At eight years old, my mother and I visited Tokyo and Kyoto. Somehow particular moments still stay with me, very vividly. Shoes lined up at the entrance of our hotel, a mild yogurt on a smooth spoon for breakfast, charming kitten shaped phone trinkets, cherry blossoms scattering the street, a calligraphy meditation before entering a sacred rock garden ––
In a recent Art History course we studied, however peripherally, Ryooan-ji, a Buddhist temple and rock garden. Aesthetically there is something very pure about this space and something very grand. There are fifteen stones and supposedly an infinite amount of views. It is "wabi-sabi" – a concept of passing (of views, of shadows). This same principle is expressed in a simple, unbalanced grey tea bowl (to be pictured later); what makes it valuable is its modesty and irregularities in form.
More practically and popularly, the Japanese convenience and stationary store, MUJI ("no brand" or "no logo"), holds a very special place in my heart. All this, and much more has led me to study Japanese. I surely hope to visit soon, maybe even this summer...
I so look forward to getting to know all of you!
いいblogですね。わたしはこのしゃしがすきです。いつ、にほんへもいちどいきますか？
返信削除ありがとうございますジェリさん。すみません、ちょっと、わかりませんでした。「しゃし」はえいごでなんですか。Luxuryですね。今夏と今秋日本「の京都」
削除にいきます。ジェリさんは日本にいきましたか。
うつくしいブロッグです。おなまえのクラスは、なんですか。I've been interested in taking a class on East Asian art and art history for a Global Core, so I'm wondering what class you took.
返信削除ありがとうJohnさん。わたしはコバルです。さくしんJohnさんにあいました。すみません、ちょっと。。。This art class was Barnard’s Art History Survey II from Renaissance to present with Prof. Higonnet. We did have a really interesting unit on Japanese art where we discussed the Hagi Kilns, Ryooan-ji, and Katsura though it was brief because there was so much material to cover. A friend of mine raved about a course called the Art of Tea last year and I have heard good things about Arts of Japan as well. Please do keep in touch re: クラス!
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