日本文化 | Connect Japan and the world through Japanese spirituality｜ Japan Cross Bridge

2021-04-102021-04-10

-ICHIGO ICHIE- ZEN spirit and Japanese tea ceremony

“ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会)

Have you ever heard phrase “ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会) in Japanese?

This is ZEN spirit.

It means, “once in a life time meeting”.

This spirit comes from the Japanese tea ceremony.

The Tea ceremony has a deep connection with ZEN spirits.

When I tried the Japanese tea ceremony for the first time, I was surprised that the tea ceremony has so many rules.

Before, I used to think the tea ceremony was just a simple act of making green tea.

But every single movement has to be done followed by rules, such as, which leg you use to step into the room with first, how you hold the tools, where you put your tools, in which angle you move your arms, and how you open the tea container, how you hold the whisk and how you stir, and so on…

It’s just about a process that takes only a few minutes, however there are hundreds of etiquettes.

I was overwhelmed when I took part in the ceremony.

Then I started to wonder, why there are so many rules…

The tea ceremony teacher told me this was because of “ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会) – “ZEN spirit.”

Tea ceremony is an occasion when you enjoy every single moment.

The people gathering, the weather, the place, the sound, every element gets together and makes it an unforgettable event.

There is the spirit of “OMOTENASHI”(おもてなし), meaning Japanese Hospitality in this ceremony.

To make the most of the moment with the greatest hospitality, the tea master tries to do her or his best of making green tea.

For example, purifying the tools followed by the rules, the tea master shows respect to the guests.

That is the reason why there are so many rules.

By following the rules, the best moment is made, and the guests and the master can experience a great “once in a life time moment”.

“ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会) teaches us that the exact each moment we meet with others in our life never comes back and only one time, so we should make the most of it and give our best hospitality with appreciation.

2021-03-272021-03-27

The reason why cherry trees were planted

Japanese painting art Sakura cherry blossoms

The reason why cherry trees were planted.

Have you ever thought about the reason why cherry trees were planted?

In Japan, we can see so many cherry trees in everywhere.

Many of them are really old, few hundred years old.

An interesting point is, many cherry trees are planted by rivers.

This has a reasonable reason.

Ancient Japanese people planted cherry trees by rivers, so that many people would come and see the beautiful cherry blossoms.

They knew that many people visiting and walking there, would help make the soil harden, and help make the solid river bank.

So cherry trees were planted as a flood control measures.

Another interesting point is, that many cherry trees are in shrines and temples as well.

Shrines are Shintoism, and originally have deep relations with pine trees, but not with cherry trees.

However, people thought cherry blossoms’ gracefulness symbolizes the samurai spirit, and many shrines preferred to plant cherry trees as well.

Temples are Buddhism which has the deep relations with flowers.

They admired cherry blossoms as well as plum blossoms.

We cannot talk about Japanese history without the relations with temples.

Muromachi era, Sengoku era, around 13C to 16C, many temples already had cherry trees.

Famous Samurai and shogun enjoyed Sakura viewing “Ohanami” since then.

In Japan, people enjoy Sakura viewing “Ohanami” since ancient time, and this is a Japanese culture.

Many famous Sakura spots in Kyoto and Nara are in temples and shrines.

In Tokyo too, many famous Sakura spots are in temples and shrines, as well as by rivers, or near the water.

Ueno park, where many people visit for Sakura viewing, was once a temple.

Imperial palace is surrounded with moat.

Meguro river, Kanda river, Sumida river, Tamagawa river, Arakawa river, are all famous Sakura spots.

Our Japanese painting art Sakura cherry blossoms series

Our Sakura cherry blossoms jewelry series

2020-10-072021-03-28

Sakura cherry blossom – Japanese beauty and sensitivity

Sakura cherry blossoms painting art Kimono silk kakejiku

Japanese painting calligraphy art hanging scroll Kakejiku wall decor landscape Sakura cherry tree

I am obsessed with Sakura cherry blossoms.

Sakura is Japanese symbol.

We admire Sakura cherry blossoms in many ways.

Sakura is connected to our Japanese culture deeply.

Since ancient time, Japanese people enjoyed watching Sakura, called “Ohanami” (meaning “watch flowers”)

Spring time, under Sakura trees were full of people, sitting and having picnic.

This “Ohanami” habit is still very popular in Japan.

We see “Sakura forecast” (when cherry blossom start to bloom) on the TV news.

When Sakura starts to bloom, people start going out to have picnic under the Sakura trees.

This is our major Spring event.

We also eat Sakura flowers and leaves.

Pickled Sakura flowers and leaves are used for sweets or tea.

Tea leaf container or other tools are made using Sakura trees.

We have music about Sakura, called “SAKURA”, and all Japanese should know this song.

We have color called “SAKURA color”, which is light sensitive pink.

Sakura is used as Japanese symbol in many situations.

Sakura is very familiar flower for Japanese people.

Sakura cherry blossom time is very short, about one week.

When it starts blooming, it goes very quick to be full bloom, and as soon as it becomes full bloom, leaves start to come out and flowers start falling.

So the short period in full bloom and the beauty of Sakura flowers are often likened to the fragility of human life.

That is why cherry blossoms are symbol of beauty and transience.

I love Sakura, and cherry blossom time makes me excited.

Painting Sakura makes me happy and this is a good meditation for me.

That is why I keep painting Sakura.