We can find many Haiku/Tanka with the word “Sakura”. I introduced one Tanka by Shiki Masaoka (poet) below with Sakura – describing himself “observing” Sakura after being sick for 3 years – articulating another Spring after surviving the winter.
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Sashiko was a hand-stitching practice in Japan to survive through the harsh conditions (winter) with limited resources. The “death” in harsh condition existed much closer to them than ours today. Surviving winter was a big deal – especially for those with sickness. Therefore, seeing the bloom of Sakura moved their emotion with “appreciation” and probably “preparation to the end”. Some Japanese poets contrast “a life” and “Sakura” with describing its “transience”.
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I really hope non-Japanese people try to understand this “ordinary in Japanese culture” when they use the Japanese word (like Sakura) for their business and project. The word (& sound) often represents something important to us. Sakura is fragile, so it is recommended to enjoy it on the tree. I hope no-one breaks the branches with buds off from the “whole” body of Sakura (& other Japanese practice/image) for their convenience.
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『いたつきに 三年こもりて 死にもせず 又命ありて 見る桜かな』（正岡子規）
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刺し子を英語で紹介する様になり、丁寧に英訳＆紹介するために日本文化を一層学ぶようになり、憧れるようになった沢山の先人の一人が正岡子規です。文明開化後の西洋化＆軍国化の中で、筆を以て日本文化を守るとした彼の文章は、とても力強く、また「日本的な死生観」を客観的に、且つ叙情的に表現する上でも大変勉強になります。
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上記は病の床に伏し、死と面する自分と、華やかに咲く桜との比喩が美しくも儚い短歌と解釈しています。昔の日本人にとって「死」は常に身近にあるものだったのかもしれません。長い厳しい冬を超え、厚く重ねた刺し布が必要ではない春の暖かな陽気になった時、冬に常在する「死」との対比としての「生」を桜に見出したのかもしれません。
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全ては想像でしかないのですが、この想像し共有できる風景こそが「日本文化の前提」だと思うのです。上記の短歌と短い解釈ですが、これを英語に直訳するには前提を説明する必要があると思うのです。だからこそ、桜も、そして刺し子も、できる限り英語の文章で残しておきたいな……と。
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2021-04-10 09:48:39
Eloquently explained
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Thanks for sharing these beautiful cultural details! ❤️🙌
Very intresting i never knew the importance
Thank you for taking the time to formulate and educate. I always take the time to read your words and sit with them until I can understand. It is a very different perspective and thought process to what is natural to me.
Lovely words, lovely blossom ❤️🌸👏
Hermosooooo!
I loved the hana-mi parties when I lived in Japan. It was so foreign to me that all sorts of people would gather together to appreciate the fleeting beauty of sakura or Ume. Traveling to see sakura, dressing up to enjoy it, was a beautiful tradition to learn about.
@mogerbs
Good morning. I have just recently discovered your feed, and as a non-Japanese, and non-Japanese speaker, I have really enjoyed your posts and learning a little of your culture. Is the word ‘sakura’ the Japanese word for ‘blossom’ in general, or one from a particular tree, such as ‘cherry blossom’ or ‘apple blossom’. Please forgive my ignorance, and thank you for your teaching.
Thankyou ❤️
Funny: if i am thinking about the word itself ‘sakura’ contains the word ‘kura’ which means cure in it. This makes totally sense to me, if it actually means life after death! Very beautiful!!!
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Cette photo est magnifique ! Cette fleur de printemps est une naissance !