Girls' " Sweet " Day

 

　The set of ornamental dolls "Hina-Ningyō" stood in line.

It is a thing to celebrate Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day March 3).

In a show case, I see the cakes which seem to be delicious and delicate.

　This is the traditional decoration.

Each doll has various roles.

The season is going to come this year.

　This shop is the long-established store of Japanese sweets ( Wagashi ).

The salesclerk puts on a clean cowl.

Her traditional style treats the heart of the customer.

Welcome to the classic world...

Here is Ginza, Tokyo.

ZEN Temple Eihei-ji in Winter

 

　

　Eihei-ji Temple is one of the oldest temples belonging to the Zen Soto sect which the priest Dōgen did a founder.

　It was founded to 1244.

　These outskirts are famous by having very much snow.

　Here is Eiheijicho, Fukui Prefecture.

　The Zen priest wears only a thin shoulder-worn robe (It seems to be very cold all day life, other Zen temple's link).

　And they sit in contemplation zazen without heating with bare foot.. before the daybreak to going to bed.

　The getting up is about 3:00. The bath is about once a week.

　The meal is "ichijuu issai " (ex.). Boiled barley and rice, miso soup, a side dish, a pickle.

　It means it "One soup One vegetables". Another helping? No!

　It may be difficult a little even if anyone is going to train oneself in this temple.

　Because the ascetic practices are very severe for a body mark and mind.

　And there is this temple distantly in a remote deep mountain from the town.

　If the exerciser gets tired of ascetic practices, he needs his life and courage to escape.

　Snow is piled up more than 3 meters in winter here.

　Therefore most the application is sent away even if they propose ascetic practices.

　It is called "turning away at the door" called Japanese "Monzen barai".

　The state of the summer look at here, please.

　Zen way is so far and inclement...

　Dōgen soul is here.

Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine

 

Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine

The mystery of the Far East, far away from you.

Here is Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

Shichi - Go -San ( seven - five - three )

Shichi-Go-San is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Far east.

For three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15.

Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian Period (794-1185) amongst court nobles,

who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood.

The children wear the kimono which was various colors.

Chitose Ame, literally "thousand year candy", is given to children on Shichi-Go-San.

It is long, thin, red and white candy, which symbolizes healthy growth and longevity. A girl has it.

The behind boy wears a white Tabi and Hakama.

Here is Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, downtown area of Tokyo.

" Autumn " Japanese-Calligraphy ( Semi-cursive script )

" 秋 " ( shū,or aki ). It is translated in autumn.

This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive script.

Etymology :　Semantic

秋 ⇒　禾 (grain)　+ 束 (bind)

The meaning harvests the crops, and bundle it up.

Autumn is the season of the blessing.

The abundant leads people to the joy.

Good fortune Meteor shower

　Please light up this darkness.

　The time goes by.

　Ah, this moment...

　Yours.

　And, ours.

　The future...

　The pure comes over from the everlasting distance.

　And, leave for faraway.

　The life...

　夕飯や　 花火聞ゆる　 川開

　　 正岡 　子規　　　　　 (1867 – 1902)

　supper time　　fireworks sound　　river festival

　　　Masaoka 　Shiki 　 (1867 – 1902)

In Japan, fireworks have a history of about 600 years. They are made by special craftsmen.

" Summer " Japanese calligraphy

 　 

" 夏 " (ka, natsu). It is translated as summer.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　Hieroglyph

The figure which the man attaches a big mask, and dance.

Then it came to gradually express the size of the person.

It has the meaning of the state that force is prosperous.

" The summer "

It is the season when it is good for a festival.

Human sturdiness may be expressed there.

I seem to hear human heart beating. . .

You don't have to come to Japan, a remote, far east part of the world, to see these fireworks displays.

And these places are remote within Japan. It takes effort to get there.

" Girls ' Day , March 3rd" Japanese Doll Festival

　　　The Japanese Doll Festival ( Hinamatsuri ), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3.

　　　A set of ornamental dolls ( hina-ningyō ) representing the Emperor, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.

　　　The custom of displaying dolls began about 1200 years ago.　

　　　The official decoration consists of five steps.

　　　Each position is selected as each role.

　　　I show respect for Lady in the whole world.

　　　Era when the talent of all women was utilized has come.

　　　And the world will become more peaceful if the status of women worldwide improves.

The introduction to the English version of Hinamatsuri, as introduced on Japan's national broadcaster NHK.

・The Hina doll, escorted by spring - The 72 Pentads of Yamato
・Hina Dolls: In Prayer for Healthy, Happy Children - Core Kyoto mini
・Doll Revival - Zero Waste Life

" Congratulations " Japanese calligraphy

　　　" 寿 " (ju, or kotobuki).

　　　It is translated as congratulations, felicitation, celebration, greetings, etc.

　　　This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive script.

　　　This character is very famous as "寿司 (su-shi)".

　　　There are the words called "寿命 life (whole duration of a being) " elsewhere, too.

In the silver world, hot spring " Onsen "

 

There is one hot spring inn in the other side of the way of this cliff.

　We walk to there.

　Innumerable hot spring (Onsen) spread through the whole country.

　Because I was born in a south area, I like Onsens of the winter.

　There is an outdoor bath in the other side of this hut.

　Here is Semboku, Akita Prefecture.

　It is a " nyūtō onnsenn village " in Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
Welcome to the forest of the beech.

