Japan Culture Agency Inc. (JCA)

The most biggest temple for Japanese female monks

2013-05-24T04:00:00.000+09:00

Emperor Shomu ordered to construct provincial monasteries and nunneries for the protection of the country in 741.

Empress Komyo (wife of Emperor Shomu), the first woman of non-royal birth to be granted the title of Empress in Japan, had access to both political power and private wealth.

She established infrastructure that greatly contributed to the flourishing of Buddhism in Japan.

This nunnery temple (the temple built under the order of the Emperor) called Kokubu-niji, was established by Empress Komyo.

The temple was heavily damaged in Taira-no-Masakado Rebellion....

The corridors between the middle gate and the golden hall were rebuilt.

"法花寺" Hokke-ji

You can see the Suzaku Gate Roof Tile Pattern of Heijo Palace,

Japan's first full fledged capital during the Nara Period (710-794).

Historic ruins of the Kazusa Kokubun Temple:

3-5-2 Kokubunjidai Chuo, Ichihara-shi, Chiba, JAPAN

Kazusa Province was a province of Japan in the area of modern Chiba Prefecture.

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Verse on Sounding Board

2013-05-22T09:07:00.000+09:00

At Japanese Zen monasteries today there are two annual retreats, which go by various names:

the rains retreat (雨安居) or summer retreat (夏安居),

and the snow retreat (雪安居) or winter retreat (冬安居).

May 15 to August 15 for the summer retreat

November 15 to February 15 for the winter retreat

Eiheiji Zen Temple (The Head Temple of Japanese Soto Zen Buddhism) Tokyo

Eiheiji today is still an active Zen monastery.

The retreat as it is observed in Buddhist monasteries around the world today is a ritual replication of the rains retreat originally observed by monks in ancient India during the three months of the monsoon.

The expression cloistered retreat still used in Japanese Zen Buddhism, reflects the fact that monks were forbidden to wander on foot during the rainy season.

[ Chinese ]

生死事大

無常迅速

各宜醒覺

愼勿放逸

[ Japanese ]

生死は事大なり

無常は迅速なり

おのおの宜しく醒覚すべし

慎んで放逸なることなかれ

[ Modern Japanese Translation ]

人の世の命をよく考えましょう

時は一刻足りとも待ってくれません

迷いから覚め

怠ることなく精進しましょう

[ English ]

The Matter of Birth and Death is Great

Impermanence is Swift

All Be Mindful of This

Take Care Not to Waste Time

Have a beautiful day!!!
Greetings from Japan.

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The Foro season in Japanese Tea Ceremony

2013-05-18T09:21:00.000+09:00

There are two seasons in Japanese tea ceremony and the layout of Tatami of the tearoom changes according to the seasons.

Furo (Brazier) season: May through October.

Ro (Sunken hearth) season: November through April.

We can embody tranquility when we make harmony, respect and purity our own.

In the Japanese tea ceremony, we should respect everyone and everything without distinction of status or rank.

茶はさびて心はあつくもてなせよ道具はいつも有合にせよ

ちゃはさびてこころはあつくもてなせよどうぐはいつもありあわせにせよ

Cha wa sa bi te kokoro wa a tsu ku mo te na se yo dou gu wa i tsu mo ari awase ni se yo.

Keep the tea rustic and through your heart, give warm hospitality; always simply put together utensils you already have.

Rikyu's hundred verses.

In the Japanese tea ceremony, spiritual purity is essential.

Have a beautiful weekend!!
Greetings from Japan.

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Shitamachi lifestyle and Japanese coppersmith's tools of the trade

2013-05-15T10:46:00.000+09:00

The word "Shitamachi (下町)" is composed of the word shita meaning “down” and machi meaning “town,” and one can often see it translated into English literally as “downtown.”

However, shitamachi is not the same as the English word downtown.

In Japan, Shitamachi was the area located outside of the castle walls where the city’s merchants and traders lived.

A doko is a copper device laid inside a hibachi brazier and used to boil water, and a doko-ya is a coppersmith's workshop.

The coppersmith made doko, as well as kettles, pots, and tools of copper.

He also took in repairs. In an era when people cared for their possessions and used them for a long time, a craftman who could repair their pots and tools was an essential part of the shitamachi community.

Fuel like coal or coke is burned in a stone kiln, which is supplied with a bellows that sends air into the fire and makes it hot enough to melt the metal.

The technique of using melted metal to repair damaged metal goods is called ikake (いかけ / 鋳掛).

