FROM THE GARDEN OF ZEN: sakura

Showing posts with label sakura. Show all posts

May 4, 2026

Shidare-zakura (weeping cherry) flowers: Kencho-ji

Flowers are destined to bloom and soon fade away as the floral organs for pollination and reproduction. For humans, their fleeting beauty appears in this world only to vanish into the void as if nothing had ever happened.

The flowering season of Sakura has long since passed, and those delicate flowers that had once bloomed so splendidly have all fallen and disappeared completely, but their beautiful memories are remaining within me as unforgettable afterimages.

Spring transforms the appearance of life rapidly and beautifully, one change after another. Living things revive from their winter slumber, and the natural landscape transforms with astonishing speed. Spurred on by capricious spring breezes and bright sunlight, new varieties of flowers bloom one after another, and the fresh green foliage of various plants appears rapidly, flourishing as if to be conjured by a magic trick.

The birds that had been holding their breath in winter begin to chirp lively, and the insects that had been hiding somewhere begin to emerge one after another and take to the air.

This world keeps changing swiftly. All are born and disappear in a flash. In this vast universe, all things are impermanent and continue changing consistently. The rapid changes in the landscape of life in spring teach me this ultimate principle through the beautiful metaphor of living creatures.

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Kencho-ji

As if to bless those entering the majestic San-gedatsu-mon Gate (the three gateways to enlightenment), the fresh flowers of the Somei-yoshino sakura trees, that are awaiting their full bloom days, are quietly shining in the bright spring sunlight.

The plaque displayed above the gate bears the characters for the temple’s official name, “Kencho Kokoku Zenji.” This name combines “Kencho” (the era name of its founding in 1253), “Kokoku” (prosperity of the nation through the spirit of Zen), and “Zenji” (the temple of the Rinzai school of Zen).

Hojo Tokiyori, the fifth Shikken (regent) of the Kamakura Shogunate, invited the Song Dynasty monk "Rankei Doryu" to Japan in hopes of bringing peace to the land and established this Zen temple.

The San-gedatsu-mon is the main gate representing Zen temples and symbolizes the three essential gateways of liberation (Gedatsu) that Zen monks must pass through to attain enlightenment, namely, Ku-gedatsu-mon (the gateway of realizing that all things are empty and intangible), Muso-gedatsu-mon (the gateway of realizing that everything is formless, transient, and interdependent), and Musaku-gedatsu-mon (the gateway of realizing that all things exist naturally as they are, letting go of the mind that vainly seeks fictitious enlightenment and artificial artifice, and intuitively realizing all things without thinking and word-splitting).

These three gateways of liberation represent the three fundamental paths to freeing oneself from the three fundamental afflictions (three poisons) in Buddhism—namely, burning desire, ill will, and ignorance—and reaching the state of ultimate enlightenment.

In accordance with the universal law of interdependency, every living thing endures harsh environmental burdens, living naturally without any artifice, and fades away just as they naturally do. These innocent Sakura flowers, blooming so beautifully, are no exception.

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

In front of the vivid vermilion-lacquered Maiden (the stage for sacred dancing) situated at the foot of the grand stone-steps of this old shrine, pale pink flowers of Sakura are shining softly in the gentle, oblique sunlight like the elegant flower decoration that adorns this stage.

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu

In the peony garden across Genpei Pond, the Sakura flowers in full bloom are sparkling brilliantly in the afternoon sunlight. The red peony flowers and the sunshades protecting them add a vibrant touch of color to this serene scene.

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Kencho-ji

Shidare-zakura (weeping cherry) flowers: Kencho-ji

Someiyoshino sakura (Prunus yedoensis) flowers: Kencho-ji

March 29, 2025

Tamanawa-zakura (Prunus x yedoensis 'Tamanawa-zakura') : Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

The long-awaited season of rebirth and regrowth has finally arrived here. The flowers that beautifully adorn the springtime are beginning to bloom one after another to eagerly compete to be the first for receiving the blessed sunlight from the sun.

As if to be inspired by the lively chirping of birds which comes out of nowhere, the bright pink flowers of Tamanawa-zakura trees are blooming brilliantly against the glorious blue sky to celebrate the advent of the spring sunshine.

Mame-zakura (Cerasus incisa) flowers: Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Tamanawa-zakura (Prunus x yedoensis 'Tamanawa-zakura') : Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

Tamanawa-zakura tree was born at this Ofuna Flower Center. This variety is the result of the natural hybridization of Somei-yoshino (Prunus yedoensis) and Oh-kanzakura (Cerasus × kanzakura ‘Ō-kanzakura’) cherry.

It is said to have been artificially bred from the hybridized seeds of these cherry trees. The individuals which flower early were selected and bred as a new cultivated species of cherry trees. The Tamanawa-zakura is named after the old name of the place of this flower center, namely,"Tamanawa Village" of Kamakura.

Its propagation began in 1974 by cuttings and grafting the cherry trees, and this variety was registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan in 1990.

Tamanawa-zakura trees start to bloom in the cold of late winter from mid to late February. Their flowering season lasts about a month and their beauty can be enjoyed until Somei-yoshino cherry trees come into blossom brilliantly.

Tamanawa-zakura (Prunus x yedoensis 'Tamanawa-zakura') : Ofuna Flower Center (Kamakura)

No matter how I try to describe the ephemeral beauty of flowers in words, the result must be empty. In the same way as the impermanence of our living world, like just a momentary illusion, any flower blooms and then disappears in an instant.

The flowers of Tamanawa-zakura bloom about a month earlier than common Somei-yoshino-zakura flowers and have a long flowering period, which comforts the hearts of those who eagerly await the brilliant blossoms of the spring during the gloomy winter days.

Their petals are darker pink than those of Somei-yoshino-zakura flowers of spring and become a slightly darker pink as the flowering progresses before falling.

This tranquil tone of the color enhances the virtue of modesty of the Tamanawa-zakura flowers which quietly keep blooming in the cold winter before the arrival of the true springtime.