<a href="/blog/key-12-swords">The post-WWII attempt to get swords throughout Japan confiscated</a> wasn't the only threat to Japanese cultural identity - or even the biggest one. After all, Allied Powers were concerned about security alone, and there was no ideological component to their initial decision. About three-quarters of a century prior to those events, both the situation and the resulting considerations had been very different.&nbsp;One might argue that it had been European Industrial Revolution that eventually initiated sweeping changes thousands of miles away from the Old Continent. The rise of capitalism inevitably meant a world-wide search for new markets, and an exotic archipelago was just too tempting to simply leave it alone. Years of negotiations, intended to convince Japan to open up and sign trade agreements with Western countries, came to a head in 1853 when Commodore Matthew Perry visited Japanese shores onboard a military ship. It took another year and a return visit to force concessions that were soon thereafter legalized by the Convention of Kanagawa. Japan did become a link in the trade chain, and many adventurous entrepreneurs welcomed the change. As opposed, the fact of being forced, exacerbated by unfairness intrinsic of agreements made under such circumstances, didn't sit well with either Japanese patriots, who cared about national pride rather than financial opportunities, or with the ruling class of the preceding 265 years and its supporters. The ensuing conflict bordering on a civil war, ended up in what's known in Japanese history as Meiji Restoration - namely, a seismic shift of power from military rulers (known in Japanese as “Shoguns”) to Emperors.&nbsp;Victors don't only write history, they also make rules that favour themselves and keep the vanquished under control. A vast majority of the defeated were samurai - and they had to bear the brunt of the new rules that, among other things, forbade any public display of one's belonging to the warriors' class. Swords were about to become the first and most obvious victim of that legislation. Whether intentionally or not, the new government attempted to throw the baby out with the bathwater. In that case, a straightforward petition wasn't going to help - for a rescue action to succeed, it had to be creative, quite literally speaking.While swords were banished from daily life, the prohibition didn't apply to the stage. A group of talented young people took advantage of the loophole by creating a performing art that combined dances with a sword and a fan, with recitals of ancient Chinese or Japanese poetry. Japanese words for the components of the art resulted in the name “Ginkenshibu”, often reduced to “kenshibu” or “kenbu”. What started as a trickle soon enough mushroomed to become a flood, as kenbu schools spread throughout the country. Hundreds of performers honing their skills day in and day out under the guidance of professional instructors (most of them being children and grandchildren of the original school owners) brought about spellbinding proficiency: for example, it takes several pages simply to list what kenbu performers can describe by using a fan (filling a cup, drinking from a cup, writing a letter, playing a flute, drawing a bow - all that and much more can be indicated by a slight change of the fan's height or angle, or a hand movement pattern). Stage swordsmanship requirements reflect the qualities appreciated by actual samurai centuries ago - such as, for instance, precision and fluidity of movement when the sword almost literally becomes an extension of one's hand. Even the recitals preserve and promote samurai's heritage because the poems chosen had almost exclusively been written by renowned samurai - including, in Chinese! Unlike 150 or so years ago, modern theatres are openly called “Samurai Kenbu”, and they build on the initial interest by employing shrewd marketing. Casual lessons are offered to everyone interested, and actual shows include a “Try it yourself” option, when spectators can learn basic moves from the performers right after the show. Of course, one can refuse but few do - consequently, many guests leave the theatre with "souvenirs" like that<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1721445893/7kwonders/DSCF_2805_34ac4492f7.jpg" alt="DSCF2805.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1721445893/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2805_34ac4492f7.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1721445893/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2805_34ac4492f7.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1721445893/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2805_34ac4492f7.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1721445893/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2805_34ac4492f7.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"> &nbsp;

