Meditative Walk
“Meditative walk” is a way to ease stress and achieve mindfulness. Usually, normal walking makes us feel refreshed and relaxed. When we keep strides, our heart rates increase. But in the meditative walk, we move slowly to pay attention to every step. Such an intentional movement causes our heart rate down. Some Christian churches have […]
Garden for Pure Land
Historically, no matter where it is, some gardens have been the place where people materialize their ideal world. Gardens in Japan are no exception. Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. Then, it made people visualize the image of the place where they wanted to be after death. Sukhāvatī, or Gokuraku-Jodo in Japanese, […]
Space of Bon-Odori festival
We joined the Bon-Odori dance festival by Japan Society of Fairfield County last Saturday. It was very fun! Many people enjoyed dancing and watching performances related to Japanese culture. Generally, Bon-Odori dance is not complicated or difficult so anyone from children to older people can dance it. Bon-Odori dance is very open to all people, […]
Daimyo garden
Koraku-en is one of the most famous Japanese gardens, located in Okayama, Japan. A garden like this is called a daimyo (feudal lord) garden. In my understanding, the name “daimyo garden” does not refer to a style but a general term for the gardens that feudal lords in the Edo period (1603 – 1867) made […]
Harmony between a garden and a house
庭屋一如 (tei-oku-ichi-nyo) – This is the word expressing a harmonious condition of a garden and a house. I think that many Japanese garden designers consider it a fundamental principle. Traditionally, houses in Japan were designed to achieve comfort in hot summer. This kind of house is a post and beam structure. So, its’ facades can […]
