Look at these pink and red plants! Such bright and lively colors in winter makes me happy!
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| Ornamental cabbage or "leaf peony" in Japanese in Ueno peony garden |
Happy Colors Red & Pink! 冬のアゲアゲ色！
Look at these pink and red plants! Such bright and lively colors in winter makes me happy!
Pagoda Surviving Anti-Buddhist Persecution - Ueno Toshogu Shrine 廃仏毀釈を生き延びた上野東照宮の五重塔
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Tokyo. The gate is a karamon gate, i.e., a Chinese style gate, and the lanterns are made of bronze.
Near the gate is a five-story pagoda (in the picture below). However, that's not shrine's but is owned by the Tokyo local government. The shrine, which was established as part of Kaneiji temple in the 17th century, gave this pagoda to that temple under the government's order issued in 1868 to separate Shinto from Buddhism to make Japan more united under Shinto.
The order triggered anti-Buddhist persecution across Japan, resulting in the destruction of many Buddhist temples and statues. Kofukuji temple in Nara prefecture even auctioned its five-story pagoda (in the picture below) for then 25 yen or currently 100,000 yen (or 930 US dollars) to survive the anti-Buddhism movement.
This is Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Tokyo. The gate is a karamon gate, i.e., a Chinese style gate, and the lanterns are made of bronze.
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| Karamon gate of Ueno Toshogu shrine |
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| Karamon - Chinese style gate |
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| Bronze lanterns |
Near the gate is a five-story pagoda (in the picture below). However, that's not shrine's but is owned by the Tokyo local government. The shrine, which was established as part of Kaneiji temple in the 17th century, gave this pagoda to that temple under the government's order issued in 1868 to separate Shinto from Buddhism to make Japan more united under Shinto.
 |
| Five story pagoda surviving anti-Buddhist movement Owner changed from Ueno Toshogu shrine → Kaneiji temple → Tokyo |
The order triggered anti-Buddhist persecution across Japan, resulting in the destruction of many Buddhist temples and statues. Kofukuji temple in Nara prefecture even auctioned its five-story pagoda (in the picture below) for then 25 yen or currently 100,000 yen (or 930 US dollars) to survive the anti-Buddhism movement.
If You Wanna Be Rich.... 十両、百両、千両、万両ほしい？
What do you think this red thing is?
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| This brings you wealth! |
This is a red fruit of Christmas berry (ardisia crenata or "manryo" in Japanese) I saw in the peony garden within the Ueno Park. "Man" of manryo means 10,000 and "ryo" a unit of weight or currency which was used by Japan and several other Asian countries. According to Bank of Japan, based on the value of rice, one ryo valued 900 dollars in the 17th century, 450 dollars in 18th and early 19th century, and 60 dollars in late 19th century.
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| Manryo (10,000 ryo; 万両) or Christmas berry |
The thing is that Japan has not only 10,000 ryo, but also 1,000 ryo (senryo), 100 ryo (hyakuryo) and 10 ryo (juryo).
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| Senryo (1,000 ryo; 千両) or sarcandra glabra or nine-knotted flower |
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| Hyakuryo (100 ryo; 百両) or ardisia crispa |
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| Juryo (10 ryo; 十両) or ardisia japonica or marlberry |
Honestly, I can't tell the differences.... Can you? These trees are all said to bring wealth.
上野ぼたん苑で見つけた、万両、千両、百両、十両です。牡丹の陰にひっそりと寄せ植えされていました。
万両と千両は知っていましたが、百両と十両もあったんですね。知りませんでした。しかも万両って Christmas berry て言うんですね。万両とクリスマスベリー、イメージが全然違います。でも確かに緑と赤、クリスマスの色です！
Yellow in Winter! - Wintersweet in Ueno Park 上野ぼたん苑の蝋梅
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
"The brightness and warmth of yellow attracts people's eyes."
