Cherry blossoms are the flowers most beloved by the Japanese. Because cherry blossoms
have short blooming times and are fragile, they have been used to symbolize the
transience of life; this symbolism meshed well with the teachings of Buddhism.
Also, since cherry trees blossom en masse, they have also been used as metaphors
for clouds. Fallen blossoms, not to be ignored, are likened to snow and later,
as a metaphor for a warrior killed early in life. ()
On the other hand, in China,
cherry blossom is the symbol of feminine dominance (), female beauty and sexuality ().
Additionally, the cherry blossom is the Chinese symbol of feminine principle and
it also symbolizes love in the language of herbs. () Interestingly, cherry blossom
is the flower of the April in China, whereas in Japan, it is wisteria. ()
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