Exploring Japanese culture.
Mount Fuji, taken from Fujinomiya City, in Shizuoka prefecture.
This picture was taken by Koyu Hoshikawa (星河光佑) from his photo book Star (星)
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All words have sacred power.
It has been said that sacred words (Kotodama 言霊) were a dwelling place for the divine spirit and words themselves were living beings. Then, Japanese people thought that words hold the power of accomplishment. Sacred words(Kotodama or Kototama 言霊, ), This Japanese word Kotodama combines koto 言 "word; speech" and dama or tama 霊 "spirit; soul" or 魂 "soul; spirit; ghost". In ancient times, Japan was called “Kotodama no sakiwau kuni (言霊の幸はう国 , The land where the mysterious workings of language bring bliss). This phrase originated in Manyoshu (万葉集,the oldest poem book in Nara period). Kotodama presupposes that sounds can have magical affects and that ritual word usages can influence our environment, body, mind and soul. According to a study of Kotodama(Kototamagaku 言霊学),this field takes the Japanese phonology, gojuon(五十音), and describes how it is connected to the universe and the the laws of nature. This theory came from Kojiki (古事記, 680AD)that is the oldest book in Japan. This book explains about Kotodama, by using many stories of mythology from ancient times, to allow understanding of the meanings of Kotodama. Words are a concentrated form of consciousness. They hold a prodigious power to create. It is by speaking only words of light---positive words like "Thank you" "I can definitely do it" "lt is all right (Daijoubu 大丈夫)" "It is absolutely all right (Zettai Daijoubu 絶対大丈夫)" "You accomplished it" "How wonderful !" "How great !" “Everything is perfect”(Subete wa Kannpeki すべては完璧) “You completely accomplished it”(Daijoju 大成就) ---that humanity can have the power to turn our future in a direction. When you constantly express only bright words and actions, you are creating a brilliantly shining future. |
Resilience of the japanese spirit
The Big Wave, Tsunami, In the book "The big wave, Tsunami" written by Pearl S Buck, she describes about Japanese people’s view of life, death and humanity through their close living with nature.
Nature has taken their lives, houses and valuable things over and over again, but they have accepted it. Two years ago, we where struck by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami as well as the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima. At present, the majority of human beings are depending on their government , their society, and experts in various fields for helping and support. Yet, right in our midst there are people ready to stand up on their own to help rebuild the future. After the Tohoku earthquake, there were people who rose up magnificently from the wreckage. There were people who lost their families, yet spoke of the future. These people are not looking back at the past. They are looking toward to a newly created future. If you want to learn more about "The big wave, Tsunami" written by Pearl S Buck, then check the Literature section of the Art category. |