Hanami: Samurai and the Cherry Blossoms

Learn all about the enchanting harmony between samurai culture and cherry blossoms. The fascinating world of the samurai, of honor, discipline and devotion are intertwined with the brief flowering of the Sakura.

In Japan, Hanami is an ancient and traditional festival that focuses on the cherry blossoms. The Japanese still marvel at the fleeting beauty of this spectacle of nature.

This traditional flower festival, which runs in the spring from March to May, is a centuries-old custom that has its origins in ancient feudal Japan. When the Sakura flower is in full bloom, it lives throughout the country.

Hanami literally means “looking at flowers” in Japanese, with the Sakura central. These cherry blossoms in bloom are a beautiful spectacle, which only lasts a short time. In Japan, this period of about ten days of splendor is magical.

Nowadays, as soon as the weather permits, many families go for a picnic in the shade of the blooming cherry blossom trees. They then get up early to get a spot and put a tarp on the ground. Viewing the flowers while enjoying a delicious Japanese meal or pastries with cherry blossom tea.

History Hanami

In the Nara period (710 – 794) Japan was still a real agricultural society. Plum trees or Ume were imported from China and became highly sought after in Japan. Society often consisted of small villages where Shintoism was the religion.

Around the Heian period, the Sakura came into the picture to be honored in the land of the rising sun. The celebration of Hanami is actually in Shintoism, because as soon as the farmers started planting the crops, the farmers made sacrifices to protect the crops. It was believed at the time that the gods hid in the cherry blossoms. This is the origin of establishing a holiday to honor the Kami . Gods, ancestors, spirits and forces from nature are called Kami in Japanese, this comes from Shintoism. Shintoism is a holistic religion and this could be found in all kinds of customs . Many Shinto rituals were performed in the old traditional forges to make a Katana sword. 

When the Samurai class emerged, also in the Heian period, there was a strong connection between the cherry blossom and these warriors. In the samurai culture, honor, discipline and devotion are acquired through the brevity of life itself. The samurai had to be ready to give his life and had already accepted his death before it happened. This made him a free fighter mentally and he followed the Bushido . The Bushido was the mental code of honor and means away from the warrior. A samurai followed a holistic approach to life, which, in addition to the techniques of war, also included tea ceremonies and poetry. This style of life was passed on from generation to generation.

The beautiful pink and white flowers of the Sakura that bloom for a very short time and reflect grace, purity and transience completely match the spirit of the Samurai. The dedication of the Samurai to his Bushido principles fits perfectly with the ephemeral beauty of the blooming Sakura . You can find this Sakura symbolism in many koshirae of Katana . The Sakura Katana from Dragon King is a good example of this.

 It was the Empress Saga who introduced the cherry blossom festival in the Heian period. It quickly spread that way among the population and the Samurai class.

Hanami is a festival that is still connected to the ancient Samurai warriors on a deeper level. Today it offers an opportunity for reflection. The lesson to be learned is that the fleeting bloom of the cherry blossom is a symbol of honoring the present moment and cherishing the experience. The blossom was also an inspiration to live with integrity and purity and to embrace every encounter with courage.