Konohanasakuya-Hime, the Blossom Princess

Location: Ueno Park.

The cherry blossom season is considered one of the most special moments of the year in Japan. The practice of hanami ( 花見), cherry blossom viewing, is popular between Japanese people and tourists. Many visit the country between the end of March and beginning of April  just to witness the magical blooming of the cherry trees. All cities and towns are suddenly adorned with small pink flowers that create a long-awaited magical spring atmosphere after the cold winter. Some popular spots might even become almost impossible to access due to the amount of people that arrive to see the blossoms. 

Unfortunately, like all beautiful things, the blossom season also ends. It does not take a long time for the flowers to be replaced by small green leaves. Usually it is a matter of days, if lucky a few weeks, for the transition to be complete. The cherry blossoms are deeply loved also for this characteristic: they last a very short time, which makes them even more special. Despite the sakura lasting for just a fleeting moment, they are deeply treasured and admired. The hanami has been a cherished cultural tradition for over a millenium in the country, and reached its peak during the Edo period, in particular in the 18th century. Behind this beloved event there is a tale: the ancient story of the Blossom Princess.

The story of Konohanasakuya-Hime is recorded in two foundational chronicles of Japan, linked to Shintoism: Koijiki (712 CE) and the Nihon Shoki (720 CE). In these texts that narrate about the creation of Japan of its Kami (gods) Konohanasakuya-Hime is presented as the daughter of the mountain deity, and became associated with flowering trees, fertility and sacred mountains (in particular Mount Fuji). The connection of the Princess to the blossoming of flowers made the phenomenon of flowering become sacred: trees became the vessel through which the goddess would manifest.

According to the myth Konohanasakuya-Hime was married to Ningi-no-mikoto, the grandson of Amaterasu the sun goddess. He chose to marry her over her sister, goddess of the stones and rocks. If the sister symbolised stability, like a stone, Konohanasakuya-Hime was a symbol of impermanence, like the flowers. Because of this choice it is said that human life became brief and momentary. 

Although Konohanasakuya-Hime was originally connected with all flowers and blossoms in general, tradition deeply connected the goddess to the cherry blossoms. In Japanese culture the cherry blossoms represent the concept of 物の哀れ (mono no aware), translated as the grief of things. The grief is the awareness of the impermanence of all things. Cherry blossoms bloom briefly for a few days and pass, mirroring the course of human life. Since Konohanasakuya-Hime symbolizes impermanence, her figure became a symbol of the transitionality of life. 

Nowadays, the blooming of the cherry blossoms is still one of the most awaited moments of the year, and although the spiritual part could be less prominent, its teachings live on inside Japanese culture that continues to value seasonality and the passage of time as something to celebrate and respect. This folktale and the view of the small flowers keep reminding us of how beauty is not necessarily connected to the untouchable and eternal. Sometimes beauty is a fragile flower that blossoms just for a brief moment.