Japanese culture
Why is Japan called the land of the rising sun?
The Italian navigator Marco Polo brought the first information about the land of the rising sun to Europe in the 13th century. Although he is believed to have never visited Japan, on one of his trips to southern China a group of sailors told him that to the east lies the land where the sun rises first - Nippon. This name makes sense to people from China, according to whom Japan is positioned in the direction from where they see the sun every morning.
However, Japan was not always called that. In the 7th century, a written proof of sovereignty was sent to China in which the then ruler addressed the Chinese authorities, addressing Japan as the land of the rising sun and China as the setting sun.
A century later, the previous official name Yamato was changed to Nippon, and later translated into the world-recognized name of Japan.
Mount Fuji
Many myths and legends are associated with Mount Fuji in Japan.
One of them is that the mountain was named after the goddess of fire called "Huchi" or "Fuchi". Until the 1860s, it was believed that women were not allowed to climb Mount Fuji, as the goddess would be jealous of their presence.
Another very famous legend about the origin of the mountain tells of a woodcutter who was awakened by an unusual noise. Thinking that it was an earthquake, he left his house, and instead of a flat field, he saw a mountain.
Amazed by the mysterious birth of the mountain, he called it "Fuji - Yama" - the mountain that never dies.
Torre Gate
One of the things that makes each of us aspire to Japan is its gates.
"Torri" as it is actually called, represents a passage where a person enters a holy place.
The gate originally features two cylindrical columns with two arched beams, the smaller one below the larger one, and is believed to have arrived in Japan with Buddhism spreading from India.
You can see Torri in front of almost every temple or Satanic shrine, and the Japanese use it to mark any place they consider sacred. It can be a mountain, a river or some important building, and Torii gates are located in front of every tomb where Japanese emperors rest.
Sakura
Why is the cherry blossom so important to the Japanese? In the Japanese language, the term "sakura" means a very short but important period of cherry blossoms, which is associated with important moments in the lives of Japanese people, their history, culture and identity.
The cherry blossom lasts only 7 days, and then the petals begin to fall.
One symbolism is connected with the short but magnificent life of the famous samurai, who most often do not live to old age due to premature suffering in battles.
In addition to the many festivals that are organized in the Sakura period of the year, "hanami" - gatherings where guests enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms - are very popular in Japan.
Certainly the strongest impression is left by the petals that fall on the last day of flowering, creating the illusion of thousands of pink flakes.
If you are planning a visit to Japan, the cherry blossoms are from mid-March to mid-May, depending on the region.
Maneki neko - a waving cat
To make the appearance of this toy clearer, we must first understand the movements it makes. Namely, in Japan, a hand gesture with closed palms and fingers together means inviting someone to you. Because of this, the maneki-neko calls to him, and with the combination of the belief that cats bring good luck, this toy has gained fame in many spheres of life.
The maneki-neko story is accompanied by several legends, and one of them mentions a cat that lived in Gōtoku-jiharam, Tokyo. When the local ruler was hunting near the temple, he noticed a cat that invited him to enter the temple with the mentioned gesture. The ruler decided to follow the cat, and a strong thunderbolt struck exactly where he was before. Convinced that the cat saved his life, he named her the patron saint of the temple, where she has been extremely revered ever since. Today, this temple houses thousands of maneki-neko cat toys and sculptures that attract and enchant tourists from all over the world.
Maneki-neko can be seen in shops, restaurants and households across Japan, and it is believed that the golden-colored cat brings business prosperity, the blue brings luck and safety on the road, and the pink brings luck in love.
Another belief is that if a mannequin-neko has a raised right paw, it attracts money and good business luck, while one with a raised left paw attracts friendships and new customers.
We invite you to meet the maneki-neko in our shop!
Geishas
The word geisha literally means artist. They are characterized by a special way of dressing, applying make-up and behavior, all for the purpose of the best possible performance. Geishas also have a refined taste for the art and culture of communication.
