JAPÃO- UM DIÁRIO DE ARTE E CULTURA

The main gate is called "Sanmon (mountain gate)" because Buddhist temples are regarded as mountains.
The Shitenno (Buddhist protectors of the four directions) who guard the Dharma, stand at the four corners of the ground level.

"Komokuten": King of the West.

Butsuden, the Buddha hall is the center of the seven main buildings.
The main altar contains statue of the Buddhas of the Three worlds (Past, Present and Future), Shakyamuni Buddha, Amida Buddha and Maitreya Buddha.

Center: Shakyamuni Buddha (The Buddha of the Past)
Right: Amida Buddha (The Buddha of the Present)

Left: Maitreya Buddha (The Buddha of the Future)

The frieze of carvings contains Buddhist teachings particularly important for monks in training.
The tablet hung above the altar signifies dedicating oneself to all sentient beings.

The most important building of Eiheiji, Sodo, also called Undo for the monk-trainee.
The Sodo is one of the three important training places (three silent places), where talking is prohibited.
Three important training places in Japanese Zen Buddhist temple: Tosu, Sodo and Bath room. 
This Sodo lined with platforms called "TAN" on which are Tatami mats.
Each monk-trainee has just one Tatami mat, about 1 by 2 meters, on which to do Zazen, eat and sleep.
The central statue is Manjusri Bodhisattva.





Daikuin (Kitchen), a three-story building with a basement.
Meals are prepared in this Kitchen for all the resident monks. All food is vegetarian.
Dogen Zenji, the founder of Eiheiji, was born in 1200 A.D.
He wrote "A dish is not necessarily superior because you prepared it with choice ingredients, nor is a soup inferior because you made it with simple greens. The many rivers that flow into the oce

an become the one taste of the ocean. Upon flowing into the pure ocean of dharma, there are no such discriminations as delicacies or plain food; there is just one taste, and it's the Buddha dharma, the world itself as it is."
Idasonten (a guardian of the dharma) is located in the center at the front of the building.

The most influential Zen temple in the world, "Eiheiji", Part.2
The Bath building for monks is one of the three important training places (three silent places), where talking is prohibited.
Three important training places in Japanese Zen Buddhist temple: Tosu, Sodo and Bath room.
(I will introduce about Tosu and Sodo later.)
Monks shave their heads and bathe every time the date contains a 4 or 9.

In the morning, they shave each other's heads, and in the afternoon they enjoy a bath.
Before entering bath, each monks makes three bows while reciting "We bathe vowing to benefit all beings ; may our bodies and minds be purified both inwardly and outwardly".
The after for this vow holds an image of Baddabara Bosatsu (Bodhisattva).
It's said Baddabara Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) reached enlightenment through the medium of the bath water, so this Bodhisattva is traditionally associated with the bath.
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I will upload amazing pictures more from this Japan's Super Zen monastery this week. See you tomorrow. by Miyuki (JCA's President and Chief Executive Officer)

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! It's 10:20pm Friday here in Japan!
Kimono Obi Style "Far East Amur adonis".
Our new class: Kimono https://www.japancultureagency.com/en_kimono.html
More pictures: http://feeds.japancultureagency.com/japancultureagency

Ohayou gozaimasu (Good morning)!! It's 9:10am Saturday here in Japan! (^_^.)
Tsujigahana Kimono: Flower of Textile Art, and gold thread are used.
Tsujigahana (つじがはな / 辻が花) is one of Japanese tie-dyeing techniques called Boshi-Shibori (ぼうししぼり / 帽子絞り). From the Muromachi period (1392–1573), the Tsujigahana is extremely popular in Japan.
Boshi-Shibori Dyeing Techniques: The area to be reserved is stitched off, then wrapped in a bamboo sheath.

Zazen (ざ ぜん / 座禅), Zen meditation or sitting meditation. In Japanese Buddhism, this is called "警策 (きょう さく / Kyosaku)". The kyosaku is a blow given to shoulders with the light wooden stick carried by a Zen monk during zazen. You'd like to try Zazen in Japan? ^^
"一味清浄法喜禅悦"の境を悟る
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OHAYO!! (Good morning)!!!! It's 6:50am Saturday here in Japan.
Yesterday we worked on a chabako (ちゃ ばこ / 茶箱) variation called Wakei-date (わ けい だて / 和敬点), invented by the 14th Urasenke Grand Tea Master Iemoto, 淡々斎 (たん たん さい / Tantansai).
Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matane! ^^
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仁 (じん / Jin or Hito) - Benevolence, Bushido Code of the SAMURAI
This word is so important for Japanese leaders. The latter half of the name, "仁" has been inherited by the men of the imperial family. It has been a Japanese tradition to name, 諱 (いみな / imina) all male members of the Imperial family. Their name "仁" means "一視同仁" (いっ し どう じん / Isshi doujin / impartiality or kindly and lenient attitude toward all people) to all Japanese people.
仁 to be the highest requirement of a ruler of men.
Have a nice Tuesday!!!!!
Shodo: The Japanese Way of Calligraphy: https://www.japancultureagency.com/en_japan_culture_04.html

OHAYO!

