* Senso-ji Temple
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html
Sensoji (浅草寺, Sensōji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in Asakusa. It is one of Tokyo's most colourful and famous temples.
The legend says that in 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River. Even though they returned the statue to the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. The temple was completed in 645, making it Tokyo's oldest temple.
Mono No Aware: Beauty and impermanence in Japanese philosophy
The classic Japanese idiom mono no aware denotes an emotional connection to the world - and the impermanence of everything in it.
//Summary - Level-C2//
The Japanese concept of mono no aware signifies a deep appreciation for the transient beauty of life, as seen in cherry blossom festivals. Rooted in Buddhism, this philosophy embraces change as an inherent part of existence. By recognizing impermanence, individuals are called to savour life's fleeting moments, understanding that beauty derives its poignancy precisely from its impermanence.
1)
For a few short weeks each year, cherry blossoms bloom in Japan. Astonishing pinks sprout in parks and gardens, admiring picnickers gather in shady spots to watch, and sakura trees glisten and shine in the spring sunshine.
But then, as quickly as they arrive, the blossoms begin to fall.
The wind carries away petals. Proud branches are stripped of colour. The blazing splendour of the bloom disappears from the world...
2)
For over a thousand years, people in Japan have held festivals and celebrations during the brief annual cherry blossom season.
This traditional custom of hanami (literally: viewing the blossoms) celebrates their visual beauty and glorifies their transience.
3)
Cherry blossoms usually fall within a week of their appearance. As such, they perfectly encapsulate the Japanese idiom "mono no aware", typically translated as 'the pathos of things', which expresses the power of objects to evoke feelings of transience and the passing of time.
In other words, "mono no aware" denotes an emotional connection to the world - and the ephemeral nature of everything in it.
4)
Facing impermanence:
In much of classical Japanese art and philosophy (influenced by Buddhism), change is the fundamental condition of existence: everything revolves around change.
For example, the epic Tale of the Heike, written before 1330, begins with the following famous lines:
"The sound of the Gion shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the colour of the sōla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure; they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, and they are like dust before the wind." (Translation: Helen McCullough, 1988)
While impermanence can have negative connotations - making us long or nostalgic for times gone by - in classical Japanese culture, it is also a source of beauty: things are beautiful because they won't be here forever.
5)
As the Japanese monk Kenkō put it in his Essays on Idleness, written between 1330 and 1332:
"If man were never to fade away like the dews of Adashino, never to vanish like the smoke over Toribeyama, how things would lose their power to move us! The most precious thing in life is its uncertainty." (Translation: Donald Keene, 1967)
In another passage, reminiscent of the Roman philosophers Seneca on the brevity of life and Lucretius on our fear of death, Kenkō urges us to understand impermanence and live now:
6)
How is it possible for men not to rejoice every day at the pleasure of being alive? Foolish men, forgetting this pleasure, laboriously seek others; forgetting the wealth they possess, they risk their lives in greed for new wealth.
But their desires are never satisfied. As long as they live, they do not rejoice in life, but when faced with death, they fear it - what could be more illogical?
7)
So, rather than allowing ourselves to sink into despair, Kenkō suggests that we take impermanence as a call to action:
No matter how young or strong you are, the hour of death comes sooner than you expect. It is an extraordinary miracle that you have escaped to this day; do you suppose you have even the briefest respite to relax?
However, the right action is unlikely without a proper understanding of impermanence - without a deep sensitivity to mono, which is unaware.
8)
Cultivating "mono no aware":
The 18th-century Japanese philosopher and literary critic Motoori Norinaga popularised "mono no aware" in his analysis of the 11th-century noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji, considered one of the world's first novels.
Norinaga argues that Shikibu's brilliance lies in her evocation of the transient nature of life—her descriptions and characters revolve entirely around the theme of impermanence, allowing the reader to share in this profound sense of "mono no aware".
9)
The more we recognize "mono no aware" in the world around us, the closer we get to experiencing and developing an intelligent understanding of reality's true nature.
While great art captures the nostalgia of awareness, we must be sensitive to it. Norinaga writes:
To know "mono no aware" is to discern the power and essence, not just of the moon and the cherry blossoms, but of every single thing existing in this world, and to be stirred by each.
Indeed, feeling remorseful when the cherry blossoms fall is only the beginning: it demonstrates our essential emotional connection to the world.