Originally, the first geisha in Japan were actually "hokan" men - who could roughly be described as "court fools". They were in charge of entertaining the high layers of society, such as rulers and landowners. they dedicate their lives completely to this art until the moment they decide to get married and then they stop doing this work.
The peak of this occupation is reached at the end of the Edo period of peace in Japan, and today there are only about 600 registered geisha, most of whom are located in the cities of Kyoto and Tokyo.
To become a geisha, a girl must first undergo training. Usually girls decide to take this step at the age of 15, immediately after finishing high school, after which the training process lasts for 5 years. During this period they are called "Maiko" and their dress, hairstyle and make-up differ from that of accomplished geisha. During the training, the maiko perfects the skills of communication, singing, calligraphy, serving tea and arranging flowers, and for her work she receives not money but loans, accommodation, food and clothing. This is provided by the institution where she trains, and only when she completes the training and becomes a geisha must she first pay back the debts in order to be able to take money from her engagements.
In no way should the work of a geisha be connected with prostitution! Geishas are exclusively engaged in art, and stereotypes of this type arose during the occupation of Japan by the American military after World War II.
In order to hire a geisha for your party today, you need to have a written recommendation from existing users, and their engagement will cost you several hundred euros.
Earlier, geishas charged for their services according to the number of incense sticks they used during the performance, and today they calculate the price based on the hours spent.
Who were the samurai?
A famous weapon originating from Japan.
The peak of katana use was during the time when the samurai were the highest social class. The katana was not only a status symbol, but had a ritual use, and mythical powers were often ascribed to it.
It takes months of work to make perfect specimens. First, the blacksmith makes the blade and other parts such as the handle, scabbard, the part that separates the blade and protects the hands. Then the katana goes to the next master who has the task of processing and polishing the steel, giving it its final look and perfect sharpness.
Often these were family businesses where knowledge was passed down through the generations. The technique of steel processing was passed down from master to apprentice, from father to son, and the rules were respected. It was not unusual for Japanese emperors to purchase the lifetime services of masters.
These crafts were valued to such an extent that today the descendants of the masters who decided to continue the tradition represent a protected national treasure of Japan.
Most examples of these blades were stolen during the occupation of Japan. After World War II by the United Nations, katana production was banned, so most skilled blacksmiths were forced to produce blades for kitchen use. This was the turning point that led to today's craze for Japanese knives in kitchens around the world.
The word "samurai" translates as one who serves. The famous samurai were the bodyguards of rich landowners who established arbitrariness in relation to the then government in Japan.
However, the calling of these warriors was much more complex, and their honor was worth much more than their lives.
Their lifestyle was defined by a code of "the way of the warrior" that emphasized self-discipline, obedience and honor.
It tells us how important honor was
an act of suicide reserved for samurai called "seppuku". If the samurai's honor was tarnished, he would pierce his stomach with a special wakizashi dagger, and then with left-right movements cause profuse bleeding that leads to death.
This painful ritual was often ended by cutting off the samurai's head in order to spare him the pain.
A samurai who serves no one or has lost his master is called a Ronin, and he continues his honorable way of life.
Samurai were equipped with armor and various daggers, spears, bows and arrows, and in a later period, guns. However, the weapon that reflected their status was the katana.
These famous warriors have been the inspiration for many films made about Japanese culture.
After the need for a modern army arose, the samurai became rarer, but they still left an indelible mark on the history of Japan.
Who were the ninjas?
In the time of feudal Japan during the samurai period, there were special organizations that provided ninja services - espionage, assassinations, sabotage and other dishonorable tasks.
Many consider them warriors, but ninjas arose precisely from the need to perform tasks that neither samurai nor ordinary soldiers wanted to do.
From a young age, they were trained to move unnoticed on impossible terrains (under water, on trees, along walls, etc.) in order to perform the dirty tasks of the principals for a certain monetary compensation. They were extremely skilled with weapons and carried up to 10 different types.