Another repair technique is to cut a piece of metal approximately the size and shape of the hole or crack, hammer it to stretch it out, file it down to adjust the shape, then weld it into place.

The various tools necessary to do these jobs are stored in the workshop.

Himekyodai

A make-up case with a mirror attached.

Kiri-dansu

A clothing chest made of paulownia, a wood which is particularly good for protecting the contents from humidity.

Nagahibachi

Rectangular, box-shaped hibachi are called nagahibachi.

Doko

Water is poured inside and heated with a charcoal fire.

The doko is set inside a rectangular hibachi brazier.

Cha-dansu

A cupboard for holding dishes.

Kyodai

This small chest has s bracket on top for propping up a handheld mirror.

Shodo (Calligraphy tools)

Kimono tools

Shitamachi Museum
2-1,Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Have a wonderful day!!!!!!
Greetings from Japan.

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The nine manifestations of Amida Buddha

2013-05-12T07:48:00.000+09:00

The Japanese words, "上品" (high-quality, elegant, upper level) and "下品" (lower-quality, poor, lower level), originate from this temple, located in Tokyo.

Main tower

The main tower was designed according to descriptions in the Meditation Sutra "観無量寿経 / Kan mu ryou ju kyou", a principal text of Japanese Jodo Buddhism.

It was built in the early part of the Edo era in 1678 during the reign of the 4th Tokugawa Shogun Ietsuna by the great monk Ka seki shou nin on the donated land of the old Okusawa Castle ruin.

The nine manifestations of Amida Buddha each are installed in three separate halls (the halls of the three Buddhas).

The upper level hall: 上品上生, 上品中生 and 上品下生

上品上生 (じょうぼんじょうしょう / Jou bon jou shou)

上品中生 (じょうぼんちゅうしょう / Jou bon chuu shou)

上品下生 (じょうぼんげしょう / Jou bon ge shou)

The middle level hall: 中品上生, 中品中生 and 中品下生

中品上生 (ちゅうぼんじょうしょう / Chuu bon jou shou)

中品中生 (ちゅうぼんちゅうしょう / Chuu bon chuu shou)

中品下生 (ちゅうぼんげしょう / Chuu bon ge shou)

The lower level hall: 下品上生, 下品中生 and 下品下生

下品上生 (げぼんじょうしょう / Ge bon jou shou)

下品中生 (げぼんちゅうしょう / Ge bon chuu shou)

下品下生 (げぼんげしょう / Ge bon ge shou)

九品仏浄真寺 (Ku hon butsu jou shin ji)

7-41-3, Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Have a beautiful weekend!!!!

Greetings from Japan.

by JCA Blog Admin.

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Early Summer Tea Ceremony

2013-05-08T10:12:00.000+09:00

Enjoyed the Early Summer Japanese Tea Ceremony!

上手にはすきと器用と功積むとこの三つそろふ人ぞ能くしる

じょうずにはすきときようとこうつむとこのみっつそろうひとぞよくしる

Jou zu ni wa su ki to ki you to kou tsu mu to ko no mittsu so ro u hito zo yo ku shi ru.

To become adept at something requires liking it, adroitness, and the accumulation of training. It is the person with all these three who will realize mastery.

by 利休百首 / りきゅうひゃくしゅ / Rikyu's Hundred Verses.

Hanging scroll: 唯真閣 / ゆいしんかく / Yui shin kaku

Have a beautiful day!!!

Greetings from Japan.

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Rikka, the first day of Summer in Japan

2013-05-05T09:29:00.000+09:00

Today May 5 is Japan's National Holiday, Children's Day called "Ko domo no hi" in Japanese.

and also today is the first day of Summer called "Ri kka" in Japanese.

Rikka is a seasonal day according to the Japanese calendar, which divide a year into 24 solar terms.

Traditional Japanese Sweets with Koinobori (Carp streamer) to celebrate "Tango no Sekku (traditional calendrical event for children)"

It's Sunny and 17.5 degrees celsius in Tokyo area.

Have a beautiful Sunday!!!!!
Greetings from JAPAN.

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Greenery Day in Japan

2013-05-04T23:23:00.000+09:00

Today May 4 is Japan's National Holiday, Greenery Day called "Mi do ri no hi" in Japanese.

White kerria

Chloranthus serratus

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Greetings from JAPAN.

