zen

 Japanese often find beauty in quiet things. It is called wabi sabi. "wabi " means  "looks simple ". It is came from verb "wabu". "sabi" represent the state that don't have a person.
It is came from verb "sabu". In zen, wabi sabi is empathized. So, There is the essence of Japanese aesthetics in zen. Here, I would like to write about Zen.


（in Wikipedia   Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the 6th century as Chán. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam, to Korea and east to Japan. The word Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (dʑjen) (Modern Mandarin: Chán), which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "absorption" or "meditative state".

 Zen emphasizes the attainment of enlightenment and the personal expression of direct insight in the Buddhist teachings. As such, it emphasizes mere knowledge of sutras and doctrine and favors direct understanding through zazen and interaction with an accomplished teacher. 

 Zen is famous for meditation training method. It is called zazen, zazen takes place in not too hot, not too cold, setting up breath pace and backing and turning your back to the wall. There is two way of folding legs. It is called 結跏趺坐（kekkafuza）　or 半跏趺坐（hankafuza）  
The way of the kekkafuza is placing the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh next, closing right heel to the belly. On the other hand, in hankafuza,only the left foot place on the right thigh. The hands form as mark 法界定印 (hokkai zyouin）.The way of it is facing up right palm and piling the left palm on right one. And, The tip of thumbs faintly combine each other. Eye halfway open and gaze at under 1m away. Pulling the chin, mouth and tongue tied lightly until it just touches the base of the front teeth. Keeping your back straight, pulling hip,facing nose and navel, the man protrudes his belly slightly. Breathing　leave naturaly. Sucking slowly from the abdomen, the man discharged from the abdomen. It is show that slowly breathing has been observed in zazen. Zazen takes about 45 minutes - 1 hour.( It is the time a incense is burned)  it is called "一炷" (ikka). It is unit of training. And,
 It is said that ascetic’s posture stoop if he disturbs concentration.Supervisor who is called tyokudo patrol behind a person who performs zazen in the temple, and if there is person who has collapsed posture, supervisor gives warning by striking the shoulder.


 Japanese as  I've written on this blog before, feel the aesthetics to discipline. There is also this aesthetics in zen.  I remember that even when I went on a trip to Kyoto before, I felt the beauty  because Kyoto was such neat disciplined. You can said that essential of beauty of Kyoto is hidden in zen. I suggest that the blog users perform zazen in Kyoto, and feel the beauty of Kyoto. 



cite  http://www.rinnou.net/

　　　 http://nurselife.web.fc2.com/
        http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9D%90%E7%A6%85

Art

 Kyoto art is very characteristic. And It is beautiful so much. Have You seen　Vincent van Gogh’s works? he is the author of famous work 『sunflower』 and one of the most famous artist in the world. I didn't know, but he loved Kyoto art. There is culture of Ukiyoe in the Kyoto. (Ukiyoe is one of the way of drawing) It is said that Gogh frequently copy it, and he respect Kyoto culture. Thus, kyoto culture is popular in the world.

 Nou has a history of about 600 years. It is like a musical in Japan. Although it is not clear the origin of the function, according to one theory, it is said that it is made from Sarugaku developed. It is the world's oldest performing arts mixing elements of drama, dance. poetry, music. Most of the main character is a ghost. And, main character narrate a life already complete. it is a magical theater. Although, saying ghost, it may seem like a scary content, Author trying to represent the pathos and nature of human which never changes by age and country. In addition, the actors are wearing a mask but  represent various expressions. I think it is interesting point of nou.

 Kyogen occured at about the same time with the nou. That two contrasting plays play in  set, Kyogen leads the hearts of the audience into a world of laughter from the nou world.
"Sarugaku" was imported from China during the Nara Period, and it became  "Sarugaku"  in the Heian period. Finally, against the tragic of nou, Kyougen born in Kamakura period  that empathised elements of laughter. Rather than a historical figure and noble, it differs from nou, main character is intimate and hilarious in kyougen. It leading to the modern culture of laugh.It is said to be easy to understand the content. It is also sophisticated in history along with the nou for long time, so it is called " Art of the laugh "  Kyougen takes place in various locations differing from nou, Kyogen is also played in celebration.

 Ukiyoe is a genre of painting that was established in the Edo period. It also called nishikie. There are wide variety of subjects such as theater legend and anecdote, classical literature, poetry, customs, regional, portrait, still life, landscape, cultural enlightenment, the imperial family, and religion. The word "Ukiyo", means "contemporary", so it is a genre painting depicting the customs in those days. While following the tradition of Japanese picture and keeping the cultural background of a painting style, it draw scenery and daily life of the people, and It is characteristic that bold composition, pattern which is clearly and that it does not have the representation of the shadow. 

 The photos in the above are Ukiyoe and copy of Van Gogh. There seems to be a unique atmosphere in the ukiyoe that is approved Van Gogh who is one of the world's best painter. I would say these that came from Kyoto is one of the representation of Kyoto culture.



cite http://www.toshu-fukami.com/1998/06/19980606_532.php
       http://kyotoshugakuryoko.jp/experience/detail.php?nid=260

       http://www.sense-nohgaku.com/noh/

Food

This week I write about food of Kyoto. In Kyoto, there are many confectionery which is called wagashi   (In Japanese, It is represented 和菓子 ”和” means "Japanese" , ”菓子” means "confectionery " ） So I want to introduce wagashi as a culture of Kyoto.

