Back in November, Dan and I, had a wrap up meeting with T&H Events, for our Ceremonials stylized shoot. During that meeting we talked about where we were at with our businesses and what direction we wanted to take them in the New Year. It was during this conversation, I first learned of the Toronto Cherry Blossom Festival in High Park, which got me really excited!
When I interned for Time Out Shanghai, in the spring of 2011, I fell in LOVE with the cherry blossoms!
It is said that for the Chinese, the cherry blossom represents feminine beauty and sexuality. In Chinese herbal medicine the cherry blossom is symbolic of Love.
Now upon a little research into the cherry blossom trees in High Park, I discovered that the trees are Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees! In 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, gifted 2000 trees on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, to the citizens of Toronto, in appreciation of taking in Japanese-Canadian refugees during the Second World War. How amazing is that?!
This then led me to research the symbolism of the cherry blossom in Japanese culture.
For the Japanese, the cherry blossom represents the very transient nature of Life. The cherry blossom tree is known for its very short yet beautiful life cycle. The delicate blooming cycle lasts all of about two weeks. The peak of this extraordinary bloom happens within one week of the first bloom, and ends about a week later as the blossoms begin their inevitable but graceful fall back to the earth. This rise and fall is much like traditional Japanese samurai spirit, and the belief that life is brief yet beautiful, just like the cherry blossom.
So taking inspiration from both the Chinese and Japanese beliefs on theses beautiful trees, I give you my ode to the cherry blossom.
~ T
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