Only Die When It Is Your Time

HEADLINE: ONLY DIE WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME

花は桜木

人は武士

Hana wa sakuragi

Hito wa bushi

"[In] Flowers it's Cherry Blossoms, [In] Men it's Warriors."

This is the suggestion that of all flowers, sakura is the best; in men, it is the warrior. Warrior, so written, is samurai, but there is a hidden, implied meaning. Often times, sakura is a representation of the samurai, largely implicit. So, how did this come to be?

There are two sources, among many, that suggest how this connection came about. 

The first was an old legend. An aged samurai had long outlived his family. He had buried the loves of his life, and all that remained for him was a single sakura tree. He looked upon it, and over time, it too died. 

Bereft of all of his loves and reasons, he stepped out into the winter snow and begged the Gods to grant him one last wish. If this tree were to bloom again, he would give his life. Then, the Gods looked down upon the fatigued warrior and granted his wish. The tree breathed again and it's branches became heavy with virginal, white blooms. 

True to his word and his commitment, he placed a blade into his stomach and ended himself with great honor and respect. His blood soaked the snow, soaked into the earth, and nourished the roots of his beloved tree. As the tree thrived, the bloom, once white, became pink with the blood of his sacrifice. To this day, all sakura honor the samurai in reflecting his blood as that of their own. 

This connection continues anew, as the samurai is again linked to the the cherry blossom. As in the story, a samurai only falls when it is ended, as does the bloom. Sakura, and samurai, are beautiful, striking entities, that are fleeting. When it is their time, they will fall, as is their honor, with nary a protest.

In other words, the sakura blossom does not set free from the tree until it is ready - ready to die.  So too does a samurai not leave this world, until true and ready of honor and spirit to lay down and die.

This month of February the Convergence Chronicle decided to do something a bit different.  As we look out and see fire, ash, sorrow and fatigue, may you also see beauty, splendor, honor, and the pink of the great sakura.

 "[In] Flowers it's Cherry Blossoms, [In] Men it's Warriors."

Those that are left in Convergence are the very best, the chosen few who have made it through life, death, and the pursuit of a world that while dying, has yet to fall from the tree.  We at the Convergence Chronicle encourage each and every one of you; only die when it is your time, and from the sakura blossom to the samurai, when it is your time: die with honor.

Reporter: Alexi Alkaev-Kurosawa


For ease in navigating the Convergence Chronicle, please click the links below to see which pages have been updated for the month of February.  Be Sure to read this month's 'Conspiracy Theories' page to see an 'update?' to the sim-wide event involving DJ Slicer.  The Convergence Chronicle also has a new reporter, Candi, and her page can be found under 'Candi's Around Town.'

Happy Corner
Sleepless in Convergence
Conspiracy Theories
Candi's Around Town
Obituaries