This is a description of yellow by Sachio Yoshioka, a late Japanese master dyer and textile historian who reproduced colors of Japan's natural surroundings and seasonal changes without using synthetic dyes. He wrote a book, "Dictionary of colors in Japan (Nihon [or Nippon] no iro jiten)," listing shades of colors according to Japanese color classification.
Yoshioka lists more than 20 varieties of yellow, and although it may sound strange, to me, the yellow of the wintersweet in the above photos seems closest to mimosa yellow.
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| Wintersweet or Japanese allspice |
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| Chimonanthus praecox |
This is a description of yellow by Sachio Yoshioka, a late Japanese master dyer and textile historian who reproduced colors of Japan's natural surroundings and seasonal changes without using synthetic dyes. He wrote a book, "Dictionary of colors in Japan (Nihon [or Nippon] no iro jiten)," listing shades of colors according to Japanese color classification.
Yoshioka lists more than 20 varieties of yellow, and although it may sound strange, to me, the yellow of the wintersweet in the above photos seems closest to mimosa yellow.
I found the wintersweet (or chimonanthus praecox or Japanese allspice botanically and "robai" in Japanese) in the "peony" garden within the Ueno Park" in Tokyo, but the garden has many other beautiful plants and flowers, including the wintersweet and the miniature daffodils in the pictures below whose yellow seems lemon yellow according to Yoshioka's classification.
The cream yellow peony below is "Okan (meaning yellow crown)" or "High noon," one of the "27 Types of Winter Peonies" I enjoyed in the garden. This smelled so good, sweet and lemon scented, making this flower, combined with its yellow color, which, according to The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists, attracts bugs for pollination, invincible in the world of survival of the fittest.
Last but not least, the flower in the picture below was in full bloom in my neighborhood, but I could not find its name....
Sachio Yoshioka passed away late last year. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family. His daughter, Sarasa, has taken over the dyeing workshop, which has lasted for more than 200 years in Kyoto.
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先日、上野のぼたん苑について書いたのですが（"27 Types of Winter Peonies in Tokyo 冬の上野ぼたん苑"）、実は牡丹以外にもたくさんかわいいお花がありました。というわけで、今日はぼたん苑や家の近くで最近目にした「黄色」の花についてです。
上から、上野ぼたん苑の「蝋梅」と「ミニ水仙」と「黄冠（ぼたん）」、そして近所の名前の分からないお花です。染色家の吉岡幸男先生によると、黄色は「明るくあたたかい光を放って人間の目が強く引きつけられる色」とのこと。私の目も引きつけられました。園芸王子こと三上真史氏によると、冬に黄色の花が多いのは虫を引きつけて受粉させるためとのこと。植物も適者生存です｡｡｡
ちなみに吉岡先生の書かれた「日本の色辞典」によると、蝋梅は「ミモザイエロー」、ミニ水仙は「レモンイエロー」、黄冠（牡丹）は「クリームイエロー」に見えます。同じ黄色でもいろいろあるということがこの辞典を見るとよくわかります。
先日、吉岡先生が去年なくなられていたことを知りました。ご冥福を心よりお祈り申し上げます。
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
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| Miniature daffodils |
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| Miniature daffodils |
The cream yellow peony below is "Okan (meaning yellow crown)" or "High noon," one of the "27 Types of Winter Peonies" I enjoyed in the garden. This smelled so good, sweet and lemon scented, making this flower, combined with its yellow color, which, according to The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists, attracts bugs for pollination, invincible in the world of survival of the fittest.
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| Peony named "Okan" or "High noon" |
Last but not least, the flower in the picture below was in full bloom in my neighborhood, but I could not find its name....
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| Flower whose name I don't know |
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as.")
