HANAMI
The philosophy of flowers
Cherry blossoms (ζ‘, sakura) have become an international symbol for
Japan and its culture. Every year, during spring time, the country
attracts many turists who travel from all-over the world to take part in
Hanami
(θ±θ¦, "flower viewing").
This century-old tradition mainly consists in enjoying the transient
beauty of flowers, usually cherry or plum. However, the meaning of these
delicate flowers is much more deeper than one might think. In fact, in
Japanese aesthetics cherry blossoms are metaphor for human life.
Cherry blossoms's beauty is impermanent - as it's life on this earth -
after they bloom they quickly start to spirall towards the ground and
wither, but it's exactly this characteristic that makes them even more
beautiful.
Japanese aesthetics and philosophy suggest to seek beauty and
gratefulness in every moment of our lives, as we never know how much
time we're granted. Nonetheless, we shall find beauty in this
impermanent permanence on earth of ours.
If you would like to know more, here are some books suggestions:
- Japanese aesthetics by Donald Keene
- The Phone Box at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina
- Kamikaze, Cherry Blossoms, and Nationalisms by Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney
πππΈπβ©π