Wagashi is that candy made ​​in the traditional manufacturing method of Japan. Sometimes eat with tea in the tea ceremony and, It has not only good taste but also has nice appearance as candy craft. Because they often go with mattya tea, Japanese tea, uji tea and other tea, oil is not so much used. Relatively few types of main raw material, for example, Sugar, syrup, rice, wheat, and red beans, is produced many kinds of wagashi. 

Next, I show you example of wagashi.

Yatsuhahsi

  
Yatsuhashi is a kind of rice cracker that is made from streamed the steamed sugar, rice powder, Nikki (cinnamon, cinnamon) It was born in Kyoto sweets shop in 1689. When you put out to the store, wrapping fruit, chocolate,　bean paste by this dough, it is cut to a certain size.

 I remember that when I went to Kyoto on a school trip, I bought Yatsuhashi for my family as a souvenir. Yatsuhashi is very popular as a souvenir. People who buy confectionery as a souvenir of sightseeing in Kyoto climbed to 96 percent and, sales of Yatsuhashi accounted for 45.6% of the total. So, you can say that it is a typical souvenir of Kyoto.

Dango
  

 Dango is also kind of wagashi. There are many kinds of dango in Kyoto, so I introduce about it.

・ taste of salty-sweet
 It is dango leaving a mark of grill and putting salty-sweet bean paste which has resulted from boiled soy sauce, sugar, mirin, potato starch, and water. It is called amakara dango, shouyu dango, yaki dango Mitarashi dango.(How to call it is different from store or by region) In Japan, this seasoning is common.


・ taste of soy sauce

Dango taste soy sauce is made without adding sugar.This is rare type of dango.

・ taste of salt

There are many ways of eating, for example, winding nori, putting soy sauseand wasabi. It is like ways of eating sushi. And, It has many species, isobe dango, mitarashi dango and so on. 

Dorayaki

In general, the name of dorayaki went from the fact that the form of dorayaki similar to gong one's. In addition, it is favorite food of doraemon which is character of Huziko F Huzio’s work "Doraemon" . As a tie-up product, once dorayaki named after doraemon is manufactured and sold from such Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. In the other hands, Bunmeido sold dorayaki grilled mark of doraemon. 


In other, there are plenty of traditional sweets in Japan.( uiro, konashi, kinton, imagawayaki, sakuramoti, ohagi, daihuku) But, I think Kyoto confectionery has a aesthetic appearance when compared to these. My favorite part of Kyoto food is it. They will tell you that it is not only just to eat. You can say the height of the art of Kyoto is being hidden here as well.




 cite  http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%A3%E5%AD%90
 　　　http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%A9%E3%82%89%E7%84%BC%E3%81%8D
 　　　http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E3%83%84%E6%A9%8B

Animation

 Animation is one of the Japanese cultures. To tell you a truth, I love animation very much. I can say it is one of the my hobbies. So, I watch animation frequently, and I know fairly well about Animation Company. One of the most famous Animation Company that I know would be Kyoto Animation. You may say, ” I do not know the relevance of the anime and the Kyoto ”, but It is deeply connected Kyoto and animation through Kyoto Animation as Kyoto animation is expected to hit if you search Kyoto on Google. Then what would be thing that the reality of Kyoto Animation?

Kyoto animation established in 1981 by Yoko Yada who had been staff in Mushi Animation Company(It is established by Osamu Teduka who is one of the most famous cartoonists in Japan). There is building in Uji Kyoto prefecture, so It is called " Kyoto animation ". In beginning, it did finishing touches of other animation company, but it began to make a original works since about 1986. The characteristic of Kyoto animation is the highest expressive power in Japan. The below movie is Kyoto animation's commercial.

Also, Kyoto animation staffs love own works. In Kyoto animation, Making works it is not original frequently, there is a tendency that all staffs read the original work.(It is rare tendency. Generally speaking, All painters have to do is paint, and All representatives of voice have to do is caring voice). 

Then, what are the masterpieces of Kyoto Animation?  First, I  want to raised Suzumiya Haruhi no yuuutsu. 

 The story follows the narrator and protagonist Kyon, a cynical and incredulous student entering high school, who is dragged along by the title character, his classmate Haruhi Suzumiya. She is an eccentric girl seeking supernatural phenomena and figures such as aliens, time travelers and espers. (In Wikipedia)

It is based on novels " Suzumiya Haruhi series "  At the time of broadcast on television in 2006, it was broadcast in a different order as the order in the original work. Tatsuya Ishihara said that reason of it is both "original surprise for fans" and "faithful to the original".  To satisfy the condition of both, It is only way of broadcast. 

Second, K-On!  

K-On!'s story revolves around four Japanese high school girls who join Sakuragaoka Girl's High School's light music club to try to save it from being disbanded, however, they are the only members of the club.(In Wikipedia)

 The characteristic of this work is description of the everyday. By taking the number of many video depiction, you can judge the subtleties of the mind from the movement of Looking and casual gesture.  In addition, collaborating with various companies, It has caused a social phenomenon.




　I learned this company through the work  "clannad"(It is masterpiece no less than above two works )　

I remember when I saw this film the first time, I was surprised at the height of its power of expression.  I think these works which was born in Kyoto is, representing Kyoto culture, one of the art which name is animation.

cite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruhi_Suzumiya

       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-On!