FROM THE GARDEN OF ZEN: April 2025

Cherry blossoms at night: Kanazawa-jo Castle (Kanazawa-city)

I visited Kanazawa-city (Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan) again, just in time for the cherry blossoms of Someiyoshino (Prunus yedoensis) in all their glory.

As if to be stared by the two white watchtowers of the Ishikawa Gate of Kanazawa-jo Castle, the countless cherry blossoms in full bloom are illuminated by radiant white lighting at nightfall. They are shining brilliantly like the silver clouds of stars that have just arrived here from the faraway outer universe to let us notice the wonder of our existence.

In Japan, beautiful cherry blossoms symbolize not only the coming of joyous spring but also "Mujo" (Buddhist concept of the impermanence of worldly things) because they fleetingly disappear just after blooming splendidly.

The glorious beauty of cherry blossoms in full bloom suggests the fate of their eventual falling, and, by watching their fast-declining appearance, we deeply feel "Mononoaware" or the impermanence of our mortal lives.

This feeling arouses the deep emotion of those of us who must eventually disappear like such pale pink blossoms.