　The heart of a mountain is dotted with hot spring inns.

　In this magoroku-onsen, color is white.

　The hot spring of Akita especially has the atmosphere of the old good Far East.

　Paradise in the intense cold.

　The onsen in the snow scene may let a person rebear.

I like this hot spring village the most.

Can you reach the deepest mountain hot spring in Japan?

Even deeper and more deeper....

" Snow " Japanese calligraphy

 

" 雪 " ( setsu, or yuki ). It is translated as snow.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

The original character is "䨮"

Etymology :　 雨 ( rain ) + 彗 ( broomstick )

The original meaning is sweeping the ground.

The person who devised a kanji is a poet, surely.

『 これがまあ　つひの栖か　雪五尺 』

小林一茶  ( 1763 - 1828 )

『 This is, well　my final home　1.5m of snow 』

Kobayashi Issa ( 1763 - 1828 )

『 馬をさえ　ながむる雪の　朝哉(あしたかな) 』

松尾芭蕉  ( 1644 - 1694 ) 

『 Even that horse　watching the snow　early this morning 』

Matsuo Bashō ( 1644 - 1694 )

" Autumn " Japanese Calligraphy

 

" 秋 " (shū,or aki). It is translated in autumn.

Ideogrammic compound   禾 (“grain”) + 火 (“fire”); 

after harvesting the grain, the fields are burned to kill locusts and their eggs.

This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive script.

What kind of kanji/calligraphy do you want?

Please tell me in your native language, and write it in the comments section.

Maybe I can accommodate your request.

Don't you think it's a good idea?

Inside Japan's Stunningly Beautiful Shukuba (Post Towns)

 walk through Narai Juku, and Tsumago Juku, Nagano Prefecture. 

Experience of Samurai's Legacy: Trekking the Timeless Nakasendo Trail in Japan.

10 spectacular autumn views on Nakasendo

 Magome-juku → Tsumago-juku

Tsumago-juku is a very impressive old Japanese house that is still preserved as it was back then.

Peace and tranquility of the inlet Ⅰ

 

　　　In this area, shorelines are complicated. Therefore we can watch interesting molding of the Nature.

　　　It is the very inconvenient sterile zone where most of the people do not live in. On that day, it was space without waves, sounds.

　　　Here is Genkai-chō, Saga Prefecture.

Some of my other photos.

Showa Commemorative National Government Park

Tachikawa, Tokyo.

Japanese sweet shop ( Wagashi ) Turuyayoshinobu, Kyoto.

Tōfuku-ji (東福寺) is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Prefecture.

" Shine " Japanese calligraphy

 

　　　"光" (kou, hikari). It is translated as happy, light, brilliant, shine, beam, ray, only, etc.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　hieroglyph

The kneeled person is holding it above one's head while bowing.

"火"　 The state to hold it above one's head.

+　　"儿" 　The person who kneeled.

Yes. The light is important for a human being.

It shines on the darkness.

What kind of kanji/calligraphy do you want?

Please tell me in your native language, and write it in the comments section.

Maybe I can accommodate your request.

Don't you think it's a good idea?

 One of the most beautiful hot springs in Japan [Ginzan Onsen]
These are the images.

Do you recognize this scenery?

That's right, if you're a fan of Japanese animation you'll know that.

How about a warm and beautiful hot spring?
Here is Yamagata Prefecture.

In Praise of Shadows " Japanese traditional aesthetics and culture "

 

There are shadows to the same extent as light. Humans may only see the light side.

Japanese culture and traditions have valued shadows.

But it can be hard to feel.

Maybe you know little of the shadow side. It can't be helped. 

　The beauty of the contrast has been adopted for interior decoration.

　The constant change gives deep interest for a one-day flow.

　Reflection. Fusion. Mixture.

　Clay wall, Wooden floor, and Wooden pillar.

　Long time and space melts in them.

　Transmission. Convergence. Dimness.

　Hope to be prolonged from darkness, ... returned in the shadow again.

　At the same time, limited life time.

　The contradiction will continue like ripples...

　********************************************

　In Praise of Shadows " 陰翳礼讃 : In'ei Raisan "

　It is an essay on Japanese aesthetics by the Japanese author and novelist Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.

　

The video below is a documentary about " In Praise of Shadows ". 

Produced by Japan's national broadcaster (NHK). 

Worth watching if you want to understand the spirit of Japanese culture.

Sublime beauties and works of art will appear.

Copyright prevents me from displaying it here. Please pardon.

" Festival " Japanese calligraphy

 

　　"祭" (sai, matsuri). It is translated as sacrifice to, ceremonial, festival, etc.

　　This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive script.

　　Etymology :　Ideogrammic compound

　　⺼ (meat) 　+　 手 (hand)　 +　 示 (ceremony)

　　The sound of these words is good for Japanese summer season.

　　Cheer is remembered by itself.

Kyoto Gion Festival, Welcome lanterns, 

Mikoshi washing ceremony ( July 10, 2023 )

 Japan's three major festivals, 

Kyoto dance entertainment dedication, 

Yasaka Shrine → Shijo Street → Kawaramachi

Before the departure of the Yamaboko Junko of the Gion Matsuri ( 2023.7.17 )

Miyabikai Misendo Yasaka Shrine Maiko and Geisha

Kuze Komagata Chigo "Ceremony of Shrine Attendance"

Festival departure

Night view of festival

Traditional summer festivals are held all over the country.