this was so interesting! do you have a good resource for death rituals in Heian Japan? Or maybe, is there a good Genji resource to explain references like Toribeno? maybe what I need is a middle school textbook...
Good morning! I think I only know about it because of literary sources and the smoke from the cremations. But that was just gut the elite. As far as death rituals I don’t have a good source. It’s an interesting topic when you think about the ancient kofun etc. I would love to read more too
This piece keeps resonating very deeply with me. It reminded me of my AirB&B hosts in Kyoto, a lovely young couple. They had a small shop of traditional Japanese goods, and he was consulting at the time with people developing the Japanese garden in Portland, Oregon. Something I've never forgotten is the mix in her voice of lightness and reverence when she commented on the moon while we were walking home from having enjoyed supper at a local restaurant. I later wrote a poem for them as my thank you for their hospitality during my entire stay. It had also been remarkable to me that when I'd earlier told them that I write poetry, they were genuinely touched. In a way that I next to never experience here (you are an exception).
Lovely. I enjoyed learning a little about wuwei, and I think I understand because India also has deep ideas about separation of ego from actions. I hope I will not misinterpret it going forward.
I also watched Shogun after reading about it in your earlier post. Such a great show!
Did you watch the whole thing? I am about to watch episode 3, plus the movie Silence!! I think the separation of who and expectations from actions is such a deep concept--with roots in India, as you say (I am not sure if wuwei emerged in China as informed by Indian philosophy or independently as part of ancient sages/daoism). It is so hard to do... One of the reasons I love blogging and my substack too is to do it as an end in itself. No expectations or hopes :)
You'll laugh, but the first thing that struck me in your, as always, beautiful post was 聰 being read as Akira. I would have put money on Satoru or Satoshi. :)
this was so interesting! do you have a good resource for death rituals in Heian Japan? Or maybe, is there a good Genji resource to explain references like Toribeno? maybe what I need is a middle school textbook...
Good morning! I think I only know about it because of literary sources and the smoke from the cremations. But that was just gut the elite. As far as death rituals I don’t have a good source. It’s an interesting topic when you think about the ancient kofun etc. I would love to read more too
I love learning about Japanese culture in these posts. I knew nothing before I met you.
I really appreciate you reading!!!
Beautiful reflections
Really appreciate you commenting!!
This piece keeps resonating very deeply with me. It reminded me of my AirB&B hosts in Kyoto, a lovely young couple. They had a small shop of traditional Japanese goods, and he was consulting at the time with people developing the Japanese garden in Portland, Oregon. Something I've never forgotten is the mix in her voice of lightness and reverence when she commented on the moon while we were walking home from having enjoyed supper at a local restaurant. I later wrote a poem for them as my thank you for their hospitality during my entire stay. It had also been remarkable to me that when I'd earlier told them that I write poetry, they were genuinely touched. In a way that I next to never experience here (you are an exception).
Really you captured something so perfectly in that combination of words, lightness and reference! I love that!
Lovely. I enjoyed learning a little about wuwei, and I think I understand because India also has deep ideas about separation of ego from actions. I hope I will not misinterpret it going forward.
I also watched Shogun after reading about it in your earlier post. Such a great show!
Did you watch the whole thing? I am about to watch episode 3, plus the movie Silence!! I think the separation of who and expectations from actions is such a deep concept--with roots in India, as you say (I am not sure if wuwei emerged in China as informed by Indian philosophy or independently as part of ancient sages/daoism). It is so hard to do... One of the reasons I love blogging and my substack too is to do it as an end in itself. No expectations or hopes :)
That is a great approach for the newsletter. I try to think the same way. And I just watched ep3 last night!
You'll laugh, but the first thing that struck me in your, as always, beautiful post was 聰 being read as Akira. I would have put money on Satoru or Satoshi. :)
I know.... I have never seen Akira like that and probably it is some mistake :)
Thank you for reading!!!!! xoxoxoxooxx