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Key #13: Kenbu

Many people around the world are likely aware of such cornerstones of Japanese culture as Cherry Blossom Watching, Tea Ceremony or Flower Arrangement. Those interested in the aforementioned culture might know the respective Japanese names and their exact meanings - Hanami (Flower Watching), Chado/Chanoyu (The Way of Tea) and Ikebana (Giving Life to Flowers). However, there is at least one Japanese culture-related word that is familiar to just about everybody, because it was borrowed by most languages on Earth - Samurai. ("Kamikaze", literally meaning “The God/Spirit of the Wind”, might be another such word but it's not exactly a cultural concept). The word and the notion permeates many aspects of Japanese life, such as history, arts (one of the most famous movies ever produced in Japan is called “Seven Samurai”), even sports (some Japanese national teams are nicknamed “Blue Samurai”).Samurai worldview, inspired by Buddhism and its central concept of rebirth, is reflected in Bushido (literally translated as “Warrior's Way”) As the core of that worldview is the idea of service (the word “samurai” itself is a variation of the verb “saburau” - to serve), the Code of Bushido lays emphasis on what it takes to be a good vassal - both in terms of values and physical objects. The former are represented by duty, loyalty and honour, while the latter boils down to one very particular weapon - the sword.&nbsp;The significance of the sword in any samurai's life can't possibly be overstated. Suffice to say, a male samurai couldn't appear in public without a sword (actually, two swords) lest he would be shamed for the rest of his life. Everything related to the sword was strictly regulated - their appearance, length, the way of wearing them (depending on the kind of a sword one possessed). Swordsmanship - along with archery - was a life skill of supreme importance: while some samurai strove to engage in poetry and other fine arts, those were nice bonuses to be mentioned lightly. An accomplished archer would have something to be really proud of - in a way, unlike an excellent swordsman, because not being one, for a samurai, would be as unthinkable as not being able to walk or talk. If not worse… Using a familiar cliche, one might say that a male child in a samurai family was born with two swords in his tiny hands (and even many girls were expected to achieve proficiency in handling a short sword/dagger, as well as a spear). Samurai's perception of the sword, eventually adopted by the whole nation, is best summed up in one short phrase: “the sword is a sacred treasure where a god dwells”! &nbsp;The above helps to understand what happened soon after WWII when, traumatized by the defeat and guilt-ridden, the nation put up with many restrictions. However, after Allied Powers decreed that swords should be confiscated as dangerous weapons, Japanese people protested. They filed a formal petition for swords to be considered valuable art objects. The protest movement was led by Junji Honma, a University graduate who had written a dissertation (!) on Japanese swords.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845493/7kwonders/DSCF_5186_49643f3e5b.jpg" alt="DSCF5186.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845493/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_5186_49643f3e5b.jpg 92w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845493/7kwonders/small_DSCF_5186_49643f3e5b.jpg 295w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845493/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_5186_49643f3e5b.jpg 443w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845493/7kwonders/large_DSCF_5186_49643f3e5b.jpg 590w," sizes="100vw">The military administration was so impressed with the depth of Honma's knowledge and quality of his argument that it rescinded the decree. Honma's success eventually resulted in having founded a “Japanese Art Swords Preservation Society” that later created<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720843813/7kwonders/DSCF_5209_82f2fe1f63.jpg" alt="DSCF5209.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720843813/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_5209_82f2fe1f63.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720843813/7kwonders/small_DSCF_5209_82f2fe1f63.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720843813/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_5209_82f2fe1f63.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720843813/7kwonders/large_DSCF_5209_82f2fe1f63.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">Museum exhibits are easy to admire but difficult to understand. Every detail concerning Japanese swords really matters - and there are a lot of such details. There are four types of swords - depending on the length of the blade, the longest blade being about 70-80 centimeters - and each sword has no less than 24 distinct parts. Producing one such sword takes about 18 months ( an introductory documentary, offering a very general explanation of the process, runs for almost an hour), and every production stage - steel smelting, blade forging, and sword polishing - is performed by a different professional.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845860/7kwonders/DSCF_5193_1f1c6b45b7.jpg" alt="DSCF5193.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845859/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_5193_1f1c6b45b7.jpg 124w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845859/7kwonders/small_DSCF_5193_1f1c6b45b7.jpg 398w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845859/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_5193_1f1c6b45b7.jpg 597w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720845860/7kwonders/large_DSCF_5193_1f1c6b45b7.jpg 796w," sizes="100vw">A smallest change in curvature or a slightest variation in patterns - and there are six official temper patterns and three steel ones - implies a different school, and most schools are ancient and famous. In other words, there are plenty of Japanese Rembrandts, Leonardos, Van Goghs, Gauguins and such of sword making. And every sword ever produced is so unique and valuable that the strictest possible “no photography” policy is in place in the main exhibition room at all times… &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Key #12: Swords

