さくら - a photo on Flickriver

さくら

            Cherry blossoms hold many meanings, the first being that life is fleeting. They are beautiful to see in their prime, but the flowers and the trees are short-lived — blooming for only a few weeks before falling to the ground and withering away.

The sakura's meaning is also contradictory. It symbolizes both life and death, beauty and violence. As the coming of spring promises new life, so the blooming of cherry blossoms brings a sense of vitality and vibrancy. At the same time, their short lifespan is a reminder that life is fleeting.

You will often see cherry blossoms as a significant symbol in Japanese culture, including in paintings, film, poetry, and literature.
Historically, they represented the brief, but colorful life of the samurai, warriors of feudal Japan. They lived by a strict moral code of respect, honor, and discipline — called bushido. Their duty was to exemplify and preserve these virtues and to be fearless warriors even in the face of death. Fallen cherry blossoms or petals symbolized the end of the samurai’s short lives.

During World War II, kamikaze pilots also marked their planes with sakura before embarking on suicide missions. These emblems symbolized dying “like beautiful falling cherry petals for the emperor.”

In Japanese folk religions, cherry blossom trees often signified agricultural reproduction. Originally, sa referred to a rice paddy god, and kura meant “a seat for a god.” Japanese people believed cherry blossoms were dwelling places for mountain deities who transformed into the gods of rice paddies. Hence, people would travel to the mountains to worship the trees every spring.

The ritual of Hanami is a ceremony from Japan that celebrates the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms. It is commonly known as “flower viewing” and is simply the ancient practice of gazing upon the flowers.
In ancient times, farmers would pray, make offerings, and prepare a feast under the cherry blossom trees, believing it would bring an abundant harvest. These days, Hanami is an annual event everyone looks forward to. Come spring, family and friends gather for picnics and parties under the cherry blossom trees. They sing together, eat all kinds of food, and drink alcoholic beverages.

Scientific classification:
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Tracheophytes
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Rosids
Order:Rosales
Family:Rosaceae
Genus:Prunus
Subgenus:Prunus subg. Cerasus

Kōtoku-in (高徳院), Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
   

Taken in: Japan / Kanagawa / Hase (show map)

Taken on: April 4, 2024

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Japan

Cherry Blossom

flower

tree

Prunus

Cerasus

flowers

ornamental

cherry tree

cultivar

Prunus serrulata

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Oshima cherry

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さくら

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Cerasus pseudo-cerasus

Cerasus 'Akihime'

アキヒメ

pink

rosado

cerezo

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flor de cerezo

cerezo japonés

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Gabriel Paladino Ibañez

gabrielpaladino.com

biodiversity

Kōtoku-in

高徳院

Kamakura

Kanagawa « less

Sets appears in: • Japan 2024 • Plantae & Fungi

Groups appears in: • 50-100 Faves • Flower Photography more » • *GreatPixGallery 50 Faves+ • Beautiful Capture • THE WORLD IS BEAUTIFUL. • Beauties of Our World • Flower Flower Flower • Nature Beauties • 50+ Favorites « less

Camera: Canon EOS 800D, f/3.2, 1/400 sec, 54mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 800D
Lens:	28-75mm
Aperture:	f/3.2
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	54mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	-1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 25.7 (Windows)
Show full info

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