roguejuror
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The cherry is called in the Japanese language "sakura," which is generally believed to be a corruption of the word "sakuya" (blooming) from the name of Princess Kono-hana-sakuya-Hime, who is enshrined on the top of Mt. Fuji. This long name literally means "tree-flowers-blooming-princess," for the cherry was so well known in those early days in Japan that the flower meant nothing but the cherry. This princess was so named because, it is said, she dropped from heaven upon a cherry tree. Hence, the cherry blossom is considered to be the national flower of Japan.
The cherry symbolizes the national character of the Japanese. This is because the life of a samurai of feudal times was proverbially compared to the short-lived cherry-blossoms, which last "no more than three days," for our samurai was always fully prepared to sacrifice his life at any time in the cause of his master. Another saying is that what "the cherry is among flowers is the samurai among men."
The blooming period of sakura is very short, and in a few days the flower is scattered away in the spring breeze.
The cherry symbolizes the national character of the Japanese. This is because the life of a samurai of feudal times was proverbially compared to the short-lived cherry-blossoms, which last "no more than three days," for our samurai was always fully prepared to sacrifice his life at any time in the cause of his master. Another saying is that what "the cherry is among flowers is the samurai among men."
The blooming period of sakura is very short, and in a few days the flower is scattered away in the spring breeze.