By performing such dishonorable acts as backstabbing, mutilation, rape and mutilation, ninjas had the status of the lowest class of people, without an iota of honor, who were also considered expendable goods by their employers.
Bonsai
Bonsai can be any tree or plant. Bonsai is a technique of cultivating plants, especially valued in the ancient "Feng Shui" art. The person who grows the plant uses various techniques such as pruning, root reduction, tying, transplanting and watering, in order to create a miniature version of the plant that can fit in the room and emphasize all its beauty.
According to belief, Bonsai tree brings joy to everyone who sees it, because its beauty causes delight. It is planted in special glazed ceramic pots, which are beautiful in themselves.
The older the bonsai tree, the higher its value. This is because a bonsai tree must be cared for daily, and in some cases the person who planted it does not live to see their tree in its full glory. In Japan, they are often an heirloom, but there are more and more places where they can be purchased.
At the end of the day, the greatest value lies in the breeding process, not just the possession.
Anime
Anime is an art style of cartoon animation that originates from Japan.
Anime is a word derived from the Japanese “animeshon” which means animation. Although in Japanese anime means any animation in the world, for us anime is exactly that animation that comes from Japan.
It is believed to date back to 1907, and at that time they were drawn by hand, and today most of them are made using computers.
Anime stories often originate from "manga" - Japanese comics, with complex plots and characters. When the manga reaches a certain level of popularity, an anime version is made.
Unlike American and European animation, anime focuses more on the representation of character traits and expressions of characters. The most attention is paid to animating the face, with a focus on the eyes as the mirror of the soul.
In order to make the anime as interesting as possible, it often has several main characters, and the story develops with many episodes. The longest running anime is called "Sazea-san" and has over 7500 episodes. "Spirited away", the story of a girl who tries to save her parents from the world of spirits, earned the most.
Japanese tea ceremony
The tea ceremony has a special importance in the eyes of the Japanese. This ritual was originally reserved for the highest social classes in Japan, but over time it became a favorite of all artistic souls. The ceremony involves serving one meal and two servings of tea, and lasts almost 4 hours.
Tea arrived in Japan from Southern China where it was used for medicinal purposes for centuries. At first, the leaves of the tea plant were only dried, and today the most popular processing method is picking young leaves, which are then steamed, dried and ground under the pressure of a natural stone until "matcha" is obtained - a fine green powder for preparing tea that is served during the ceremony.
The organization of this event implies a great involvement of the host. Up to 5 people with similar interests are invited to the ceremony, most often it is some kind of art like poetry or painting, and it can be some other topic. Specially arranged tea rooms were the place in front of which the samurai would lay down their weapons in order to approach the ceremony without aggression and with equal understanding for all participants. They would talk for hours on a pre-defined topic without disagreement.
How important tea drinking was is shown by the fact that the best samurai accepted ceramic tea pots as payment currency for their services.
It is interesting that in Japan, a person who does not accept even the funniest joke is said to be "lacking tea", and a person who laughs excessively is said to have "drank too much tea".
Origami
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. The beginnings of the development of the art of paper folding in Japan date back to the 7th century when the technology of paper production first arrived from China. Today it is one of the favorite hobbies for both children and adults.
Origami has not only an aesthetic element, but also contributes to solving mathematical problems, creating sketches for design, as well as rehabilitating patients suffering from depression and anxiety.
Most shapes are made from a single piece of paper, and projects can become so complicated that it takes hours to make and very complex folding strokes.
This art has gone so far that origami fairs, exhibitions and competitions are organized all over the world. Using this technique, solar panels on space stations have been designed that bloom once the spacecraft leaves Earth's orbit.
There are countless guidelines for folding paper available on the internet, and you can start with the most common A4 size white paper. However, the best results are obtained when real origami paper is used, which is harder and often in a bright color.
Previous article
Japanese food