It must have been hard to be cavemen whose world was cold, dark, and full of uncertainty - so, to alleviate their fears and to instill some hope, prehistoric humans had to rely on some higher powers. It took multiple protectors to address various dangers and challenges, and that's how first crude polytheistic beliefs came about. Over millennia, the habit of believing in some or other divinities remained, but living conditions were gradually changing. At some point, some tribes found it more practical to concentrate on just one deity that was made responsible for every aspect of one's life. Heavier responsibilities entailed a much greater authority, and that paradigm shift completely reshaped the concept of faith/belief by turning it into religion - a formalized, rigidly structured pattern of relationship between the Protector and the protected. Monotheism promoted and emphasized, first and foremost, the Supreme God - either in person (as in Judaism) or through a representative, such as an incarnation (Christianity) or a prophet (Islam). That God was no laughing matter, and he had to be treated very properly: feared, obeyed, honoured, and such. To incorporate every nuance of the right attitude, a special word was coined - worship. Worshipping a wrong God, or even the right one in a wrong way, would inevitably spell trouble - such as Crusades, religious wars, Inquisition…The right way of worshipping included, among other things, building so-called "Houses of God". Those house had different names - churches, mosques, synagogues - but their purposes were very similar, if not identical. Rome, arguably the most important Christian city on Earth (because of its proximity to Vatican and the Holy See), has 900 churches, and that's a humongous number! The combined number of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Kyoto is about 2,000…&nbsp;Japan wouldn't be Japan if it didn't choose to combine the best of both worlds - the numerous Shinto spirits (kami) that aren't too dissimilar to, say, the Greek Pantheon, and one powerful godlike Protector (Buddha). Having both at the same time completely changes the dynamics of the relationship between them, because each is aware of the existence of the other(s) - so, Buddha can't take his cue from his counterparts in Abrahamic religions to become too authoritarian, while kamis wouldn't risk getting unreasonably whimsical while dealing with mortals. This way, one can pray to both by addressing big requests to the God and leaving smaller ones for the spirits. It goes without saying that it's still better to treat divinities with respect, the difference being that respect is advised, not forced upon. For instance, there is a set way of praying to Buddha upon coming to a temple: make a small offering (it's facilitated by a bigger version of a piggy bank at the entrance), bow twice (casually, then deep), clap your hands twice to attract Lord Buddha's attention, bow twice (deep, the casually). The procedure is well-known to most Japanese but, just in case, written instructions are placed conspicuously on some temples' doors. &nbsp;&nbsp;It's easy to see that rituals like the one described above, imply an active-reactive, essentially interpersonal kind of relationship where people are actors rather than “puppets”. One might view them as a supporting cast - less famous than the main protagonists (in this case, Lord Buddha and the spirits) but still crucial to the script or play. They make things happen by taking the initiative, negotiating, upsetting the current balance - and when things start to happen, stories are created. It's those stories that eventually result in temples and shrines because many of them are built by individuals or small communities who want to thank the helpful spirit, or even emphasize their special relationship with one of them or Buddha himself.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720329126/7kwonders/DSCF_2947_116a70055f.jpg" alt="DSCF2947.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720329126/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2947_116a70055f.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720329126/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2947_116a70055f.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720329126/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2947_116a70055f.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720329126/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2947_116a70055f.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">An employee falsely accused of theft and turning to the local kami as the last resort, is another such story. The kami interceded for the man, and he was acquitted. Full of gratitude, he promised to build a new shrine - and fulfilled the promise within 10 years. It might be hard to verify the kami part of the story but the shrine is there - for everybody to see. As is the temple explained by the following picture<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720328533/7kwonders/DSCF_2936_00bbb50286.jpg" alt="DSCF2936.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720328532/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2936_00bbb50286.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720328533/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2936_00bbb50286.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720328533/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2936_00bbb50286.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1720328533/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2936_00bbb50286.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">The nature of the humans-spirits-Buddha relationships can also explain the <a href="/blog/key-10-selective-irreverence">Otagi-Nenbutsu</a> phenomenon: familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, sometimes it's conducive to a good-natured, hearty laugh

