Chinaberry (Melia Azedarach) センダン（栴檀）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are Chinaberry flowers (Melia azedarach). The flowers look white from a distance, but they actually are pale purple, which creates a beautiful contrast with the green leaves.

Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)　センダン（栴檀）

Chinaberry (Melia Azedarach) センダン（栴檀）

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are fruits on a chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach). I paid attention to the tree because a bird on it was holding something in its mouth. Yes. That was a chinaberry fruit. I tried to photograph it but in vain. The bird flew away into the blue sky with its breakfast.  

Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)　センダン（栴檀）

Chinaberry Tree Was Used to Hang Heads😱 栴檀（センダン）は晒し首の木😱

Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are the fruits of Melia azedarach or more commonly known as the chinaberry tree. I've been wanting to take photos of these fruits since they were still green, but they were too high up. (My camera's telephoto zoom lens isn't so good.) Today, however, I found the light yellow fruits hanging low and scattered on the street. I didn't miss that opportunity!!

In Japan, however, chinaberry trees were hated until the Edo period (1603-1867) because of people's terrible perception of the trees deriving from the fact that the trees at the entrances of two prisons in Kyoto were used to hang the heads of criminals during the Heian period (794-1185). The chinaberry tree grows 20 to 40 feet tall. The heads on the trees must have been horrifying😱.

The chinaberry flower means "differences in opinion," i.e., another bad perception of the plant because different opinions are unwelcome in Japan. People in Japan value harmony more than anything, i.e., little tolerance for differences. I have no idea why the tree has come to be perceived like that and can't help but have deep sympathy for it😂.

Fruits of Melia azedarach 栴檀の実