Sakon-no-sakura

As seen from the Emperor's throne in the building, the front of the Sishinden is flanked on the right by a tachibana citrus tree and on the left by a cherry blossom tree. During ceremonies, military officers from the Sa-u-Konoefu (Literally, "Left and Right Guard Offices") were positioned near each tree. Later, they became known as 'Ukon no Tachibana' (Tachibana Citrus on the Right) and 'Sakon no Sakura' (Cherry Blossom on the Left). At the end of the 8th century, when the capital was moved to Heian-kyo (now Kyoto), the plum tree, which was a highly prized foreign species, was planted in front of Shishinden along with the tachibana citrus, a local variety. But in the middle of the 9th century (during the reign of Emperor Ninmei, the 54th Emperor), it was replaced by a local cherry blossom tree, and the combination of tachibana citrus and cherry blossom tree became a tradition.