Sakura (or cherry blossom), the national flower of Japan, originated in neither Japan nor South Korea, but rather in China, said a member of China Cherry Blossom Association.

Thousands of cherry blossom lovers crowd a 200-meter-long path at Wuhan University in Hubei province on Saturday, turning the usually quiet campus into a crowded park. It was estimated that more than 100,000 visitors made their way to the annual event, March 21 2015.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

He Zongru, the executive chairman of the China Association of Cherry Blossom, made the statement on Sunday after Korean media's claim that cherry blossoms originated from the country's Jeju Island earlier this month was denounced by Japanese media, reported Southern Metropolitan Daily on Monday.

"We are not fighting a war of words with South Korea and Japan, just making it clear that much historical literature supports the fact that China is where cherry blossoms were first cultivated. As Chinese, we have the duty to let more people to know its true history," said He.

Cherry blossom originated in the Himalayas in China's territory and found its way to Japan in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), added He.

The cultivation of cherry blossom in China dates back to the Qin (221-206 BC) and Han (206 BC - 220 AD) dynasties more than 2,000 years ago when the flower was bred in royal gardens.

After it was introduced to Japan, probably by migrating birds according to experts, cherry blossom gained its popularity on the island nation as symbolizing the fleeting nature of life, and appreciating cherry blossoms became an established practice over the centuries.

At the news conference, He concluded his remarks on the breeding of cherry blossoms by saying, "In a word, the cherry blossom originated in China, thrived in Japan, and has nothing to do with Korea."

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