blooming row over cherry blossom splits china korea japan
Friday 28 February 2025
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Blooming row over cherry blossom splits China, Korea, Japan

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Blooming row over cherry blossom splits China, Korea, Japan

People jog under cherry blossoms in full bloom in Tokyo
Beijing - AFP

A perennial debate over the birthplace of the cherry blossom has taken a fresh turn as a Chinese industry group claims the Asian giant is the tree's true home, rather than Japan or claimant South Korea.
Cherry blossoms have long been associated with Japan, where viewing the short-lived blooms is an enduringly popular pastime to herald the arrival of spring.
In recent years, some South Korean media have claimed that the country is actually the flower's origin -- sometimes provoking prickly reactions in Japan.
But according to He Zongru, executive chairman of the China Cherry Industry Association, both are wrong, and the Middle Kingdom is the blossom's true birthplace.
He cited a Japanese monograph on cherry blossoms which stated that the flower originated in the Himalayan mountains of China and did not arrive in Japan until the Tang dynasty more than 1,100 years ago.
"We don't want to get into a war of words with Japan and South Korea, but we want to assert a fact: Many historical documents confirm that the cherry blossom's place of origin is in China," He said, according to the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily on Monday.
"As Chinese people, we have a responsibility to let more people know this history," he added.
For decades, Tokyo has given the prized plant to countries including the US as a gesture of goodwill, and every spring people across Japan gather under cherry blossom trees to eat, drink and admire.
Thousands of visitors line the banks of Washington's Tidal Basin every spring to catch a sight of the city's pink and white flowers, which were a gift from Japan in 1912.
In Beijing, the most popular place to view them is Yuyuantan Park, home to more than 2,000 cherry trees -- roughly 200 of which were given to China by Japan in the early 1970s, when the two countries re-established diplomatic ties.
Nonetheless the row reflects tense relations among the three Asian rivals, which are frequently at odds with each other on issues including Japan's 20th-century history -- when it colonised Korea and parts of China, culminating in World War II -- and competing territorial claims in regional waters.
Often, such battles see Beijing and Seoul team up against Tokyo, as when China unveiled a memorial last year to a Korean national hero condemned by Japan as a "terrorist" for killing a Japanese official a century ago.
Even so He's message to Seoul in the latest debate was uncompromising.
"Simply put, the cherry blossom originated in China and flourished in Japan," the paper quoted him as saying. "South Korea has nothing to do with it."

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

blooming row over cherry blossom splits china korea japan blooming row over cherry blossom splits china korea japan

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

blooming row over cherry blossom splits china korea japan blooming row over cherry blossom splits china korea japan

 



GMT 19:12 2018 Wednesday ,03 January

Dubai adds two stunning landmarks in 2017

GMT 17:23 2017 Friday ,21 April

Raja’s footballer happy for returning to pitch

GMT 15:08 2017 Monday ,18 September

Bale strikes in vital Madrid win at Sociedad

GMT 22:37 2016 Wednesday ,10 February

New tarantula is named after music legend Johnny Cash

GMT 10:51 2017 Monday ,23 January

Actress Reham Hagag considers herself lucky

GMT 18:46 2018 Wednesday ,19 September

Premier highlights importance of peace, development

GMT 16:58 2015 Tuesday ,20 October

UAE Ministry of Finance launches eD-Voucher

GMT 03:00 2018 Thursday ,04 January

High-tech ship en route to resume hunt for MH370
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday