A Wuhan University scholar started a blossoming debate on social media after he criticized an advertisement placed in Japan by a Chinese company that suggested the country's national flower originally came from China.

The controversial billboard over downtown Tokyo reads, in Chinese, "Tokyo, can you see this? Wuhan is the world's home of cherry blossoms. Come view the sakuras at Wuhan University!" 

The ad was reportedly taken out by a Wuhan-based Internet company.

However, Wu Xiao, an expert on the history of Wuhan University, sparked discussion when he challenged the claim to the flower's fame.

"It is a known fact that sakuras as an ornamental cherry blossom tree come from Japan … most cherry blossoms in Wuhan and on the Wuhan University campus were first brought over by the Japanese during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45)," read Wu's article posted on local news website cnhubei.com.

"It is a joke to boast Wuhan as being the home of sakuras in their real home," the article read.

Wu also said it was wrong to advertise the flower of China's "former invader," as they symbolize a "shameful memory in our history."

The article triggered discussion on social media. Some took up a nationalistic view of the confusing billboard.

"It's like if a foreign city put an advertisement in Beijing claiming to be the hometown of pandas," wrote "MrV."

Others just expressed their bewilderment over the issue.