The Country of Cherry Blossoms - The Appearance and Spirit of Japanese Culture

Author: Wang Yongjuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Different national cultures have created the rich diversity of world culture and have also become a symbol of national identity. Today, the internet and information superhighway are tightly connecting the world together. The "global village" has transitioned from a past aspiration and concept into a reality, and the wave of globalization is sweeping across the world, reaching every corner of the globe. However, globalization has not erased the rich and varied ethnic personalities. Instead, the unique national cultures are shining even brighter. Respecting the history and culture of different ethnic groups has become a fundamental prerequisite for cross-cultural communication and trade, as well as an important way for people of different regions, races, skin colors, languages, beliefs, lifestyles, and cultural traditions to understand, communicate, and cooperate with each other.
To minimize confusion and uncertainty and maximize understanding and preparation in the process of integrating into the world, we have planned and organized this series of "World Culture Companions," showcasing countries or regions with rich cultural heritage. Each book selects around 20 cultural topics, striving to understand the cultural landscape and spirit of different countries from various fields and perspectives. We do not aim for comprehensiveness but instead choose the most interesting and representative historical events from the history and culture to highlight the characteristics and traits of different ethnic cultures, achieving the effect of seeing the whole through a part. Deep insights and thoughts are embedded in concrete descriptions and stories, avoiding the issues of poor readability and lack of interest found in similar books. In terms of design, it is also full of ingenuity, combining text with images to complement and enrich each other, fully respecting the reading habits and trends of readers in the image era.
The Japanese (gardens) reflect their philosophy of harmonizing humans with nature. This can be seen in their residential gardens and viewing gardens. The humid, four-season (distinct) Japanese archipelago is rich in timber, so most Japanese buildings are wooden structures. Their houses have attics and spaces beneath the floors, with ventilation layers on both upper and lower levels to isolate moisture. The sliding paper screens (shoji) not only diffuse sunlight entering the house, softening the indoor lighting, but also play a subtle role in controlling humidity. Japanese paper (, shoji paper) is attached to the screens, windows, and skylights. This paper helps regulate indoor temperature: when the indoor temperature rises, the paper pores become denser, blocking moisture from entering; when the air is too dry, the pores expand, allowing outside air to flow in. Thin shoji paper has excellent insulation properties. If paper screens are closed and charcoal is lit indoors, carbon monoxide will escape through the pores, while the indoor heat is retained.
The mud walls in Japanese houses also help regulate indoor humidity. When humidity increases, the walls absorb it, and when the air is dry, the walls release moisture to moderate the indoor temperature. Accompanying the traditional Japanese practice of sitting on zabuton (floor cushions), the grass mats laid on the floor allow people to sit comfortably indoors, feeling the refreshing breeze from outside. While living inside their homes, the Japanese are deeply integrated with nature.
The ponds in Japanese gardens, with their (jagged stones and flowing water), and the arrangement of stone slabs even without water to create the sound of trickling streams, all embody the natural beauty of Japanese gardens. Traditional Japanese gardens are also filled with a sense of natural spontaneity. Streams, ponds, natural stones, trees, and rockeries are arranged in harmony, creating a landscape that mimics the beauty of nature. The Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu once wrote, "Mountains and rivers embrace the elegant houses, sun and moon are close to the carved beams," which perfectly captures the aesthetic of Japanese gardens, where nature comes close to us. The three famous "Japanese gardens" known as the "Three Gardens of Japan"—the Kairaku Garden in Mito, the Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa, and the Kōraku Garden in Okayama—feature courtyards that mimic famous scenic spots from around the world, creating landscapes that gather the wonders of nature in one place. Visitors to these gardens can enjoy the beauty of nature as if traveling the world.
There is a Chinese proverb: "One's environment shapes one's character." Japan's unique island geography has undoubtedly shaped certain special traits and customs of the Japanese people. Of course, as interethnic exchanges increase, the influence of geographical environment on national character is gradually diminishing. To better adapt to a world where globalization is becoming increasingly evident, the Japanese must also step beyond their island nation and embrace the international trend with a new identity.