destroys the vassal
Christians versus Samurai: What caused the bloodiest rebellion in Japanese history
Japan is traditionally associated with two religions – Shintoism and Buddhism. But in fact, Christianity has existed in it for several centuries. True, the relations between Japan and Christianity are very complex, and probably the peak of complexity was the events known as the Shimabar rebellion – after which the Shinto Christians were represented by bloody rebels, and the Christians bill the Shinto for their brutally tortured co-religionists.
Coming to Deus on the Islands
Christianity arrived in Japan with the Portuguese. Until the sixteenth century, Japan lived for a long time almost in isolation from world processes (although, for example, the Mongols tried to conquer it – but Continue reading
BORN EARLIER, Sensei
Who do you think this is? “Born before” preserves the wisdom of generations and transfers it to others. They go to him for advice. He is respected and loved. This is as important a person as parents, and sometimes more important. Guessed?
Of course, this is a teacher, and in Japanese – sensei.
By default, we translate this word as “teacher, teacher,” but for the Japanese it contains a whole world of relationships built on respect, reverence and love. Parents give life, and Sensei teaches us how to live. Even in the fairly recent past, many noble Japanese tried to give their children to teachers and mentors early, so that children could learn the wisdom of life earlier. The mentor became the second father. If there weren’t those who were “born earlier”, then there wouldn’t be all that we have now, that’s why the Japanese treat Sensei with reverence, catch Continue reading
BONSAI: UNIVERSE IN TREE
In the East, trees, herbs, and flowers are worshiped as living beings. They conduct confidential conversations with them, as with close friends. They are idolized. Monuments are erected to beloved plants when their life suddenly ends. It has been so since ancient times. Previously, they asked for wind and rain not to break trees. In ancient chants they prayed for an extension of the instant of flowering.
Trees in the East are perceived as beings standing on a par with humans, and they tend to experience the same feelings. The Buddhist idea that everything has a soul and can be reincarnated into anything it attracts to contributes to this understanding of the world.
A man is connected with trees by family ties. All these are phenomena of a single essence, as Zentika tells about it in the play “Basho”, or “Banana Tree”:
The East, permeated with symbolism associated with plants, sometimes well-known, never ceases to Continue reading
