In all of Japan, the place most noted for the beauty of its cherry blossoms was the mountainous district known as Yoshino, south of the old capital city of Nara. Hokusai naturally picked Yoshino to represent “flowers” in this set of landscapes based illustrating what an ancient Chinese poet had described as the three most beautiful things in the world: snow, moonlight, and flowers. In Japan, “flowers” were understood to mean cherry blossoms unless otherwise specified.

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