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Key #11: Divine Buddies

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I never planned to visit the <a href="/blog/key-9-dolls">Doll Museum</a> but rather stumbled upon it on my way back to the train station. The actual reason for coming to Sagano-Arashiyama was to make the acquaintance of the gentleman in the above picture, and his 1,199 co-residents of the Otagi-Nenbutsu temple currently located in that mountainous village, a relatively short train ride from Kyoto.“Currently” is an important word, because the 1,254 year-old temple had for centuries been plagued by floods and other natural disasters that forced several relocations. It wasn't until after the appointment of a new head priest in the middle of the 20th century that the temple's fortunes began to turn. The priest, Kocho Nishimura, happened to be an accomplished sculptor specializing in Buddha statues - hardly a routine combination, as such, and Nishimura spiced the story up by devising a quasi-professional project. The point of the project was to create a large number of sculptures depicting Buddha's followers - a time-consuming but hardly challenging task for a fine artist. However, there was a twist in the tale: the priest's intention was to get the sculptures made rather than make them himself. So, he offered temple visitors an opportunity to try their hand at sculpting - and taught them how to do it.&nbsp;The rest is history. Given a free hand, the newbies let their imagination run wild and came up with hilarious facial expressions and preposterous postures, while likely using their personal acquaintances and/or well-known public figures of the time as models. Each freshly-minted artist produced only one sculpture but the number of those artists ended up being quite impressive - and so, 1,200 conceited merchants, drunken judges, lecherous simpletons and such were thrown together to fill slopes and terraces of the nearby mountain.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620332/7kwonders/DSCF_3349_41feac17a0.jpg" alt="DSCF3349.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620332/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3349_41feac17a0.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620332/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3349_41feac17a0.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620332/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3349_41feac17a0.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620332/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3349_41feac17a0.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620513/7kwonders/DSCF_3325_25d265b13c.jpg" alt="DSCF3325.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620513/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3325_25d265b13c.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620513/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3325_25d265b13c.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620513/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3325_25d265b13c.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719620513/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3325_25d265b13c.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">Strictly speaking, the territory covered by the exhibition isn't too big, and can be covered in 15-20 minutes. However, those who choose to pay attention to individual figurines, enjoy the differences, and possibly even play the “Find-Your-Long-Lost-Twin-Brother” game, might spend long hours savouring that very unusual aesthetic experience that happens to be culturally significant, as well.Even though various sites and guide books use the English word “followers” while referring to the statues, the actual translation of the original Japanese word “rakan” is “disciples” - and that puts the mostly comical figurines on the same footing with Christian apostles. The latter might be fishermen, tax collectors and such, but you wouldn't know it based on their artistic representation - such as, for instance, Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper”. Dignified attire and noble looks of Christ's disciples emphasize the high status of their leader, and Christian zealots would likely take exception to anything less than that - and so would adherents of other major religions. As opposed, far from being offended, Japanese people (many of whom are devout Buddhists) seem to relish the tongue-in-cheek attitude and a good laugh associated with it. That seeming irreverence provides a crucial insight into Japanese worldview and spiritual identity&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719633529/7kwonders/DSCF_3331_cdedd4a68d.jpg" alt="DSCF3331.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719633529/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3331_cdedd4a68d.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719633529/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3331_cdedd4a68d.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719633529/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3331_cdedd4a68d.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719633529/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3331_cdedd4a68d.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">

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Key #10: Selective Irreverence

