奈良時代のはじめに中国から渡ってきた梅は、厳寒の中いち早く花を咲かせることから、忍耐力や生命力を象徴する花として愛好されてきました。学問の神様、菅原道真公が梅の歌を詠んだことから、天満宮の社紋にも用いられています。

Originated in China and brought to Japan in the Nara period.
Since the plum blossoms bloom before other flowers in the cold weather, they are considered as a ideal symbol for enduring adversity in life.
Michizane Sugawara (called “god of academic study in Japan) used Ume in his poet, the ume patterns are used as a symbol of the Tenmangu-shrine (famous for academic study).

Obi fabrics with this Japanese pattern from the obico selection