Three Friends of Winter [left of a pair] c. 19th century

Yamamoto Baiitsu created this image on paper of the plum tree, one of the Three Friends of Winter, which can be found at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The plum blossom—evoking the unfurling of life from the frozen earth—has long carried symbolic weight. In Chinese and Japanese art, this symbol, along with pine and bamboo, stands for perseverance in the face of adversity, celebrated for withstanding the harsh conditions of winter. Consider the motif's journey: from ancient China, where it symbolized renewal and hope, to its adoption in Japan, where it became entwined with samurai ideals of resilience and honor. This visual language transcends mere representation. It speaks to a collective memory, a shared understanding of nature's cycles and humanity’s place within them. In each brushstroke, a subtle shift in meaning occurs. The cyclical return of this iconography mirrors our own psychological processes: memories resurfacing, adapting, and informing our present understanding. The plum blossom becomes more than a flower.