Arguably, when most people hear the word “doll”, they imagine a Barbie-like little figurine of a cute girl that serves as a child's plaything. For some, it might be Ken-like (a boy instead of a girl) but the implied age-range still matters - that's why when Hasbro created similar figurines of GI's and other adult professionals, they were called “action figures” rather than “dolls”. Yet, a purely linguistic definition of the word imposes no such restrictions - according to it, “doll” is simply “a small model of a human figure”. In that respect, <a href="/blog/key-8-the-tale-of-genji-part-ii-a-thousand-years-later">Kyoto Costume Museum</a> owes its existence to dolls and miniature sets. Had dolls been used for nothing else but recreating just one literary monument a millennium after its initial appearance, they would still have played a remarkable role in Japanese culture - and it's far from being the case. As a matter of fact, an intricate and completely self-sufficient doll culture has been thriving in Japan for at least 300 years - long enough to develop its own methodology, let alone producing uncountable examples of elegance and technical ingenuity. Approximately 200,000 of them are on display in a seemingly inconspicuous museum located on the outskirts of Kyoto.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719120745/7kwonders/DSCF_3468_56592ab495.jpg" alt="DSCF3468.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719120745/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3468_56592ab495.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719120745/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3468_56592ab495.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719120745/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3468_56592ab495.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719120745/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3468_56592ab495.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">It strikes as weird to call a two-storey building containing such a huge number of objects “inconspicuous” - yet, the museum gives every impression of a small, intimate place. There are just a few rooms on each floor, and they are not very spacious - or maybe they don't feel very spacious because of the legions of dolls crammed into them. The following pictures help to understand where the above mentioned number (200,000) comes from<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122631/7kwonders/DSCF_3488_5621657db9.jpg" alt="DSCF3488.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122630/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3488_5621657db9.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122631/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3488_5621657db9.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122631/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3488_5621657db9.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122631/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3488_5621657db9.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122680/7kwonders/DSCF_3585_1cbaa9ce89.jpg" alt="DSCF3585.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122679/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3585_1cbaa9ce89.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122679/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3585_1cbaa9ce89.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122679/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3585_1cbaa9ce89.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122680/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3585_1cbaa9ce89.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">That said, some dolls are important enough to occupy their own space<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122821/7kwonders/DSCF_3478_d726684222.jpg" alt="DSCF3478.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122821/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3478_d726684222.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122821/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3478_d726684222.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122821/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3478_d726684222.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1719122821/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3478_d726684222.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">The last picture is of a Gosho doll. It's also known as Imperial doll because it has been one of a few traditional gifts bestowed by the Imperial family upon its guests. Equally famous, if less "noble", are Fushimi dolls usually associated with particular qualities, such as wisdom or bravery - and bought by parents to help their kids develop the quality in question. There is also a story behind each quality-representing doll. Finally, there are so-called mechanical dolls - tricksters and crowd-pleasers. Their number is actually small, and they all live together in one section of the museum. That's where the museum attendant (and there is only one such - another feature of a place giving off a feeling of hominess) personally accompanies every visitor to demonstrate what his talented charges can do.&nbsp;<div class="raw-html-embed"><video controls="" classname="aspect-video">
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Key #9: Dolls

Upon entering a typical multistoried building, taking the elevator to the 5th floor, and stepping through the doors of what seems to be a standard-looking apartment, one finds hirself in…a time-machine where the 11th century comes alive, populated with characters of the “Tale of Genji” renowned for being the world's first novel. Over centuries, the famous book had been translated into most European languages, and even into modern Japanese - yet, it was that relatively small space that rendered Shikibu Murasaki's creation its most unique translation into Artish, including most of its dialects, such as Paintish, Sculptish, Theatrish…Formally known as Kyoto Costume Museum, the time-machine presents costumes of the epoch in great detail but it's immediately obvious that the exhibition is about so much more than just costumes. High-ranked aristocrats had a lot of time on their hands, and their life at court was filled with entertainment. Games, tea parties, formal receptions, quiet garden walks and romantic boat rides - all those and many other activities are meticulously covered by the creators of the museum, and they make sure not only to present various items and situations but also to explain their meaning, while making references to particular episodes from the book.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426612/7kwonders/DSCF_2813_b12ad84bf4.jpg" alt="DSCF2813.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426612/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2813_b12ad84bf4.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426612/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2813_b12ad84bf4.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426612/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2813_b12ad84bf4.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426612/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2813_b12ad84bf4.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"> <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426657/7kwonders/DSCF_2811_a44b8c6ed5.jpg" alt="DSCF2811.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426657/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2811_a44b8c6ed5.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426657/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2811_a44b8c6ed5.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426657/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2811_a44b8c6ed5.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426657/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2811_a44b8c6ed5.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426740/7kwonders/DSCF_2859_ed38a7b740.jpg" alt="DSCF2859.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426739/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2859_ed38a7b740.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426740/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2859_ed38a7b740.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426740/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2859_ed38a7b740.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426740/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2859_ed38a7b740.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426902/7kwonders/DSCF_2872_0093bc5e06.jpg" alt="DSCF2872.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426901/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2872_0093bc5e06.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426902/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2872_0093bc5e06.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426902/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2872_0093bc5e06.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426902/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2872_0093bc5e06.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426987/7kwonders/DSCF_2866_092000c016.jpg" alt="DSCF2866.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426987/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2866_092000c016.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426987/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2866_092000c016.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426987/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2866_092000c016.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718426987/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2866_092000c016.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">Daily routines, such as getting one's hair combed, weren't forgotten, either - and how could they be, considering that a noble woman's hair was her most important asset immediately revealing her high status! Consequently, most women spared no time and effort to keep the hair as long and shiny as possible.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718427808/7kwonders/DSCF_2919_8c3145ee83.jpg" alt="DSCF2919.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718427808/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2919_8c3145ee83.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718427808/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2919_8c3145ee83.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718427808/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2919_8c3145ee83.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718427808/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2919_8c3145ee83.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">And then, there are actual costumes, such as six-layered kimonos explaining the real meaning of the expression "dress-code". Each combination of colours was to be worn during a particular season - calendar or otherwise - and each colour of any combination represented a specific tree or flower.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428311/7kwonders/DSCF_2830_6b3655d3fb.jpg" alt="DSCF2830.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428310/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2830_6b3655d3fb.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428310/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2830_6b3655d3fb.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428310/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2830_6b3655d3fb.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428310/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2830_6b3655d3fb.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428469/7kwonders/DSCF_2829_0bd233746b.jpg" alt="DSCF2829.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428469/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_2829_0bd233746b.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428469/7kwonders/small_DSCF_2829_0bd233746b.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428469/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_2829_0bd233746b.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1718428469/7kwonders/large_DSCF_2829_0bd233746b.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">Not bigger than an average apartment, the museum is saturated with thousands of tiny figurines inhabiting plenty of miniature sets, and it's oh-so-easy to temporarily forget where you are - and just float back through the centuries on the Ocean of Time…