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Constitution Memorial Day in Japan

2013-05-03T22:06:00.000+09:00

Today May 3 is Japan's National Holiday, Constitution Memorial Day called "Ken pou ki nen bi" in Japanese.

Why is it important for Japan?

Today was the day to think about it... ;)

Chimaki (粽) is a sweet rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaf.

Kashiwa mochi: Traditional Japanese culture.

Chimaki: Traditional Chinese culture. (known as zongzi in China. Japanese style is a sweet rice cake.)

In Japan, they both are eaten during the Children's day (May 5).

In China, it is celebrated on the chinese calender.

Matcha, powdered green tea!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Greetings from Japan.

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The eighty-eighth night from the beginning of Spring

2013-05-02T21:39:00.001+09:00

Today May 2 is the eighty-eighth night from the beginning of spring on the Japanese Calender.

Japanese tea girls pick up the new Green Tea leaves.

You will enjoy the excellent flavor of Japanese green tea of this year.... ^^

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Grand Exhibition of Sacred Treasures from Shinto Shrines

2013-05-02T20:40:00.000+09:00

Grand Exhibition of Sacred Treasures from Shinto Shrines in Ueno, Tokyo.

We really enjoyed the exhibition today! :D

Thursday, April 9 - Sunday, June 2, 2013

Tokyo National Museum

We are still enjoying the Golden Week holiday....!! (^.^)

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Traditional Japanese Sweets, Kashiwa mochi

2013-04-29T08:31:00.001+09:00

Kashiwa mochi is one of the traditional sweets that is most commonly eaten during the Children's day.

May 5 is Children's Day.

Kashiwa mochi (Japanese rice cake filled with red bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves).

Have your eyes see things, your ears also be in touch with things, smell incense, and as you question things, grasp their meaning well.

目にも見よ耳にもふれよ香を嗅ぎて

ことを問ひつゝよく合点せよ

Me ni mo mi yo mimi ni mo fu re yo ko o ka gi te ko to o to i tsu tsu yo ku ga ten se yo

Rikyu's hundred verses

April 29th is Japan's National holiday, Showa Day, the birthday of former emperor Showa, who died in the year 1989.

Have a wonderf golden week!! ^^

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The six internal senses in Kado, flower arrangement

2013-04-26T08:48:00.000+09:00

In kado (Ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement), more important than students' proficiency in arranging flowers is their ability to use their mind and all five senses to express with flowers what is in their heart in its pure state.

Japanese andromeda

Lupinus

Astilbe

Leucocoryne

Have a beautiful Friday!!!

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Oyatsu Time in Japan!

2013-04-24T15:22:00.002+09:00

Konnichiwa (Good afternoon)!!!

Oyatsu (お八つ) Time in Japan!!

Oyatsu is Japanese sweets time occurring between lunch and dinner time, and it's usually eaten at 3 in the afternoon (15:00) in Japan.

The word "お八つ (おやつ / Oyatsu)" originates from the old Japanese clock.

未の刻 (Hitsuji no koku / Sheep hour) is 八つ.

Lotus Yokan. (made of Wasanbon sugar with Lotus root powder)

Wasanbon: Japanese Sugar.

Lotus: Symbol of Japanese Buddhism.

Yokan is a traditional Japanese sweet, which is basically made of azuki beans.

(^_^.)

Have a good day!!
Greetings from Japan.

by JCA Blog admin

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Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Shakyo Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra)

2013-04-22T10:08:00.000+09:00

The Japanese word for "inkstone" (硯 suzuri), is written with a character made up of components that mean "see the stone" (石 / stone) and (見 / see).

The compound for "penmanship practice" (習字), on the other hand, literally means "to practice characters" (字 / characters) and (習 / practice).

Kado (Japanese flower arrangement), Chado (Japanese tea ceremony), Shodo (Japanese calligraphy)…the 'do' suffix of all of these words means 'way of,' and in Japan implies training. Training in all of these arts is spiritual training, and as such, it is closely related to the way of Buddha (Buddhism).

Unlike "penmanship practice," where people often use plastic "inkstones," in shodo one trains by looking at the stone as one grinds the ink.

Shakyo, or the calligraphic transcription of sutras

Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra)

Have a beautiful week!
Greetings from Japan.

by Blog Admin (JCA)

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The Japanese word "精進 (shou jin)"

2013-04-20T09:54:00.000+09:00

The Japanese word 精進 (shou jin) is Buddhist in origin and means "right effort."

