πΎ L's Life in a Big City (4) Cherry Blossoms πΎ
Two cherry trees are there beside an entrance-exit of a subway station. These trees are becoming to full-bloomed nowadays. (I took this picture at March 27th.) So, I feel appeased nowadays too.
The custom of cherry-blossom viewing has a history of over a millennium. The signatures were, for example, in some Waka-poems' anthologies. By the way, the Muromachi Shogun's residence in Kyoto was known as the "Hana (flowers)" Palace. Speaking of "Hana (flowers)", I remember cherry-blossom. Well then, were there any relationships between the "Hana (flowers)" Palace and cherry-blossom? (A supplementary note: I'm talking about a history during the Muromachi period (1336-1573).)
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There are some theories about the name of the Palace. One theory is that the owner, the second Shogun (Ashikaga Yoshiakira) bought this premise from a nobleman and the name was the "Hana" residence. Unfortunately, according to this theory, there wasn't a relationship between the "Hana (flowers)" Palace and cherry-blossom. According to another theory, the reason for the name is that many beautiful flowers were planted in the garden of this Palace. Then, people at that time called the "Hana (flowers)" Palace. And, there was a some type of cherry-blossom tree (weeping cherry tree) I saw beside an entrance-exit of a subway station. (There is a description about the weeping cherry tree in the "Hana (flowers)" Palace in a diary written in the early Muromachi period.)
I overheard that the temperature of Japan is rising year by year. And, if the trend continues, the blooming of cherry trees' flowers would not occur. Because cherry-blossom comes out only when the cherry trees spend the cold in winter and face to the sudden changes in temperature in spring. They say if the Global Warming continues furthermore, cherry-blossom trees wouldn't grow in Japan anymore. The custom of cherry-blossom viewing is essential for Japan's spring. I very worry about this point.
