Mar 5, 2014 - 1 min read

Plum Blossom at Ishiyamadera

Temple with a connection to the world's first novel

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

A temple building stands at the top of a terraced hillside

Statue of Murasaki Shikibu on the hillside

Thatched roof of a tower just visible over plum trees

Gravel path near the Murasaki Shikibu museum

Stone lantern beside one of the temple buildings

The blossoms seem to glow in the late afternoon sunshine

In the Heian Era (794 to 1185 A.D) plum blossom was preferred over cherry blossom, so it seems somehow fitting that Ishiyamadera has so many plum trees, since it is linked to the story of Murasaki Shikibu, lady at the Heian Court, and probably the first novelist in the world. If you visit Ishiyamadera you are sure to enjoy the beautifully landscaped gardens. The temple complex sprawls over a small mountain and there are a number of interesting buildings, as well as a small museum dedicated to the Tale of Genji's author.

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By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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Anonymous 9 years ago

Very beautiful flowers and steeped in history..

Rebecca Stock 10 years ago

I love the plum blossoms as much as the cherry. It is too bad one is preferred over another these days. I think this picture shows us plum blossoms can be magnificent too! :)