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-konoe-fu (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.