Shojin means knowing oneself, being able to face oneself, and improving oneself, rather than measuring oneself against another person or company, and alternating between jubilation and sadness at one's performance.

Again, shojin is winning out not against another person or company, but against oneself.

The reason that medieval warriors practiced the arts of flowers, tea, and calligraphy was not to master the technical skills associated with these arts.

Instead, it was to cultivate the spirit of refining oneself.

Again, the process of examining oneself in the context of a form of Japanese culture, a culture which had its beginnings in Buddhism, is shojin.

BUSHIDO, Code of the Samurai

克己: Kokki - to control oneself

Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Greetings from Japan.

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Japanese tea ceremony, "一期一会"

2013-04-18T08:57:00.003+09:00

Chrysanthemum

Traditional Japanese Sweets:

Azalea and Japanese wisteria.

Azalea

Japanese wisteria

Thick tea (Koi-cha)

一期 Ichigo : one lifetime.

一会 Ichie: a Buddhist memorial service.

The contemporary equivalent of Ichigo ichie could be translated as "once in a lifetime."

(one opportunity, one encounter)

There are often two or more ways of reading Chinese characters in Japanese.

The two most common ways of reading them are called Go-on ("Wu sound") and Kan-on ("Han sound"). The two reading forms are distinct in that for any given character they each are thought to mimic the pronunciation of that character at the time and place in China from which they originated.

Generally speaking, the former readings are often employed with Buddhist terminology and historically old words. They are sometimes also known as Wa-on ("Japanese sound") readings.

Kan-on is the reading form that chronologically followed Go-on.

If one reads the phrase 一期一会 with Kan-on, it becomes Ikki ikkai, which is incorrect.

The correct reading, in keeping with the Buddhist spirit of the phrase, is Ichigo ichie.

When Buddhist monks read sutras aloud, they most often use the Go-on readings.

The same applies to many words used in traditional Japanese forms of culture such as chado (Japanese tea ceremony), kado (Japanese flower arrangement), and shodo (Japanese calligraphy).

Have a beautiful Thursday!!!
Greetings from Japan.

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The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu - Chapter 39 '夕霧 (Yugiri)'

2013-04-16T09:56:00.000+09:00

Hanging scroll: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu - Chapter 39 "夕霧 (Yugiri)"

This is a well-known scene from the Tale of Genji in which Hikaru Genji's son Yugiri is trying to read a letter from Ichijo-no-mi-yasundokoro, the mother of Ochiba-no-miya (and wife of the late Kashiwagi).

Kumoi-no-kari (Yugiri's wife) mistakes it for a love letter from Ochiba-no-miya to Yugiri and tries to sneak up from behind and take it away out of jealousy.

White Chrysanthemum

Pieris japonica or Japanese andromeda

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!
Greetings from JAPAN.

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ZEN Phrase 松樹千年翠

2013-04-14T10:20:00.001+09:00

Traditional Japanese Sweets "Pine"

松樹千年翠

しょうじゅせんねんのみどり

Shou ju sen nen no midori

松樹 (shou ju) : Pine tree

千年 (sen nen) : Thousand years

翠 (midori) : Green

People admire cherry blossoms in the spring and the changing leaves in autumn.
Their attention is also drawn to the constant flow on the market of new electronic devices with the latest features.

In this era of dramatic and rapid change, the pine tree is a source of reassurance in that it can endure the worst of tempests, yet still sprout new green needles where it has shed old ones, for a thousand years or more.

The pine is not an ostentatious tree: it produces neither colorful blossoms like the cherry nor autumn leaves like the maple. Instead, it strikes for us a gentle figure that remains more or less constant despite the changing seasons.

It reminds us of and compels us to give thanks to our mothers and fathers, who have watched over us with unchanging love in spite of changing circumstances.

It is our hope that from this Zen Buddhist phrase you may discover important truths about life that we ourselves have forgotten.

Have a nice Sunday!!

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KIMONO, Japanese Traditional Costumes

2013-04-12T10:40:00.002+09:00

To understand a country's spiritual forms of culture, such as kado (Ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement), chado (Japanese tea ceremony), shodo (Japanese calligraphy), ..... one must first have an understanding of the essence of the spiritual foundations behind them.

KIMONO, the traditional costumes of the Japanese people, is made from "straight-cut" and "straight-sewn" cloth.

One important thing to remember is that Buddhist symbolism plays a major part in the placement of things.

