Cherry (prunus serrulata) blossom in Ikawa, Akita Province, Japan. Each flower, James Scherer tells us, has its symbolic meaning. “Patriotism itself is symbolized by a spray of cherry-blossoms, ‘which fall before they wither rather than cling rotting to the stalk.’ The almond, a flower of the early spring, typifies beauty; but the plum-blossom, which is sometimes so early that it bursts through the snow, represents virtue triumphant, or valour breaking through icy obstacle. Victory flames in the iris, which blooms when spring has wholly conquered winter; gentleness is suggested by the willow, strength by the bamboo, long life by the ever-green pine, and so on throughout the Flower Calendar.”
EVERY season in the year has its own flower, fairest of all being the cherry, whose lovely pink and white blossoms spread their fragrance over the whole land in the sunny month of April, and everywhere provide forest bowers of fairy-like beauty, beneath which happy family groups gather in crowds to revel in happiness and good temper amidst a constant flow of cheerful gossip and soft, rippling laughter. The cherry flower is an emblem of life to the Japanese. Its only failing is that it is very shortlived. The first rough wind scatters its petals and covers the ground with a pale-pink carpet and soon all is over. And so should life be. Sunny, bright and beautiful when all goes well, but ever ready for sacrifice when it is required.
Précis
The cherry tree is one of Japan’s national symbols, and in the eyes of Joseph Longford an appropriate one. The Japanese live life as the delicate cherry blossom lives: while the sun shines they laugh and are glad, but when the winds blow and the time for sacrifice comes, they accept their lot without complaint. (55 / 60 words)