Ichigo (いちご / 一期) and Ichie (いちえ / 一会) are Buddhist terms expressing the Buddhist spirit, and also the term is derived from "Zen" Buddhism, and linked with Japanese tea Ceremony.
Ichigo means the period between birth and death in Buddhism.
Ichie means gathering of Buddhist memorial.
Ichigo-ichie, meeting with people is a one time experience in a lifetime encounter.

This is the basic layout of the Gobutsuzenwan (ごぶつぜんわん / 御佛膳椀) for Japanese Zen Buddhist cuisine called Shojin-ryori (しょうじんりょうり / 精進料理) to ancestors.

Zazen dojo in the Naritasan temple. Zen Buddhism is based on a sitting practice known as Zazen. Samurai achieved perfection in martial arts through the practice of Zazen.

Shakyo: Hannya-Shingyo, transcribing of 278 characters of Buddhist sutra. Shakyo is one of the simplest forms of Buddhist training. It is practiced as a way of prioritizing relaxed moments in daily life.
Shinto (しんとう / 神道) and Buddhism (ぶっきょう / 仏教) are JAPAN's two major religions. Do you know difference of Shinto and Buddhism??? Major difference between "Shinto" and "Buddhism",
Buddhist monks pray to Buddha with burning incense in Temple (おてら / お寺).
Shinto priests pray to God in Shrine (じんじゃ / 神社).
Historically Shinto and Buddhism share each functions.

We send you a Zen word from Tea House. "冷暖自知" (れい だん じ ち / Rei Dan Ji Chi). This word means that we can't know whether Tea is Cold or Warm unless we taste it with our tongue. However many times we may hear other people talk, "This restaurant is not good", "This is a bad job", "He is notorious as a liar", .....
Please don't forget "To feel cold or warm through your own experiences".
We would like to say to p

"Kusa-Dango"!! Itadakimasu

"Hisureba Hana Nari, Hisezuba Hana Naru Bekarazu"
It means "if the secret of the flower becomes known to the public, it is not a true flower anymore". Zeami (an important founder of the Noh) wrote this words 600 years ago to pass on his teachings of the Noh. He makes quite clear that the temporary flower is not the true flower, and the concept of the flower can mean many things.

"Mizubachi" (water basin) made of Shigaraki pottery. The Shigaraki ware is a pottery produced mainly in Shigaraki area in Koka city, Shiga prefecture, one of the oldest 6 kilns in JAPAN.

n Japanese Buddhism, the week with the Equinox Day in the middle is called "Higan", Buddhist holiday. We Japanese clean the tombs, offer new flowers and incense, and pay homage to our ancestral tombs. The word Higan means "the other shore" or "the farther shore".

"Chabana" is a style of flower arranging used in Japanese tea ceremony. It has roots in Shinto and Buddhism.

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! Today, March 3 is Hina-matsuri, Japanese girls festival!!

We Japanese have three flowers to compare to a beautiful woman. In Japan, when making a compliment to beautiful woman in appearance and good behavior, we use this phrase.
"立てば芍薬 座れば牡丹 歩く姿は百合の花" which means, "Standing style is as Paeonia lactiflora, sitting as Peony, walking style is Lily"
This is the words that compared a characteristic of the way of blooming of these flowers to the beauty of the woman. Try this words to beautiful woman in JAPAN

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! Today, Snowing in TOKYO!!! ^^;) Can't wait for spring!

Japanese Tea Ceremony, Chanoyu is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism, Wabi-Sabi (Beauty in Simplicity). and Charcoal called SUMI is an essential element of the Chanoyu tradition. Before the Chanoyu starts host of the tea ceremony will prepare the SUMI fire under the Kama (Tea Kettle).

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! It's 2:50am and 4 degrees here in Tokyo!!

Do you know "Tsubaki"? Japanese Camellia (Tsubaki) known as Tea Ceremony's flower. It flowers during late winter and early spring in Japan.
Japanese: "あしひきの 八つ峰の椿 つらつらに 見とも飽かめや 植ゑてける君"
English: "Ashihikino yatsuwonotsubaki tsuratsurani mitomoakameya uyetekerukimi"
It means "I'm never tired of seeing camellias which were planted by you"
written by Otomo no Yakamochi (Japanese poet in the Nara period). The poem from Manyoshu (one of the oldest Japanese poetry collections which still exists).