The symbolic hierarchy of the five elements in Buddhism, namely "earth, water, fire, wind, and void," as symbolized in Japanese stone stupas, has actually influenced the way kimono is worn.

First to remember is that left is superior to right, and top is superior to bottom.

This is because they each represent light and dark (commonly called yin, or 'dark' and yang, or 'light' in Chinese philosophy), and light is seen as superior to dark.

Etymologically, for example, the word for 'left' (hidari) is thought to be derived from a compound that meant 'fire' or 'sunlight,' whence the direction.

The word for 'right' (migi) is thought to have come from a compound meaning "where the water peaks."

Likewise, the most powerful persons in the imperial line of succession have been traditionally given titles with 'east' in them, and the most powerful aide to the ruler had the historic name of sadaijin, or 'advisor to the left.'

From these five elements, the KIMONO is put together using basic straight lines, with the 'fire' lines linking the clouds and the earth straight to the horizontal 'water' lines, which symbolize darkness.

"Back Protection" called Semamori is a stitched amulet on the back of Japanese Children's kimonos.

People tend to become distracted in our day-to-day lives by the superficial things and short-sighted perspectives, especially in this age of modern conveniences.

It is our hope that our fans may discover important things about life that we ourselves have forgotten.

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Greetings from Japan.

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Kado, the Japanese Way of the Flowers "Jokyu Rebellion (1221)"

2013-04-10T09:06:00.000+09:00

Flowers: Corkscrew willow, Paeonia lactiflora and Miyamayomena savatieri

Corkscrew willow

Paeonia lactiflora

Miyamayomena savatieri

(Japanese name: Forgetting the capital)

The 84th Japanese emperor, Juntoku was banished after his loss in the Jokyu Rebellion.

He was transferred from Kyoto to Sado Island.

When he is watching this flower "Miyamayomena savatieri" in Sado Island (the biggest island in Japan), he can stop the feeling of missing Kyoto....

We Japanese call the flower "Miyako wasu re (Forgetting the capital)".

Have a nice Wednesday!!

Greetings from JAPAN.

Blog Admin (JCA)

April 8, Tea Ceremony Celebration of Historical Buddha's Birthday

2013-04-08T10:57:00.000+09:00

Chabako (ちゃばこ / 茶箱 / a box containing a set of tea utensils) Japanese Tea Ceremony, picnic-style in the outdoors.

"天上天下唯我独尊 (Tenjou Tenga Yuiga Dokuson / In heaven and earth, only I, am the one to be respected.)"

This is a phrase Shakyamuni Buddha announced when he was born.

We are longing for world peace...

Have a nice week!

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Chabana Lesson, Cornus officinalis and Stemona japonica

2013-04-06T15:28:00.000+09:00

Chabana (Zen Flowers for The Japanese Tea Ceremony) Lesson,

Cornus officinalis and Stemona japonica.

Stemona japonica (Rikyuso)

"Stemona japonica", Chinese name "百部” (Byakubu)",

was introduced from China to Japan in the Edo period.

We Japanese call the plant "Rikyuso", named after great tea master Sen-no-rikyu.

Cornus officinalis

Have a nice Sunday!!!

Chabana (Zen Flowers for The Japanese Tea Ceremony) Lesson, Prunus incisa and Christmas rose

2013-04-05T16:43:00.001+09:00

Chabana (Zen Flowers for The Japanese Tea Ceremony) Lesson,

Prunus incisa (shrubby Japanese cherry tree) and Christmas rose.

Prunus incisa blooms around Mt. Fuji (Japan’s highest mountain), so the sakura cherry tree is called "Fuji zakura / ふじざくら / 富士桜" in Japanese.

Prunus incisa (Fuji zakura)

Christmas rose

Have a wonderful weekend!!! ^^

Greetings from JAPAN.
by Blog Admin (JCA)

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Today April 3, Anniversary of the founder of the Obaku sect, Zen monk Ingen Ryuki's Death

2013-04-03T10:50:00.000+09:00

Today April 3, Anniversary of the founder of the Obaku sect, Zen monk Ingen Ryuki's Death.

Ingen Ryuki, founder of the Obaku sect, along with Soto and Rinzai, one of the three largest Zen sects in Japan.

He died at Mampuku-ji temple (founded in 1661) located in Uji-city, Kyoto, the head temple of the Obaku sect.

Common bean was brought from China to Japan by him, so the bean is called "IN GEN MAME (いんげんまめ / 隠元豆)" in Japanese. ^^

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

by Blog Admin (JCA)