Classic Cherry Blossom 古典文學裡的櫻花

People having lived in Japan for a few years will find that the most typical cherry today is called "Somei Yoshino". This kind has prevailed all over this country for 150years.

Those who are interested in the Japanese classics will notice that the poets, say Saigyo, Basho, had been impressed with the different one. It is said that the most typical cherry in the classical literature is "Yamazakura" which means mountain cherry. The below is its blossoms.

我高高興興地介紹你們日本古典文學裡的櫻花。這叫山櫻。山櫻開花時, 紅色嫩葉也出來。現在日本最多的種類是染井吉野。這是150年前開始裁培的。日本平安時代的西行, 江戶時代的芭蕉都欣賞山櫻。茅盾初次看到櫻花寫了一篇散文說"池西畔的一枝樹開放著一些淡紅的叢花了。.....沒有半張葉子。無疑地這就是櫻花。" 他看到的是染井吉野。

Yamazakura blooms just when the beautiful red leaves come out, while Somei Yoshino blooms without any leaves. It grows more than 35ft. The trunk is rather straight.
I imagine that Japanese poets have historically loved this cherry in full bloom among young green leaves of other trees.

Soft red leaves and white petals enjoy a day of spring this year. Yamasakura has been designed in traditional crafts like porcelain and gold lacquer work.