ayumi takano

Up to this week, I told you the topic not so interesting but from this week, I’d like to talk about the Unification of Japan! To hear unification of japan, you may come up with 3 men, Nobunag, Hideyoshi and Ieyashu. They become a reader of Japan (Shogun)! By reading this book, I learned very interest story of those three great figures. So if you have interesting in this topic, I strongly recommend to read this book, Nobunaga’s story is most attractive for me. Firstly, do you know how did he show his authority in Kyoto? He outstanding the Ashikaga and assuming formal charge of the country. And he did very cruel thing, he destruct Mt. Hiei, greatest mountain for Buddhism). His first step to make his unification is showing his power! Another story of him I want to talk is “Nobunaga is called Japanese Napoleon”.   There are 3 main reasons. 1, they tried to make new nation (modern nation) 2, they had outstanding leadership and strategy for war. 3, their miserable death I...

“Noh” is this week’s topic! I know, almost of you have negative opinion of “Noh”. That because Noh takes long time even they play short story, Noh uses mysterious and scary masks, Noh play slow music put us to sleep. From those reason, I also have negative opinion about Noh, but I hope you to have a little interest in Noh. Noh’s concern is with trapped souls and higher truths and also this is art of Zen. In brief, there are two timelines (now and after death) and two worlds (human world and spiritual world) in Noh. “shamanistic”( シャーマニズム : 意のままに神や精霊と直接接し、会話や儀式を行うこと ) is also very important element. That’s because, “Shite” (representative of the spirit world) and “Waki” (representative human world) play on the same stage as if Waki are submitting to its spirit. It explains the great reverence with which the masks are treated. Thank you for your reading. 📚   (184 words)

In this week, I also want to talk more detail about Jodoshu and Jodoshinshu. Firstly, let’s look at Jodoshu. The main temple for Jodoshu is Chion-in. we can see an imposing set of steps and the largest gate in Japan at there. Also, there are a huge series of hand scrolls. Jiriki( 自力） and Tariki ( 他力 ) is very important word in Jyodoshu. Earlier persuasion, they relied on oneself. However, Honen, a reader of Jodoshu said, “Instead of reliance on one’s own power （自力） , we can rely on another( 他力 )”. In place of wisdom and asceticism, he preached the importance of devotion and charitable works. It was a reformation which opened up Buddhism to ordinary people.   Secondly, I want to talk about Jyodoshinshu. The main temple is Nishi-Hongan-ji. Nishi-Hongan-ji is said that, it had a bigger budget then the whole of Kyoto prefectude. In his opinion, we have to say “Na-mu-A-mi dabustu” only one time from your heart! That is big different from Honen’s opinion, saying this words again a...

A topic I want to introduce you this week is Buddhism. Do you know the magic word “Na-mu-A-mi-da Butsu”? In Jodoshu and Jodoshinshu, Only to say this words, everyone get advantageous, bless and aid even they are poor people. In that period, poor people didn’t have enough informations or chances to know or conduct Buddhism cult, but just say “Na-mu-A-mi-da Butsu” is very easy! That’s why Jodoshu and Jodoshinshu became very popular among various range of class. In same period of those new persuasion, a lot of statue were made. The famous one is Amida statue at Byodo-in. this statue was made by a technique called Woodblock( 寄木造 ) style. This style was the significance of the change from the earlier technique. This new technique made the statues stronger and havier. And easy to make! So, this was also spread around quickly. Thank you for your reading 📚 　　　　　（１４９ words ）

This week, I will tell you about  fashion and Shinden style. Some of you already know, In Heian period, there were completely different sense about beauty. Women changed there face white, shaved all eyebrows and rewrote upper place, there teeth colored black, and their body was must be a little plump. Court women’s clothing was Jyuunihitoe. It has long train and teal eyes long undergarment worn(長襦袢). Sound so heavy isn’t it? Actually, the weight all there clothing was more than 20kg！however, they had very beautiful and brilliant pattern like flowers. The pattern was changed each season.  It sound beautiful. Do you want to try on?? Shinden style is maybe most famous Japanese constructive style. This style, the rooms were open and airy and there were land scraped ground. We can feel very good air circulation and harmony with nature. I want to live such house! thank you for reading!