008.桜 03.吉野
008.Cherry Blossom 03.Yoshino (Japan)

2021年4月4日

３万本と言われる吉野の桜。

The number of cherry blossoms in Yoshino is about 30,000.

吉水神社から見る中千本と上千本の桜。
See the cherry blossoms of Naka-Senbon (Middle Thousand Cherry Trees) and Kami-Senbon (Upper Thousand Cherry Trees) from Yoshimizu-Jinja Shrine.

桜の由来は、７世紀、修験道の祖、役小角が、吉野で蔵王権現を感得し、桜の木に刻んだ像を本尊としたこと。桜は神木となり、信奉者が植樹して行きました。信仰が最初にあったのが、花見のためにつくられた桜の名所と吉野の違い。

ロープウェー終点の下千本から、中千本、上千本を経て、西行庵のある奥千本まで、標高差500mほど。豊かな山の地形に合わせて、桜もランドスケープとなり、下から見上げれば、滝のように斜面を流れ落ち、上から見下ろせば、雲のように漂い、吉野を別格にしています。そして、桜はヤマザクラ。今は、19世紀に品種改良された、花が先行するソメイヨシノが主流ですが、それ以前は、葉と花が同時に出るヤマザクラが日本の桜でした。吉野は、日本の桜の風景の原型が残る場所。白い花に、若葉の赤が加わり、山が薄紅色に染まっています。

下千本から西行庵まで、桜を愛でながら歩いて、往復６時間。訪れた日は雨模様。雨で濡れた服に凍え、靴は雨と泥でぐっしょり。時々、足を滑らせ、まさに修行。信仰の桜にふさわしい、しかし、疲労困憊の花見でした。

It dates to the 7th century when En-no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo (Japanese mountain asceticism), sensed a deity and carved its statue on a cherry tree to make it the principal image. The cherry tree became a sacred tree, and the worshippers began to actively plant it. That faith was first was the difference between Yoshino and other spots that were established for viewing.

The altitude difference between Shimo-sembon at the starting point and Oku-sembon at the depths via Naka-sembon and Kami-sembon is about 500m. According to the rich mountainous terrain, the cherry blossoms becomes landscape. When looked up from below, it is like a waterfall, meanwhile, when looked down from above, it is floating like clouds. The cherry type of Yoshino is Yama-zakura. Now, the mainstream species is Somei Yoshino, which was bred selectively in the 19th century and flowers come out before leaves. But before then, Yama-sakura, which leaves and flowers come out at the same time, was the mainstream. Yoshino is the place where the original scenery of the cherry blossoms in Japan remains. The light red color by the white flowers and the red young leaves dyes the mountain.

From Shimo-sembon to Oku-sembon, it took 6 hours round trip when walking while seeing the cherry blossoms. I visited on a rainy day. I was frozen in rain-wet clothes, my shoes got wet with rain and mud, and I sometimes slipped. Just training. My cherry blossom viewing was suitable for the cherry blossoms of faith but I was exhausted.