HANAMI - "flower viewing"

"Between our two lives
there is also the life of
the cherry blossom."

Matsuo Basho

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In the Japanese, (philospphical traditional thinking), worldview, people's form in this world is not real, but only a shadow.

This implies that life in its essence is seen as transient, where nothing lasts, nothing is finished, nothing is perfect and that reality is the illusion that we create as we pass by.

The concept of impermanence/unfinished in Japan is at the root of their
aesthetic, like in the tea ceremony, the Maiko and Geiko's art-performance and other arts.

The origin of HANAMI was the custom of nobles to enjoying the beauty of Cherry Blossoms. This tradition goes back to Nara period (Year 710-793). It is believed that the origin of Hanami is the custom of nobles and at that time people used to enjoy the plum trees that came from China. Later in the years people started to enjoy cherry blossoms instead in Heian period (Year 794-1185).

In the beginning, during the Nara period, the "HANAMI - flower" indicated Plum trees but it became cherry blossoms in Heian peiriod. Altough this reason is not clear, one story tells that cherry blossoms was planted instead of the plum tree when there was a fire in the imperial palace.

It was Edo period (Year 1603-1868) when Hanami became popular among the common people. the 8th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Yoshimune TOKUGAWA (1716-1745) encouraged people to enjoy cherry blossoms viewing by having made cherry blossoms planted in different areas in the city of Edo. Hanami quickly became the popular activity in spring time among the common people in Edo who did not have many opportunity for entertainments. Already from this time, Hanami was celebrated with Bento (Lunch Box) and Sake in popular Hanami spots.

All the flowers of cherry trees bloom in the almost same time and fall in just 5 to 7 days. The cherry blossoms is admired meanly for two reasons:

The blossoming of cherry trees symbolize the arrival of spring.

The other reason is because it blooms and falls in such a short time so this divine beauty and transience of the blooms represent the transient of life reminding us to honour our life and live every moment of it as if it's our last, or as Matsuo Basho indicates in the following HAIKU.

"Between our two lives
there is also the life of
the cherry blossom."

Matsuo Basho