Monday, November 10, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Pension Company Name in Japanese English
The company's name has to do with using strategy to develop retirement programs.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto
Tenryu-ji, the heavenly Dragon Temple, is the headquarters of the Tenryu sect of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japan. Ashikaga Takauji erected the temple in 1339 to honor Gautama Buddha. Muso Soseki was appointed as the temple’s chief priest. Situated in Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo Ward in Kyoto, it is regarded as the chief temple among Kyoto’s “Five Great Zen Temples.”
The temple suffered repeated devastations by fire and war over its history. The great fires suffered by the temple occurred in 1358, 1367, 1373, 1380, 1447 and 1467. The Onin War also inflicted damage upon the temple. The Hamaguri Rebellion in 1864 caused severe damage to the temple. The present structures of the temple date to the Meiji period.
Tenryu-ji’s landscape garden was designed by Muso Soseki, the temple’s founding abbot and renowned garden designer. The garden is regarded as one of the oldest of its kind. The garden is a display of Zen style pond encircling the garden with Arashiyama and Kameyama mountain ranges as its background.
The rock garden in the temple pond and landscape is symbolic of the carp in the pond ascending to heaven and transforming into the "heavenly dragon." The higher the carp ascends, the more it transforms into the dragon.
Entrance to the main temple
The pond is famous for a rock garden that has the appearance of cliffs on a Sung Dynasty landscape painting. On the other side of the pond is the symbolic recreation of the carp rising above the pond to ascend into heaven to transform into the heavenly dragon.
Path up to "nostalgic hill" for a view
View from the top of the hill
Japanese ink well monument in stone
The temple is designed to bring nature inside
It is forbidden to lie down
Another use of Shakkei (using the natural scenery around it). Both the Sogenchi pond and Arashiyama Mountain are special scenic spots.
The temple suffered repeated devastations by fire and war over its history. The great fires suffered by the temple occurred in 1358, 1367, 1373, 1380, 1447 and 1467. The Onin War also inflicted damage upon the temple. The Hamaguri Rebellion in 1864 caused severe damage to the temple. The present structures of the temple date to the Meiji period.
Tenryu-ji’s landscape garden was designed by Muso Soseki, the temple’s founding abbot and renowned garden designer. The garden is regarded as one of the oldest of its kind. The garden is a display of Zen style pond encircling the garden with Arashiyama and Kameyama mountain ranges as its background.
The rock garden in the temple pond and landscape is symbolic of the carp in the pond ascending to heaven and transforming into the "heavenly dragon." The higher the carp ascends, the more it transforms into the dragon.
Entrance to the main temple
The pond is famous for a rock garden that has the appearance of cliffs on a Sung Dynasty landscape painting. On the other side of the pond is the symbolic recreation of the carp rising above the pond to ascend into heaven to transform into the heavenly dragon.
Path up to "nostalgic hill" for a view
View from the top of the hill
Japanese ink well monument in stone
The temple is designed to bring nature inside
It is forbidden to lie down
Another use of Shakkei (using the natural scenery around it). Both the Sogenchi pond and Arashiyama Mountain are special scenic spots.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Ponto-cho (Kyoto)
Ponto-cho is a district in Japan where Geisha and Maiko still entertain clients. The street is home to traditional tea houses and Geisha houses. Ponto-cho is famous for the preservation of traditional forms of entertainment and architecture.
Ponto-cho is a long, narrow, cobbled alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River. It is the traditional location of the start of Kabuki theatre.
Maiko on their way to entertain
Ponto-cho Link
Ponto-cho is a long, narrow, cobbled alley running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River. It is the traditional location of the start of Kabuki theatre.
Maiko on their way to entertain
Ponto-cho Link
Minami-za, Japan's oldest Kabuki Theatre (Kyoto)
Minami-za is the oldest Kabuki theatre in Japan. It was founded in 1610 as Shijo Minami-za. The present building holds 1,086 seats and was built in 1929 (which is 2 years after the earthquake that hit the Kyoto region.)
Minami-za Link (Japanese)
Minami-za Link (Japanese)
Monday, November 3, 2008
Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple) Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji was built by Shogun Yoshimasa Ashikaga (1435-1490) as a retirement estate. Construction began in the 1460’s and continued in 1474 when Yoshimasa Ashikaga became disappointed in politics. Ashikaga gave full focus to completing the villa along with devoting time to romance, moon gazing and the tea ceremony, which he developed into an art-form.
The Temple was never coated in silver, which was intended to imitate his grandfathers golden temple at Kinkaku-ji. Ashikaga oversaw the construction of a dozen buildings on the estate. The buildings were devoted to cultural pursuits such as incense and the tea ceremony.
Upon the death of Ashikaga in 1490 the estate was converted to a Buddhist Temple. With the decline of the Ashikaga family, Ginkaku-ji fell into decline with many buildings being destroyed.
The only surviving buildings that still stand are Togu-do and the Silver Pavilion. The remaining structures were built in the 17th and 19th centuries.
Ginkaku-ji is located in the foothills of Daimonjiyama. The Philosopher’s Path runs past the front gate.
Path leading to Ginkaku-ji
The Silver Pavilion
Temple Pond
Sand Tower near the Silver Pavilion
The "Sea of Silver Sand"
Small waterfall feeding the Temple Pond
The Silver Pavilion
View from the Temple grounds
The Silver Pavilion
The Temple was never coated in silver, which was intended to imitate his grandfathers golden temple at Kinkaku-ji. Ashikaga oversaw the construction of a dozen buildings on the estate. The buildings were devoted to cultural pursuits such as incense and the tea ceremony.
Upon the death of Ashikaga in 1490 the estate was converted to a Buddhist Temple. With the decline of the Ashikaga family, Ginkaku-ji fell into decline with many buildings being destroyed.
The only surviving buildings that still stand are Togu-do and the Silver Pavilion. The remaining structures were built in the 17th and 19th centuries.
Ginkaku-ji is located in the foothills of Daimonjiyama. The Philosopher’s Path runs past the front gate.
Path leading to Ginkaku-ji
The Silver Pavilion
Temple Pond
Sand Tower near the Silver Pavilion
The "Sea of Silver Sand"
Small waterfall feeding the Temple Pond
The Silver Pavilion
View from the Temple grounds
The Silver Pavilion
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