Plum blossoms
Of course the peony must be accompanied by this:
Are the small pink flowers that dot the thin, long, straight branches (or should I call them twigs?) “plum blossoms” or “cherry blossoms“? I thought they were “cherry blossoms” and have always called them that. Now I know… they’re PLUM BLOSSOMS, ?? (méihu?), Prunus mume. What’s the difference?
Here’s a commentary from simplesongs:
In any case, you’ve probably heard about how cherry blossoms are a big deal in Japan. They bloom in the Spring, creating an amazingly beautiful display for about a week or so and then they are gone…. Less celebrated is the plum blossom. Typically blooming in late February/early March, plum blossoms signal that Spring is coming rather than that Spring has come. Blooming in shades of pink and white, most plum blossoms have 5 petals (many varieties of cherry blossoms also have five petals, but you are also likely to see cherry blossoms with 10 petals, 50 petals, up to 100 or so).
There’s an amazing photo site of Asian images by Kevin Kelly; there’s a photo plum blossoms and an insight into the difference.
A reader named al writes:
“Has the plum blossom come into bloom? How about the Cherry blossom??” These lyrics are part of a famous traditional Ozashiki Uta (Geisha Music) song, “Ume Wa Saitaka? Sakura Wa Madakaina?” Every year people in Japan impatiently wait for the arrival of spring. Plum tree comes to bloom in February and cherry does in April. They have similarity in representing people’s yearning for spring but they do have difference: Firstly the two trees don’t come to bloom in the same time. Secondly most of cherry blossom has pink color while plum has either white or dark pink (like this one in the picture). Thirdly, each petal of plum flower is smooth round shape (like this) while cherry’s has a sort of notched cut on top. So we know this is a plum not cherry.
In Japan, plum and cherry blossoms are called “ume” and “sakura” respectively. They bloom at different times. The Sakura is Japan’s unofficial national flower. Plum blossoms are Taiwan’s national flower.
 Plum blossoms ??(méihu?) |
 Cherry blossoms ?? (y?nghu?) |
Plums blossoms have become a traditional decoration during the Lunar New Year simply because of the timing of the blooms, i.e. just before spring, in February and March, during the New Year festivities.
The Chinese see the blossoms as more of a symbol for winter rather than a harbinger of spring. It is precisely for this reason that the blossoms are so beloved, because they bloom most vibrantly amidst the winter snow while all other flowers have long since succumbed to the cold and died. Thus, they are seen as an example of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, and thus has also been used as a metaphor to symbolize revolutionary struggle.
… from Wikipedia.
The fruit, plum, is used in various ways in Chinese cooking, including sauces and condiments and pickled plums. Umeishu ?? (méiji?) is a liquor made from green ume in clear liquor. Dark plums, ?? (w?méi) are used to treat parasites, ulcers and a tonic for the digestive system and the heart.
A finally, here’s a piece of art from the Song dynasty (?),
Update: I just noticed that Vista, a Nippono-phile apparently, included a Sakura song on his post, with translations. Go and listen.
References:
1. http://simplesongs.blogs.com/head_shoulders_knees_and_/2006/02/plum_blossoms.html
2. http://www.asiagrace.com/detail.php?i=376
3. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2013.html
4. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_blossom
6. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mqin/ho_1986.493.2.htm
Para para sakura! Let me go call Terence and come dance. LOL.
Wuah Dr. you very new year mood liao hor?
aahhhhh…. makes me want to watch Memoirs of a Geisha all over again….
I like it when you entertain and teach us at the same time.
Hi haven’t commented for a while now. I too always thought it was cherry blossoms. Great research — soul searching is it?
Lilian, yup… now i’m in a quest to search for my roots.
Who’s Terence?
LB, I haven’t even watched that yet!… ok, ok, how ‘uncool’, right?
Gary, I’m learning new things too.
George, how was Kuching?
This isn’t the half of it yet!! More coming!!
Very informative. Beautiful flower.
Hehehe.. Root searching, huh ?? Cool… Don’t only watch the movie. Get a copy of the book too.. Promise you, you won’t be bored! I loved the book more than the movie
Holiday is a holiday. I love to travel so put me anywhere above or below land and I would still enjoy. A long winded answer for a simple question!
cytusm, yes they’re beautiful… i just visited a nursery in BM. They had a real plum blossom plant in the shop. It’s not blossomed yet. Apparently, you’d have to keep it cold with ice water.
FairyR, thanks for the tip.
I know your next aticle is about the fishes - now that would be interesting!He he pecah tembelang He he
George, haha.. ok, i know you enjoyed yourself.
I’ll try writing about the fish … gotta research it first
.. watch out for it.
Hello, I just stopped by to view your site and say God Bless You.
Here are my sites.
http://www.freewebs.com/friendsareagift
http://www.freewebs.com/friendsareagift2
Hehe, One more week… and yet I haven’t buy any CNY deco yet
Chen, nvm, can recycle the old ones, except the dog motifs.
Bernard, hats off to you. How long did it take you to blg this? Nothing much to comment also must come to commend you for the effort put into this. Eh, I have peony (real ones) in my front garden. Come May/June, if it blooms, I take picture for you ok?
Judy, tenkiu tenkiu.. want an encore? *ahem* hehe….
… Yes! Please post peony pictures.
Yes. That’s what I like about ‘mei hua’ –> ????
yenjai, the novel?