Cherry blossoms have been particularly loved by Japanese people since olden time, as the phrase "flowers means cherry blossoms" suggests. Poems on the subject of cherry blossoms were being written in the Heian period (794-1191), and many of these still remain in poetry collections.
The cold winter ends, and the warmth of spring soon develops. At this time when the air is mild, the
cherry trees, which have been nothing but bare branches all winter, begin to gain a few blossoms. In a few days they are in full bloom. Through this event, people feel the joy of life regenerating.
But after about a week, these cherry blossoms fall quietly to the ground, just like snow. The shortness of the period of full bloom, and the way the blossoms scatter profusely in no time at all, give rise to a feeling of sadness, an awareness of the transience of thing, and a sense of purity.