先日、上野のぼたん苑について書いたのですが（"27 Types of Winter Peonies in Tokyo 冬の上野ぼたん苑"）、実は牡丹以外にもたくさんかわいいお花がありました。というわけで、今日はぼたん苑や家の近くで最近目にした「黄色」の花についてです。
上から、上野ぼたん苑の「蝋梅」と「ミニ水仙」と「黄冠（ぼたん）」、そして近所の名前の分からないお花です。染色家の吉岡幸男先生によると、黄色は「明るくあたたかい光を放って人間の目が強く引きつけられる色」とのこと。私の目も引きつけられました。園芸王子こと三上真史氏によると、冬に黄色の花が多いのは虫を引きつけて受粉させるためとのこと。植物も適者生存です｡｡｡
ちなみに吉岡先生の書かれた「日本の色辞典」によると、蝋梅は「ミモザイエロー」、ミニ水仙は「レモンイエロー」、黄冠（牡丹）は「クリームイエロー」に見えます。同じ黄色でもいろいろあるということがこの辞典を見るとよくわかります。
先日、吉岡先生が去年なくなられていたことを知りました。ご冥福を心よりお祈り申し上げます。
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
27 Types of Winter Peonies in Tokyo 冬の上野ぼたん苑
At the peony garden within the Ueno Park in Ueno Tokyo, I found the 27 types of peonies listed in the table below.
Seidai 聖代
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Kao 花王
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Gyoku tenshu 玉天集
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Renkaku 連鶴
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Shimadaijin 島大臣
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Shimanishiki 島錦
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Jitsugetsu nishiki 日月錦
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Renown
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Shima no fuji 島の藤
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Yachiyo tsubaki 八千代椿
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Kamata fuji 鎌田藤
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Fuji no kaori 藤の香
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Okan (黄冠) or High noon
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Higurashi 日暮
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Daikikou 大喜紅
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Yukigasane 雪重
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Taiyo 太陽
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Muramatsu no yuki 村松の雪
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Muramatsu zakura 村松桜
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Kinkaku 金閣
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Mikuni no akebono 御国の曙
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Mikuni no hata 御国の旗
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Shikoden 柴紅殿
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Hoki 芳紀
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Kokuryu nishiki 黒龍錦
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Kinkaden 金華殿
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Gekkeikan 月桂冠
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| Seidai 聖代 |
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| Kao 花王 |
Japan is Diverse! - An Analysis from the Perspective of the Seven Lucky Gods 七福神からの考察 - 日本は単一民族ではありません｡｡｡
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a signature board (daigofu) featuring the red stamps and calligraphy of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin), along with the names of the temples where they are enshrined.
These seven temples are all in Kyoto, and I visited them to collect their stamps and calligraphy while on a 'Seven Lucky Gods' pilgrimage. The characteristics of these gods (actually, one is a goddess!) are outlined below:
Source: Wikipedia
Japan's gods are so diverse, aren't they?! The Seven Lucky Deities consist not only of Japanese gods, but also Chinese and Indian deities! Speaking of diversity, the Japanese people themselves are diverse. Therefore, Taro Aso—Japan’s former deputy prime minister and finance minister who once described Japan as a country of a "single race"—was mistaken. He should study Japanese history! (For details, check out this Washington Post article.)
