the soul of the far east(远东的灵魂)-第18章
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As for flowers； especially tree flowers； or those of the larger plants； like
the lotus or the iris； the Japanese appreciation of their beauty is as
phenomenal as is that beauty itself。 Those who can afford the luxury
possess the shrubs in private； those who cannot； feast their eyes on the
public specimens。 From a sprig in a vase to a park planted on purpose；
there is no part of them too small or too great to be excluded from Far
Oriental affection。 And of the two 〃drawing…rooms〃 of the Mikado held
every year； in April and November； both are garden…parties： the one given
at the time and with the title of 〃the cherry blossoms；〃 and the other of
〃the chrysanthemum。〃
These same tree flowers deserve more than a passing notice； not
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simply because of their amazing beauty； which would arrest attention
anywhere； but for the national attitude toward them。 For no better
example of the Japanese passion for nature could well be cited。 If the
anniversaries of people are slightingly treated in the land of the sunrise；
the same cannot be said of plants。 The yearly birthdays of the vegetable
world are observed with more than botanic enthusiasm。 The regard in
which they are held is truly emotional； and it not actually individual in its
object； at least personal to the species。 Each kind of tree as its season
brings it into flower is made the occasion of a festival。 For the beauty of
the blossoming receives the tribute of a national admiration。 From peers to
populace mankind turns out to witness it。 Nor are these occasions few。
Spring in the Far East is one long chain of flower fetes； and as spring
begins by the end of January and lasts till the middle of June； opportunities
for appreciating each in turn are not half spoiled by a common
contemporaneousness。 People have not only occasion but time to admire。
Indeed； spring itself is suitably respected by being dated conformably to
fact。 Far Orientals begin their year when Nature begins hers； instead of
starting anachronously as we do in the very middle of the dead season；
much as our colleges hold their commencements； on the last in place at on
the first day of the academic term。 So previous has the haste of Western
civilization become。 The result is that our rejoicing partakes of the
incongruity of humor。 The new year exists only in name。 In the Far
East； on the other band； the calendar is made to fit the time。 Men begin
to reckon their year some three weeks later than the Western world； just as
the plum…tree opens its pink white petals； as it were； in rosy reflection of
the snow that lies yet upon the ground。 But the coldness of the weather
does not in the least deter people from thronging the spot in which the
trees grow； where they spend hours in admiration； and end by pinning
appropriate poems on the twigs for later comers to peruse。 Fleeting as
the flowers are in fact； they live forever in fancy。 For they constitute one
of the commonest motifs of both painting and poetry。 A branch just
breaking into bloom seen against the sunrise sky； or a bough bending its
blossoms to the bosom of a stream； is subject enough for their greatest
masters； who thus wed； as it were； two arts in one；the spirit of poesy with
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pictorial form。 This plum…tree is but a blossom。 Precocious harbinger of
a host of flowers； its gay heralding over； it vanishes not to be recalled； for
it bears no edible fruit。
The next event in the series might fairly be called phenomenal。 Early
in April takes place what is perhaps as superb a sight as anything in this
world； the blossoming of the cherry…trees。 Indeed； it is not easy to do the
thing justice in description。 If the plum invited admiration； the cherry
commands it； for to see the sakura in flower for the first time is to
experience a new sensation。 Familiar as a man may be with cherry
blossoms at home； the sight there bursts upon him with the dazzling effect
of a revelation。 Such is the profusion of flowers that the tree seems to
have turned into a living mass of rosy light。 No leaves break the
brilliance。 The snowy…pink petals drape the branches entirely； yet so
delicately； one deems it all a veil donned for the tree's nuptials with the
spring。 For nothing could more completely personify the spirit of the
spring…time。 You can almost fancy it some dryad decked for her bridal；
in maidenly day…dreaming too lovely to last。 For like the plum the cherry
fails in its fruit to fulfil the promise of its flower。
It would be strange indeed if so much beauty received no recognition；
but it is even more strange that recognition should be so complete and so
universal as it is。 Appreciation is not confined to the cultivated few； it is
shown quite as enthusiastically by the masses。 The popularity of the
plants is all…embracing。 The common people are as sensitive to their
beauty as are the upper classes。 Private gratification； roseate as it is；
pales beside the public delight。 Indeed； not content with what revelation
Nature makes of herself of her own accord； man has multiplied her
manifestations。 Spots suitable to their growth have been peopled by him
with trees。 Sometimes they stand in groups like star…clusters； as in Oji；
crowning a hill； sometimes； as at Mukojima； they line an avenue for miles；
dividing the blue river on the one hand from the blue…green rice…fields on
the other；a floral milky way of light。 But wherever the trees may be；
there at their flowering season are to be found throngs of admirers。 For
in crowds people go out to see the sight； multitudes streaming incessantly
to and fro beneath their blossoms as the time of day determines the turn of
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the human tide。 To the Occidental stranger such a gathering suggests some
social loadstone； but none exists。 In the cherry…trees alone lies the
attraction。
For one week out of the fifty…two the cherry…tree stands thus glorified；
a vision of beauty prolonged somewhat by the want of synchronousness of
the different kinds。 Then the petals fall。 What was a nuptial veil becomes
a winding…sheet； covering the sod as with winter's winding…sheet of snow；
destined itself to disappear； and the tree is nothing but a common cherry…
tree once more。
But flowers are by no means over because the cherry blossoms are
past。 A brief space； and the same crowds that flocked to the cherry turn
to the wistaria。 Gardens are devoted to the plants； and the populace
greatly given to the gardens。 There they go to sit and gaze at the grape…
like clusters of pale purple flowers that hang more than a cubit long over
the wooden trellis； and grow daily down toward their own reflections in
the pond beneath； vying with one another in Narcissus…like endeavor。
And the people； as they sip their tea on the veranda opposite； behold a
doubled delight； the flower itself and its mirrored image stretching to kiss。
After the wistaria comes the tree…peony； and then the iris； with its
trefoil flowers broader than a man may span； and at all colors under the
sky。 To one who has seen the great Japanese fleur…de…lis； France looks
ludicrously infelicitous in her choice of emblem。
But the list grows too long； limited as it is only by its own annual
repetition。 We have as yet reached but the first week in June； the summer
and autumn are still to come； the first bringing the lotus for its crown； and
the second the chrysanthemum。 And lazily grand the lotus is； itself the
embodiment of the spirit of the drowsy August air； the very essence of
Buddha…like repose。 The castle moats are its special domain； which in
this its flowering season it wrests wholly from their more proper occupant…
…the water。 A dense growth of leather…like leaves； above which rise in
majestic isolation the solitary flowers； encircles the outer rampart； shutting
the castle in as it might be the palace of the Sleeping Beauty。 In the
delightful dreaminess that creeps over one as he stands thus before some
old daimyo's former abode in the heart of Japan； he forgets all his
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metaphysical difficulties about Nirvana； for he fancies he has found it； one
long Lotus afternoon。
And then last； but in some sort first； since it has been taken for the
imperial insignia； comes the chrysanthemum。 The symmetry of its shape
well fits it to symbolize the completeness of perfection which the Mikado；
the son of heaven； mundanely represents。 It typifies； too； the fullness of
the year； for it marks； as it were； the golden wedding of the spring； the
reminiscence in November of the nuptials of the May。 Its own color；
however； is not confined to gold。 It may be of almost any hue and within
the general limits of a circle of any form。 Now it is a chariot wheel with
petals for spokes； now a ball of fire w
