We also visited Buddhist temples in Kyoto, as nice settings harmonizing with the cherry blossom’s beauty. Website by ajwebwork | © Manchester Buddhist Centre. Get my best content in Wellness and Travel! Whilst writing this, my attention was drawn to a magazine article about Dennis Potter, the British playwright who passed away from cancer in 1994. The presence can trigger you to think with optimism and passion. Tottori Gardens. The picturesque back drop intermingles with beauty, such as, the castle and park with a moat, shrines, bridges and gardens. So, it can be a perfect gift to give to your love. The people consider it a sign of female beauty or sexuality and control, when they think of the flower. Japan celebrates the Cherry Blossom season with festivals and the simple tradition of Hanami. Although, it does not live long, but people tend to adore it to the fullest during their bloom. Here is a photo of its volcano (most active one in Japan) from Sengan-en Gardens: My first day of seeing many cherry blossoms was in Kyoto. The Sakura motif blooms throughout the culture in Art, Manga (graphic novels) and films. He says, “the only thing you know for sure is the present tense, and that nowness becomes so vivid that, almost in a perverse sort of way, I’m almost serene”. As a result, it symbolized reproduction of agriculture. My name is Trudy and for the last 10 years, I've traveled like everyday is my last, exploring all 7 continents and 105 countries. Come on! Overall, it felt like color therapy being surrounded by the red, gold & purple tulips below pink clouds of cherry blossoms…. He is captured by the Samurai lord Katsumoto. Also, stores and restaurants offer cherry blossom flavored drinks, lattes and chocolates throughout the season. Japanese celebrate Hanami and wonder the fleeting nature of mortality and life. The cherry blossoms have reminded me of the film The Last Samurai. Set in 1876, The Last Samurai is about American mercenary Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) who goes to Japan to help train and modernise the imperial army. To my surprise, everything was in perfection this day, as I enjoyed a clear blue sky, amidst snow-capped mountains in a river valley with pink clouds of cherry blossoms amidst fresh, alpine air and golden sun. Similarly, I relentlessly, searched for the perfect bloom, only to be disillusioned by being a little too early or late. Kaika lasts about a week, unless a storm cuts this time even shorter. In Japan, cherry blossoms also symbolize clouds because they bloom en masse. The petals fall. Set in 1876, The Last Samurai is about American mercenary Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) who goes to Japan to help train and modernise the imperial army. The Japan Meteorological Corporation forecasts the Cherry Blossom’s Kaika according to region. Giving it to someone from your family or friend will make them know how much special they are in your life. (You need to read this blog or watch movie to find out.). Subscribe & Get the Latest Travel Tips and Packing Guides! Cherry blossom tattoos are very popular in Japan, and the deep meaning attached to it makes it a favorite among the youth. Maybe I can start to transcend my likes and dislikes and see the beauty in things as they are: impermanent. Love: The appearance of cherry blossom flower can make you fall in love with it. The intensity and liveliness of the flower grant the license to dream and hope for better things to come. This is a cherry blossom tree, however not completely native to the country. But the true essence of the cherry blossom lies within a decidedly bittersweet idea. In Chinese herbal traditions, the flower is considered a sign of love. I took the efficient tram to this star-shaped fort, with 1600 cherry blossoms in the surrounding park reflected along the star-shaped moat. It dates back to the time when people of Japan worshiped the tree by traveling to the mountain in spring, and then shifted to inhabited regions. Things are more trivial than they ever were, and more important than they ever were, and the difference between the trivial and important doesn’t seem to matter. The life cycle of these flowers make us question why we fail to live life to the fullest, why we do… Moreover, it lasts until May on the northernmost island, Hokkaido. Purple: Purple color can symbolize magnificence and royalty. I blissfully experienced many moments of pink glory, as an Acupuncturist-at-Sea from March to May in Japan, connecting me to the quintessence of this culture. Daisen, at 1729 metres high, that is supposedly a beautiful backdrop to the gardens on a clear day. So, it alerts you to live life to the fullest by helping humankind and be understanding. You could spend your life looking for one and it would not be a wasted life”. Every spring Japan’s cherry blossoms light up, as a prism from which to refract the essence of this Buddhist country. You could spend your life looking for them and it would not be a wasted life.” I, also, entangled with that attachment following a path to a similar, final realization. Rebirth: In early 710, Hanami emerged as a ritual way before the rise of primitive Japan, it was believed that the cherry blossom tree represented as a sign of rebirth. For example, in the 2003 movie, The Last Samurai, Katsumto says in the first scene: “A perfect blossom’s a rare thing. I found a few in Kaika, however, was a few days late for the ultimate cherry blossom experience. An unexpected upside of these unusual times is that I have been able to enjoy the blossoming from the first petal to the shower of blossom confetti, all set against an unusually blue spring sky. Cherry blossom is a kind of flower from a tree called ‘Sakura’ in Japan. Moreover, it also is a symbol of feminized emotions. Similarly, the more I try or attach to seeking an expectation, the more I feel disillusioned. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}). Through this Travel and Wellness Site, I share my healing journey as an Acupuncturist and World Traveler. This means to view and enjoy the sensual delight of the blossoms (“hana”=flower and “mi”=to look). I wandered the town and took a walk to the hilltop for a panoramic view of the community in the valley below, sprinkled with pink & white blossoms, encased by snow-capped mountain: In Hokkaido the northernmost island, its city, Hakodate, is one of the best for Hanami, especially at Goryokaku Fort. White: White color refers to the sign of spirituality, innocence and purity. He talked not of dying but of living. Symbolism in poetry can be derived from nature, beliefs, animals and universe to signify people as well as feelings, thoughts and ideas of individuals. Join me for tips and insights on the transformative and healing powers of Travel... © 2020 True Wind Healing Travel / All Rights Reserved. Goldfinch rests and sings. The ephemeral nature of Cherry Blossoms is a rich symbol associating with Japan’s Buddhist influence. When these blossoms come into being each year, their short life reminds celebrants of the overwhelming beauty, yet tragic brevity, of life, itself. For instance, it can be used as a metaphor to denote an employee’s first day at work or a kid’s first day in school. This idea is tied to Buddhist theme of mindfulnessthe practiced ability to live in the present. This is what the flower represents. I think I always have. My biggest disappointment in Japan, however, was missing a day in port at Kagoshima for a boat drill. The color also carries a hidden symbolism that is of romance, affection and love. My unexpected Kaika was first experienced at Tottori Garden Park and Prefecture. The Big Deer is a symbolism and gear review blog where we talk about anything and everything related to symbolism, hunting, gears and equipment. This is at the core of Cherry Blossom meaning & symbolism for you. I have discovered that when I am reflecting on something then other teachings seem to appear magically. They may not be the most eye-catching or giant flowers, but the color has the ability to make you connect to it spiritually. The cherry blossoms have reminded me of the film The Last Samurai. And this has been true with my cherry blossoms this spring. Even though the glass house was amazing as 50 metres in diameter and 21 metres high, I mostly wanted to be outside. In folk religions of Japan, it used to be regarded as those mountains deities converted into rice paddles gods. It’s home to unique buildings called gassho-zukuri, with A-framed thick, thatched roofs to manage the heavy snow. Such notion has also been associated with the ideals of Buddhism regarding the essence of life. It’s based on many factors, such as, low temperatures during fall and winter, rainfall, wind strength, growth status and past data. The flower of cherry blossom coming in white looks simply striking. To add more, the flower is also admired by the samurai culture of … (Spoiler alert here if you haven’t seen it!).