Talk:Yoshino, Nara

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[edit] Stated Number Of Sakura Trees Is Suspect

The Yoshino article states: 'Mt. Yoshino is famous for its 500,000 sakura trees'. This number is suspect if not implausible.

There are many varied estimates of the number of sakura trees. For instance, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4150.html states there are 30,000 (thirty thousand) trees, but contradicts itself by listing the four divisions of trees in the shimo, naka, kami, and oku senbon, each of which are a thousand trees, but also contradicts our Yoshino article which doesn't mention the oku senbon.

Dorling and Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guide to Japan states Yoshino has 100,000 cheery trees. Again, this number is suspect.

Starting with the 500,000 trees figure, simple arithmetic will show that there's not enough room in Yoshino for half a million cherry trees, once you factor out houses, roads, other non-cherry deciduous trees, and Sugi trees which to my eyes appear to vastly outnumber the cherry trees.

Yours In Pleasant Hanami

--HenryMcGilton (talk) 19:48, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Your reasonable question is put in context by an illustrated scroll which just happens to be featured now in the on-line gallery of the National Archives of Japan. While the actual numbers may still be inexact, the paragraph you've wondered about now explains:

A 1714 account explained that, on their climb to the top, travelers would be able to enjoy the lower 1,000 cherry trees at the base, the middle 1,000 on the way, the upper 1,000 toward the top, and the 1,000 in the precincts of the inner shrine at the top.<.ref>Kaibara Ekiken. (1714). Yoshinoyama syokeizu.<./ref>

Perhaps this becomes a good step in the right direction? --Ooperhoofd (talk) 20:19, 27 December 2007 (UTC)