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Key #8: The Tale of Genji. Part II - A Thousand Years Later

Finding a perfect adjective to describe books is a challenge that necessitates a compromise - and the chosen adjective will inevitably determine how the list of qualifying books would look. Lists shaped by such adjectives as “entertaining”, “inspiring”, “groundbreaking” or, say, “enlightening” are likely to be strikingly different (either completely independent of each other or, at best, partially overlapping). If asked to name “famous” books, one would find it difficult not to mention the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments) and the Quran - two books a vast majority of people heard of, many of those people being passionate about one or the other. The Bible is also culturally significant, as it inspired many a masterpiece of European literature, music and visual arts. Last but not least, at the time of their creation, both books were socially significant, too - simply due to the fact that they were _written_. As very few people of the ancient world knew how to write, those who did, belonged to their societies' intellectual, spiritual and, possibly, economic elite - and they attempted to guide their fellow citizens by clearly spelling the good and the evil thus providing high moral standards, often wrapped into entertaining stories average people could relate to and easily remember. (As an aside, there is an opinion that both books were directly written or dictated by a supreme deity but this possibility lies outside this article's scope). However, as centuries passed, it was the prescriptive nature of the two books that brought about problems, controversies and, eventually, bloodshed - simply because the world had changed but the texts had not.The problems, associated with the prescriptive nature of the major religious books, help to shift attention to a different kind of literature known as “literary monuments” (in terms of this entry's title, “civilizational books”). They include Scandinavian sagas, Western European “songs” (such as "Song of Roland" or “Song of the Nibelungs”), Indian epics “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” and similar descriptive text relating to crucial moments of the respective country's history. By educating without demanding, such books are able to concentrate on pure storytelling, and highlight the qualities most cherished by the nation as a whole, thus revealing what might be called “the soul of that nation”. Arguably, reading a literary monument created in a certain country, is the quickest and most efficient way to grok its essence at the time the book in question was written - and possibly, long thereafter. At least, that seems to be the case when it comes to a mammoth 1,216-pages-long Japanese book titled “The Tale of Genji”. It doesn't hurt that the book was written by Shikibu Murasaki, a high-ranked court lady who knew her subject inside out - and that, written in the 11th century AD, it became the first novel in the history of humanity.

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Key#8: The Tale of Genji. Part I - Civilizational Books

