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

Author: Wang Yongjuan, Jiang Junyan
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: The natural philosophy of Japanese people pursues the integration of humans and nature. This can be seen in their residential gardens and viewing gardens. The humid, four-season Japanese archipelago is rich in timber. Therefore, Japanese architecture is predominantly wooden. Their houses have attics and spaces under the floors, with ventilation layers in both the upper and lower parts to isolate humidity. The sliding window's translucent paper screens not only diffuse sunlight entering the house, softening the indoor lighting, but also play a subtle role in controlling humidity. A special paper called "shoji paper," attached to the screens, windows, and skylights, helps regulate indoor temperature. When the indoor temperature rises, the paper's pores become denser, blocking humidity from entering; when the air becomes too dry, the pores expand, allowing outside air to enter. 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 inside Japanese houses also help regulate indoor humidity. When humidity increases, the mud walls absorb it, and when the air is dry, the walls release moisture to regulate the indoor temperature. Accompanying the traditional Japanese practice of sitting on the floor with their knees tucked under, tatami mats are laid on the floors. Sitting comfortably on the tatami mats, feeling the cool breeze from outside, the Japanese live within their houses yet remain one with nature. The ponds in the gardens, with their and the sound of flowing water created by the arrangement of stones even when there is no actual water, all reflect 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 natural and picturesque scene. The Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu once wrote, "Mountains and rivers embrace the elegant houses, sun and moon are near the carved beams," which perfectly captures the beauty of Japanese gardens, where nature comes close to us. The three famous gardens known as "Japan's Three Gardens"—the Kairakuen in Mito, the Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, and the Kōrakuken in Okayama—resemble corridors in their gardens, imitating famous scenic spots from around the world, bringing the wonders of nature into one place. Walking through these gardens feels like traveling the world, fully enjoying the beauty of nature.
There is a Chinese proverb: "One's environment shapes one's character." Japan's unique island geography has inevitably shaped certain special traits and customs of the Japanese people. Of course, with increased exchanges between ethnic groups, 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 out of their island nation and integrate into the global trend with a new perspective.