10)
To develop from there is to truly understand the destiny of the flowers - a sudden arrival, a radiant glow, a disappearance - as the beautiful destiny of us all.
As those picnicking under the sakura trees know, the brief glory of life is not to be mourned alone and in private; instead, in the small window of time we share, it is to be experienced, remembered and revered - together.
Mono No Aware: Beauty and impermanence in Japanese philosophy
The classic Japanese idiom mono no aware denotes an emotional connection to the world - and the impermanence of everything in it.
https://philosophybreak.com/articles/mono-no-aware-beauty-and-impermanence-in-japanese-philosophy/
Add info No1)
What do you make of this analysis?
1. Do you think beauty is magnified by impermanence? What examples do you see in art, culture, and nature?
->
No, it does not amplify.
Beauty is already perfected and includes impermanence.
2. If the essential condition of existence changes, does that mean happiness requires us to internalize and embrace impermanence?
->
Everything changes.
There is no happiness or unhappiness.
We are born from nothing, live, and return to nothing.
3. Can we live good lives while railing against the transience of all we hold dear?
->
No, you can't.
There is no need for condemnation or celebration.
There is just everything and nothing.
Add info No2)
What is an unlucky year? The meaning of "yaku-otoshi", "yakuharai", and "yaku-oke"
https://www.sougi.info/column/column_200
The meaning and origin of an unlucky year:
According to the traditional Japanese age system, an unlucky year is when a man turns 25, 42, or 61, and a woman turns 19, 33, or 37. The year before is called "maeyaku," and the year after is called "atoyaku." Among unlucky years, 42 for men and 33 for women are called "daiyaku," and special care is required.
Unlucky years appear in the Heian period literature "The Tale of Genji" and "The Tale of Utsubo," people in Japan have been conscious of them since ancient times.
What is yaku-otoshi?:
"Yaku-otoshi" refers to creating your misfortune so that bad things don't happen to you from then on. It is believed that you can eliminate your misfortune by intentionally dropping things you have cherished or always wear.
For example, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi's eldest son Hideyori was born, his older brother died soon after, so he threw him away as soon as he was born in hopes of his health.
There is no particular rule regarding how often you should perform the yaku-otoshi ritual. Some people perform it at the first shrine visit of the year of their unlucky year, some on a day that suits them, some only perform it once, and some perform it multiple times.
It is expected to receive prayers at shrines and temples to remove yaku-otoshi, but there are differences depending on the region, so be careful. Many people want to follow the customs of the area where they were born and raised. Checking with a nearby shrine or temple is a good idea if you are interested.
How to remove yaku-otoshi:
One of the methods of removing yaku-otoshi is "danshari". You can remove all the bad stuff by putting away things you do not use regularly or no longer need.
As mentioned earlier, it is believed that you can remove yaku-otoshi by intentionally getting rid of things you have cherished and always wear. You can sever bad luck by shedding the things you usually wear, such as jewellery or coins.
It is also said that you can scare away bad luck by serving a meal. In some areas, you can scare away bad luck by serving your family, relatives, and neighbours a meal. In other areas, you can also throw rice cakes and sweets from a high place, distribute red rice, or hold a banquet to have others share the lousy luck.
What is Yakuharai?:
A similar word to yakuharai is yakuharai. Yakuharai refers to praying and receiving prayer to scare away things that bring bad luck. It is common to receive yakuharai at a shrine. According to the teachings of Shinto, performing an exorcism can scare away the impurities and evil spirits attached to you and improve your situation.
It is common for yakuharai to be performed even if you are not in an unlucky year. For example, when you buy a new car, you may pray for safety and have an exorcism performed, or conversely, when bad things are happening to you or your family one after another.
What is exorcism?:
Exorcism is a prayer or incantation to ward off misfortune or evil spirits. Its distinctive feature is that it is a preventative measure to keep bad things and disasters away. Exorcism can be performed at shrines, but it is more common to have it performed at esoteric Buddhist temples.
Like exorcism, exorcism is often performed even when you are not in an unlucky year. If you or your family have recently been experiencing many bad things or a series of disasters, you may have a prayer or chant performed each time.
Summary:
Even if you are in an unlucky year, you do not necessarily have to be careful because each person has different ways of thinking and circumstances. However, since the unlucky year is a custom that is still observed, it doesn't hurt to be careful. It's not good to worry too much, but it might be a good idea to be cautious and cautious of yourself.
