China Ceramics Network News The beauty of Japan lies in the natural coexistence of tradition and modernity. During the Casaro World Tour in 2019, we traveled to Japan for the second time. In Japan, what we experience personally is the beauty of Japan in movement.
When traveling in Japan, natural, traditional, modern and trendy things can be seen everywhere. You can see elegant women in kimonos, and you can also see cute Shibuya girls dressed in fashionable styles; you can visit well-preserved traditional buildings , you can also visit the "up-and-coming" city landmarks. Things with great contrast are like movement and stillness. There is no right or wrong. Instead, they complement each other and create a unique Japan.
Just as the Japanese haiku writer Matsuo Basho wrote: "In the spring of this morning, I don't know whose shapes are similar." In the spring of this morning, I don't know whose shapes are similar. Japan, a country with great tolerance, protects all kinds of beautiful existences and welcomes different beauties every day.
The most beautiful Mount Fuji is not in Mount Fuji
When talking about Japan, no one will ignore the existence of Mount Fuji. It has completely become one of the representative symbols of this country.
When talking about Mount Fuji, in the past we only knew it as a symbol of Japanese tradition, but this trip made me understand: Only true Japanese people understand that it is the soul of Japanese culture. For thousands of years, Mount Fuji has been regarded as a sacred mountain by the Yamato people. In the hearts of the Japanese people, Mount Fuji is sacred. In the past, Japanese people even believed that a person's life would be complete if he always made a pilgrimage to Sengen Shrine halfway up Mount Fuji once in his life. To this day, this love for Mount Fuji still exists, but in more diverse forms.
The Japanese people’s obsession with Mount Fuji has penetrated deep into their bones and integrated into their blood. Yuga Kurita is such a Japanese photographer who only thinks about and photographs one mountain in his life.
“I traveled around the world to find what I was looking for, and now I realize it has always been in Japan”
In Kurita’s shots, Mount Fuji undergoes endless changes at every moment, all year round, 24 hours a day. In Kurita's photos, the beauty of Mount Fuji is like a girl, shedding the high profile of being aloof and repelling people thousands of miles away, with various postures, combined with ordinary and even weak images such as morning sun and night moon, spring cherry blossoms and autumn maples, revealing Such extraordinary charm.
"Diamond Fuji-Photo by Yuga Kurita" You have the opportunity to meet from mid-October to February of the next year
In addition to capturing the beauty of Mount Fuji in photos, the Japanese also solidify the spirit of craftsmanship and the beauty of Mount Fuji in their architecture. The most amazing thing among them is the wonderful idea of turning Mount Fuji upside down - the Mount Fuji World Heritage Museum.
The Mount Fuji World Heritage Museum was designed by Shigeru Ban, a famous Japanese architect known for innovative and environmentally conscious designs. This is a building that will be unforgettable just by looking at it - the upside-down "Mount Fuji" is as bright as snow, and the woven exterior wall with natural colors is like the reflection of Mount Fuji slowly being lifted up in the water, and it is as clear as snow. The true volcanic nature of Mount Fuji forms a symbolic contrast with the "water mountain", quietly exuding a unique charm.
This architectural design reveals Shigeru Ban’s magical control over structure and materials, how he skillfully integrates Mount Fuji into the architecture, just like realizing the reflection of a bright moon in the water, it is so beautiful and dreamlike.
A date with a deer atNara Park
Nara Park is designated as a national scenic spot in Japan. The most famous one here is the deer at Kasuga Taisha Shrine. They are regarded as messengers of God and are carefully cared for by people. There are more than 1,300 deer living here. Most of them are docile and lovable. They are not afraid of strangers and like to act coquettishly. Going to Nara to see deer has become the reason for many people to go to Japan. This stop has also become a stop in my heart
The deer in Nara range freely, they are like children. Seeing these spiritual creatures, sometimes approaching to beg for food, sometimes watching from a distance to worship, I believe that many people who come because of the deer will become quiet and peaceful in their hearts.
In Japan, a big animation country, Nara has been drawn in many comics. Many comics use Nara as the prototype to draw the coveted Nara. Nara is picturesque all year round. It seems to be the existence of a comic, exquisite, innocent and romantic. It is like a pure land in Japan, where all people and good things gather in Nara. It is spiritual and Have faith.
Re-understanding Japanese temple culture
Some people say that the Japanese celebrate their birthdays in shrines, get married in churches, and are buried in Buddhist temples. Although not all of them, it does reflect an interesting aspect of Japanese religious views.
I believe that many people associate Buddhism with Japan. Although Shintoism is the original Japanese religion, Buddhism also plays an important role in the lives of Japanese people. Especially in the mid-sixth century AD, Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China. After thousands of years of development, it has not only affected the lives of Japanese people in art, poetry, architecture, gardening and tea ceremony, but also in many aspects.
(Casaro designer group members visit Japanese temples)
Temples will carry out various sacrificial activities during festivals, and there will also be stalls selling Buddhist scriptures, snacks, souvenirs, travel souvenirs, etc. around them. Some temples will also provide meals, meditation, and even accommodation services. If you want to deeply experience Japanese culture and appreciate Japanese ancestral architecture, temples with long histories, grand buildings, quiet and solemn buildings in various places are a must-see.
Among them, we have to mention the Sensoji Temple we visited during our journey. Sensoji Temple is the oldest and most popular temple in Tokyo. It is crowded with tourists not only on holidays but also on ordinary days. The main gate of Sensoji Temple, commonly known as Thunder Gate, is called the Wind and Thunder God Gate, because on both sides of the gate are the God of Wind and God of Thunder.
(Sensoji Temple, the most popular temple in Tokyo)
There is a large lantern hanging on the Kaminarimon Gate. It was donated by Konosuke Matsushita, the chairman of Panasonic Electric. It is four meters high and weighs 100 kilograms. In the temple, you can see big lanterns hanging everywhere, red or black, and the name of the donor is written on the back of the lantern.
(Big lanterns can be seen everywhere in the temple)
As we all know, the current Japanese Buddhist culture is somewhat different from our definition of Buddhism, but you may not know that many Japanese temples carry the function of operating cemeteries. You can place an "approximately equal to" symbol directly between a Japanese temple and a cemetery.
The thought that all things have spirits has always been deeply ingrained in the hearts of many Japanese people. Even a tree or a stone has its guardian spirit, and the same must be true for the deceased relatives; so for tombstones nearby The Japanese people are not as taboo about this lifestyle as we are. On the contrary, some people even believe that they will become Buddhas after death, and the closer they are to them, the easier it is for them to be blessed by gods and Buddhas.
Living with a "soul" is more like their attitude towards life that should be normal, it stands there just because of its existence, it will not change much, but it will inherit the concern of relatives for it, as well as a withered cherry blossom.
(This article is provided by the enterprise)