The <a href="/blog/key-6-japanese-garden">“less is more” principle</a> applies to many aspects of Japanese life, some of them quite unexpected - none more so than food.Most people eat to sustain themselves and survive, some (foodies, also known as “gourmet”) - to actually enjoy their food as much as possible. They go to great length to cook their own meals exactly the way they like them, and that often means honing their cooking skills so as to almost match those of professional chefs. However, even for such people, food - a hobby bordering on a passion as it might be - is essentially still…well, food. As opposed, in Japanese culture, food seems to be a kind of artform.The above picture provides a partial insight into Japanese perception of food. It features what could be considered a “typical” Japanese breakfast - bits and pieces of a variety of edibles neatly arranged on a plate - but for the fact that it's a “touristy” version of it. Poor hungry tourists (or children) can be forgiven if they indulge in such “huge” pieces but mature Japanese adults would cut each item in about half (still keeping the variety). One might say that Japanese people don't bite their food, they nibble it! While centrally located restaurants serving both locals and tourists might feature menus like that<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218170/7kwonders/DSCF_1656_ecd2301184.jpg" alt="DSCF1656.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218169/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_1656_ecd2301184.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218169/7kwonders/small_DSCF_1656_ecd2301184.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218170/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_1656_ecd2301184.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218169/7kwonders/large_DSCF_1656_ecd2301184.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">what's on offer in a regular shinkansen dining car is strikingly different<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218416/7kwonders/DSCF_5072_cdf6e2941c.jpg" alt="DSCF5072.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218416/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_5072_cdf6e2941c.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218416/7kwonders/small_DSCF_5072_cdf6e2941c.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218416/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_5072_cdf6e2941c.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218416/7kwonders/large_DSCF_5072_cdf6e2941c.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218465/7kwonders/DSCF_5073_8c071b2371.jpg" alt="DSCF5073.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218465/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_5073_8c071b2371.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218465/7kwonders/small_DSCF_5073_8c071b2371.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218465/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_5073_8c071b2371.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717218465/7kwonders/large_DSCF_5073_8c071b2371.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">Famous ekiben/boxed meals one might buy at a train station (usually before boarding a train) are of about the same size, and both cost more or less as much as a main dish in a regular restaurant. Likewise, a collection of chocolate bites, or a circle of cheese consisting of six tiny triangles cost as much in a Japanese supermarket as a full size chocolate bar or cheese package would elsewhere in the world. One might even be tempted to suspect unethical business practices - but for an intuitive conviction that, when it comes to Japan, it's aesthetics rather than greed that shape ekiben boxes and supermarket shelves. The reason for such conviction is that everything food-related in Japan looks like a designer item. For instance, every cheese triangle is individually wrapped in high quality coloured and ornamented paper. Even standard menus remind of a still life painting&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717248062/7kwonders/DSCF_3599_7f5b18427d.jpg" alt="DSCF3599.JPG" srcset="https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717248062/7kwonders/thumbnail_DSCF_3599_7f5b18427d.jpg 208w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717248062/7kwonders/small_DSCF_3599_7f5b18427d.jpg 500w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717248062/7kwonders/medium_DSCF_3599_7f5b18427d.jpg 750w,https://res.cloudinary.com/dpwp8vga3/image/upload/v1717248062/7kwonders/large_DSCF_3599_7f5b18427d.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw">Last but not least, Japanese food's taste goes hand in hand with its looks: almost literally, everything edible one might find in Japan - be it in a restaurant, a supermarket, on a train or even on a street foodstall - melts in the mouse. In other words, food can be considered as an edible and delicious branch of Japanese art!

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Key #7: Food

English grammar would strongly disapprove of this entry's title - and yet… When it comes to expressions like “Japanese <a href="/blog/key-1-sidewalks">sidewalks</a> or /<a href="/blog/key-2-trains">trains</a>/<a href="/blog/key-5-trees">trees</a>/ cars”, and such, the former word is an adjective indicating that the following noun is either located in Japan, or made there. However, a vast majority of “Japanese gardens” are scattered all over the world outside of Japan, and all their ingredients - be it ponds, fish, flowers or simple plants - are completely domestic. Using “Japanese” as an adjective to describe them would therefore be not only confusing, but also outright wrong. In other words, “JapaneseGarden” is more of a “trademark” - an essentially proper name identifying a unique concept. The picture above helps to explain that concept.The picture proper consists of four basic elements: gravel, stones, shrubs and what looks like brown soil. Each element is carefully manicured - gravel is painstakingly raked to make an impression of a billowing sea, stones are cut to size and placed strategically, while shrubs trimmed and shaped to provide a harmonious background - and, combined, they create a picture that lets one's imagination run wild, and delights the tastebuds of one's soul. Dancing ships, exotic fruit, and the famous statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) are all hidden among the stones or beneath the gravel. Whoever designed that masterpiece, the designer's thought reached the most profound depths of philosophy, and it soared to dizzy heights of sheer beauty - yet, nothing but the simplest, most mundane materials were used. Exactly that seems to be the “Japanese” part of the above-mentioned “trademark” - the uncanny ability to find the sublime in the seemingly mundane, and the deep, intuitive understanding that sometimes/often less is more.&nbsp;

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