Konbanwa (Good evening)

Peach blossom flowers!! It's the beginning of Spring in Japan!!! The flower color of Pink is called "Momoiro (Japanese traditional color)", "Pink or Peach" is different from "Peach blossom color".... especially around KIMONO, Japanese traditional colors are used well. In those days, Peach blossom flowers were actually used in dyeing.

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! It's 11:05pm and 11 degrees here in TOKYO!!!! Yesterday we received many mails about SAMURAI's name! 

"Minamoto clan (源)" and "Taira clan (平)", are not equal to the mere family names, Oda clan, Tokugawa clan... The Minamoto clan is a family whose surname is Minamoto. "Taira" and ”Minamoto" are not family name, they're surname. The Minamoto clan, which refers to a clan

 who carries Minamoto as surname.
That's why the full name should be write by inserting "no" in between his surname "Minamoto" and his personal name "Yoritomo", to indicate his belonging. and also Taira "no" Kiyomori.
Many families of the Minamoto clan used the Minamoto surname and were collectively referred to as GENJI (the Minamoto clan).
Only 4 of Tokugawa Ieyasu's 11 officially recognized male heirs were allowed to take the name "TOKUGAWA", Yorinobu, Hidetada, Yoshinao, Yorifusa.
"Tanaka (田中)" is the real surname of Sen "no" Rikyu (千利休).
Historically, family name and surname had different meanings in Japan. Today in Japan, the surname is called "Myoji (as family name)", and the given name is called "name (as first name)". (except the Japanese Imperial Family.)

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! It's 1:47am and 6 degrees here in TOKYO!!!! What's the name of this mochi?? (^.^)
Typically we eat this traditional sweet during higan periods in Spring and Autumn. Traditionally, it called "Bota-mochi" in Spring. and in Autumn we call it "Ohagi".
Bota-mochi is named after the peony called "Botan" in Japanese, which blooms during Spring!
Ohagi is named after the bush clover called "Hagi" in Japanese, which blooms during Autumn!

Konbanwa (Good evening)!!! It's rainy and 5 degrees here in Tokyo! 
Sushi was introduced into Japan during the Heian period (794-1185).

Itadakimasu!! Oishii

Who is this?? Today (February 3) 

In 1901, he died. He was born into an impoverished low-ranking SAMURAI Family of the Okudaira Clan of Nakatsu in 1835. and the Founder of Keio University!!
10,000 JPY

Konbanwa (Good evening)!! Onaka suita (Are you Hungry) ?? It's 10:02pm and 0 degrees here in Tokyo!! Samui desu (It's cold)
"Anmitsu" is a traditional Japanese dessert (Sweets). Small cubes of agar jelly, Boiled peas, Red bean paste, Canned or Fresh fruits, sometimes... Mochi!! :D "Anmitsu" is usually eaten with a spoon and fork. Oishii 

Hi!! Hi!! Konbanwa(Good evening)!! Samui desu(it's soooo cold) here in TOKYO... It's 2 degrees! 
"Tea House" with SNOW!! in Hamarikyu Garden, Japanese Feudal Lord's garden during the Edo Period (1603-1867), is one of Tokyo's most famous gardens. Can't wait for Spring to come so we can sit under the SAKURA (Cherry Blossom) trees.

Konbanwa(Good Evening)!!!! ^^ Genki desu ka(How are you)? It's 11:40pm and 2 degrees here in TOKYO!! Yesterday's photo:
Traditional Japanese Sweets "Uguisu mochi". (^_-) SAMURAI Toyotomi Hideyoshi named such beautiful Japanese Sweets "Uguisu mochi", at a Tea Ceremony performed by Hideyoshi's young brother Hidenaga in Koriyama Castle, Nara prefecture. "Uguisu-mochi" is a Rice Cake coated with Green

 Soy Bean Powder (in the Edo Period Green Tea Powder was actually used) and filled with Red Bean Paste. Its color is light green like a Uguisu (Japanese Bush Warbler or Nightingale). (It's shaped like an Uguisu)
Since the Edo Period, the Japanese people have anticipated the first calls of the Japanese bush warbler called "Hatsune", by eating a "Uguisu-mochi". "Hatsune" is Japan's most famous sound of early Spring.
Hatsune was by no means Miku.... :P :xD Nevertheless, you Love Hatsune Miku? Sure, Go ahead! http://bit.ly/sHuWtx Her Cute version will be released on March, 2012 from JAPAN.

Konbanwa(Good Evening)!!!!!! It's 11:35 and 3 degrees here in Tokyo!! had a meeting at "Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel" in Shibuya!!!!
"NOH THEATRE" in Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel B2F, 26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, TOKYO.
More pictures on Google+ Page:http://plus.google.com/115657465830455155497 — with Justo Mario Moreno, Mig Bvi, Lety Neko-chan,Myla Vecida and Gisela Zusi Gunawan.

Sengakuji is one of Tokyo's most famous temple.