日本の神って多様！そして日本人も多様なんですよ、麻生大臣！
東京国立科学博物館も、日本人が単一民族ではない旨をDNAの観点から、また、飛鳥資料館や上皇も、日本が単一民族ではないと言ってます。青木理氏もニュース番組で言っておられましたが、これ、「誤解を生じたら謝ります」という種類の問題ではありません。明らかな「事実誤認」です。麻生大臣、もう少し我が国の歴史を勉強していただけませんでしょうか。
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| A signature board of stamps of seven lucky Japanese gods |
These seven temples are all in Kyoto, and I visited them to collect their stamps and calligraphy while on a 'Seven Lucky Gods' pilgrimage. The characteristics of these gods (actually, one is a goddess!) are outlined below:
God/goddess
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Home country
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Temple
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Description
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| 1. Benzaiten 弁財天 (only goddess) |
India
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Benzaiten (弁才天 or 弁財天) has her origin in Hinduism. She is the only goddess, representing financial fortune, talent, beauty and music, and the patron of artists, writers, dancers, and geisha. | |
| 2. Daikokuten 大黒天 |
India
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Daikokuten (大黒天) is the god of commerce and prosperity and the patron of cooks, farmers, bankers, and the protector of crops. He is also considered a demon hunter. | |
| 3. Ebisu ゑびす |
Japan
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Ebisu (恵比寿), the only god who originates in Japan, is the god of prosperity and wealth in business, and of plenitude and abundance in crops, cereals and food. | |
| 4. Bishamonten 毘沙門天 |
India
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Bishamonten (毘沙門天) whose origin is traced back to Hinduism, is the god of fortune in war and battles and the protector of those who follow the rules and behave appropriately. | |
| 5. Hotei 布袋 |
China
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Hotei (布袋) is the god of fortune, the guardian of children, and the patron of diviners and barmen. He is also the god of popularity and often depicted as a fat, smiling, bald man with a curly mustache. | |
| 6. Jurojin 寿老神 |
China
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Jurojin (寿老人) is the god of the elderly and longevity in Japanese Buddhist mythology, based on a real person who lived in ancient times and was about six feet tall with a very long head and a long white beard. | |
| 7. Fukurokuju 福禄寿 |
China
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Fukurokuju (福禄寿) has his origin in China. He is the god of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth and happiness and characterized by the size of his head almost as large as the size of his whole body. |
Japan's gods are so diverse, aren't they?! The Seven Lucky Deities consist not only of Japanese gods, but also Chinese and Indian deities! Speaking of diversity, the Japanese people themselves are diverse. Therefore, Taro Aso—Japan’s former deputy prime minister and finance minister who once described Japan as a country of a "single race"—was mistaken. He should study Japanese history! (For details, check out this Washington Post article.)
The diversity of the Japanese people is backed by historical and scientific authorities as well:
- The National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo states that DNA evidence shows the Japanese population has historically mixed with Korean and other East Asian peoples.
- The Asuka Historical Museum in Nara Prefecture displays an imperial family tree indicating ancestral links to Korea.
- The Emperor Emeritus (the former Emperor) also noted during a 2001 birthday press conference that the imperial family has roots tracing back to Korea (Press Conference on the occasion of His Majesty's Birthday (2001)).
Getting back to the original theme of this post, Japan has dozens of routes for seven lucky gods pilgrimages in not only in Kyoto but also Tokyo, such as the Yanaka, Nihonbashi and Sumidagawa River areas. So how about taking any one of the pilgrimages to meet these gods and goddess who bring happiness, love, wealth and luck!?
Getting back to the original theme of this post, Japan has dozens of pilgrimage routes for the Seven Lucky Gods - not only in Kyoto but also across Tokyo, including the Yanaka, Nihonbashi and Sumidagawa River areas. So, how about embarking on one of these pilgrimages to meet these deities who bring happiness, love, wealth, and luck?!
If you want to meet the kawaii finger-sized Jedi Fukurokuju shown in the photo below, head over to the Tokyo National Museum!
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| Netsuke sculpture "Fukurokuju" |
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
京都七福神巡りで集めた御朱印の大護符です。私が巡った7つのお寺は以下の通り。
名前
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寺社
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出身
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性別
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ゑびす神
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日本
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男
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大黒天
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インド
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男
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毘沙門天
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インド
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男
|
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弁財天
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インド
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女
|
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布袋尊
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中国
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男
|
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寿老神
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中国
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男
|
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福禄寿神
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中国
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男
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日本の神って多様！そして日本人も多様なんですよ、麻生大臣！
東京国立科学博物館も、日本人が単一民族ではない旨をDNAの観点から、また、飛鳥資料館や上皇も、日本が単一民族ではないと言ってます。青木理氏もニュース番組で言っておられましたが、これ、「誤解を生じたら謝ります」という種類の問題ではありません。明らかな「事実誤認」です。麻生大臣、もう少し我が国の歴史を勉強していただけませんでしょうか。
(Google アカウントを持ってない方は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
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