Night Cherry Blossoms in Yoshiwara - Mid-Edo Period to the End of the Edo Period

Night Cherry Blossoms in Yoshiwara - Mid-Edo Period to the End of the Edo Period

The rows of cherry trees planted in Nakanocho in Yoshiwara were a major attraction for the people of Edo in the spring. At night, a snow lantern was lit and a procession of oiran (courtesans) walked under the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The oiran's extravagant costumes and outward stride overwhelmed people, and even the gesture of taking a break in front of a teahouse was part of the advertisement. The citizens of Edo forgot about the daily grind and restrictions of life and entrusted their dreams to this spectacular spectacle.

At the time, Edo was plagued by frequent fires and epidemics, and the rising cost of living was also a burden to the common people. However, the concentration of the population increased the demand for entertainment, and Yoshiwara became a stage set to meet these expectations. The related industries that catered to the cherry blossom-viewing public, such as tea houses, caterers, planters, and hairdressers, flourished, and the night cherry blossom viewing became a major event that supported economic activity. Even as the government's thrift ordinance sought to curb extravagance, the combination of cherry blossoms and lights was skillfully kept alive as a "modest flower".

The nocturnal cherry blossoms were also a symbol of both transience and repetition. The blossoms would soon fall, but they would surely bloom again the following year, bringing dreams back to the hearts of the common people. Ukiyoe and kabuki repeatedly depicted this scene, establishing the nighttime cherry blossoms of Yoshiwara as the epitome of Edo culture. The scenery, where splendor and economy, transience and pleasure intersected, was the very essence of Edo urban culture and a place where the aesthetic sense of the common people was formed.