金王桜
| Cultural property name | Konnoh-zakura |
|---|---|
| Commentary | This cherry is said to be a variety called Choshu scarlet cherry (chousiuhizakura). While the blossoms have five to seven petals, some of the petals are petaloid stamens, and each branch will have both single- and double-flowered blossoms. It is considered an extremely rare variety of cherry. Besides calling this cherry tree Konnoh-zakura, people also called it Usawasure no Sakura. Various legends related to this cherry tree exist. The chronicle of the shrine of Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine states that Minamoto no Yoritomo, remembering fondly the loyalty of Shibuya Konnohmaru, a subordinate of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, the father of Yoritomo, planted this cherry tree so that subsequent generations will know the name Konnohmaru. The chronicle of the shrine also says that Yoritomo transplanted this cherry tree from his mansion in Kamegaya, Kamakura to this spot, which is in an area with many connections to Konnohmaru. Additionally, research on a particular region, which were published in great amounts during the Edo period, included this cherry tree as a topic, and it was already renowned as one of the three great trees of the suburbs of Edo. Thus, this cherry tree, which has been preserved through generations by planting a seedling and growing a new tree, is considered a cherry tree of clear lineage. |