibly brilliant. Especially when they were at their peak, a gentle breeze would rustle the petals, causing them to dance in the wind, like a pink snowfall. But the snowflakes were pink.

I've seen cherry blossoms in many places in Japan, including Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Yoshino, Nagoya, Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Park, Ueno Toshogu Shrine in Taito-ku, and Shinjuku's Koishikawa Korakuen Garden. I've seen them with daytime light, illuminated at night, under sunny skies, under rain, with varying degrees of bloom – from three-quarters open to fully open, with single-petaled and double-petaled varieties, in shades of pale pink and bright pink. However, their flowering period is so short, usually only a week to ten days, and a sudden storm can cause them to fade away completely, leaving only a carpet of fallen petals, turning to dust like they were telling someone of their former glory.

Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan, and it's clear how much the Japanese people love them. I've always wondered why they like this flower that blooms and fades so quickly, and doesn't bear fruit, seemingly having little practical use, but they've chosen it as their national flower.

A Japanese friend told me that the Japanese appreciate this short, fleeting bloom and fade because it's dramatic and beautiful, giving a sense of melancholy.

The Japanese also have a fondness for pink. Girls like pink, and things they like are often made in pink. They don't particularly favor primary colors like red and green, but prefer shades of pink between red and white. The color of the cherry blossoms perfectly suits their aesthetic.

The Japanese place great importance on life and death. Life is important, and death is the process of life ending. The Japanese don't mind cemeteries and temples, and many houses are built next to them. It seems unbelievable to foreigners. Their temples typically have cemeteries and bone-reposing halls. They believe that ancestors will protect their descendants. The blooming and fading of cherry blossoms symbolize the Japanese attitude toward life and death.