Norinaga MOTOORI, a scholar of ancient Japanese thought and culture, wrote a poem 'What is Japanese spirit? It is Yamazakura blossoms in the morning sun' as the concrete example of Japanese spirit of 'Mono no aware' (graceful, tasteful, sad feeling).
江戸時代の国学者、本居宣長は「敷島の大和心を人問はば朝日に匂ふ山桜花」と詠み、桜が「もののあはれ」などと基調とする日本人の精神具体的な例えとみなした。