Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation by Lafcadio Hearn

Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation

by Lafcadio Hearn

Parts of this video:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NRwOAN7lOg Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRWORNFX9B0 
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maLJsMa_Pi8

Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation | Lafcadio Hearn | *Non-fiction, History, Religion | Audiobook full unabridged | English | 1/3
Content of the video and Sections beginning time (clickable) - Chapters of the audiobook: please see First comments under this video.
Greece-born Lafcadio Hearn (1850 - 1904) spent decades of his life in Japan, even marrying a Japanese woman, thus becoming a Japanese citizen by the name of Koizumi Yakumo (小泉 八雲). He wrote many books on Japan, especially about its folklore. In this posthumously published book, he takes a closer look at Japan's religious history: How it developed from ancient beliefs into Shintoism, resisted suppression attempts by both Buddhism and Christianity and how – despite efforts to westernise Japan during the era known as Meiji Restoration – it remained the basis for Japanese society. Even today, over 100 years after this book was written, some of the described traditions and fundamental ideas still exist. (Summary by Julia Niedermaier)

Buddhistdoor: Approaching Ch'an

1. http://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/approaching-chan-part-1

2. https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/approaching-chan-part-2-the-two-streams-of-chan-contemplative-practices

Approaching Ch'an

By Ven. Guo-Xing and Ven. Chang-Hwa

Dharma World Magazine , Chaplaincy resources

http://www.rk-world.org/dharmaworld/dk_backissues.aspx

Dharma World Magazine , Chaplaincy resources

July-September 2015, Volume 42Religious Rituals and Their Meaning for Today Apri-June 2015, Volume 42Religion's Contributions to Society January-March 2015, Volume 42Cultivating Hearts That Welcome the Other October-December 2014, Volume 41Buddhism and Language July-September 2014, Volume 41Life After Death Apri-June 2014, Volume 41Building an East Asian Community: Roles of Religions January-March 2014, Volume 41Aging Societies and Religion October-December 2013, Volume 40Nuclear Power and Contemporary Religion July-September 2013, Volume 40Where Does the Buddha Live Now? April-June 2013, Volume 40Modern Meanings of Festivals January-March 2013, Volume 40Transforming Greed October-December 2012, Volume 39Religions Coping with Prejudice July-September 2012, Volume 39The Significance of Religious Communities April-June 2012, Volume 39Buddhist Teachings on Spiritual Liberation January-March 2012, Volume 39The Meaning of Modern Pilgrimage October-December 2011, Volume 38The Evolution of Funerals in Japan July-September 2011, Volume 38Buddhism in North America April-June 2011, Volume 38Religion and the Power of Women January-March 2011, Volume 38What Is True Wealth? October-December 2010, Volume 37Dialogue Draws Religions Closer July-September 2010, Volume 37Tackling the Question "What Is the Lotus Sutra?" April-June 2010, Volume 37Religion's Role in Abolishing Nuclear Weapons January-March 2010, Volume 37Help in Overcoming Alienation October-December 2009, Volume 36Religion and Prayer July-September 2009, Volume 36Religion and Media April-June 2009, Volume 36Religion and Health January-March 2009, Volume 36The Changing Forms of the Family and the Role of Religion October-December 2008, Volume 35The Meaning of Giving in the Contemporary World July-September 2008, Volume 35 Buddhism in the Face of Environmental Crisis April-June 2008, Volume 35The Many Forms of the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin January-March 2008, Volume 35 Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution October-December 2007, Volume 34 Buddhism and Bioethics July-September 2007, Volume 34 Respect for Ancestors April-June 2007, Volume 34 Self-Examination and Peace Work January-March 2007, Volume 34 Buddhism and Social Responsibility: Boddhisattva Practice Today October-December 2006, Volume 33 Buddishm in Dialogue July-September 2006, Volume 33 Religions Working for Peace April-June 2006, Volume 33 Creating the World of the One Vehicle: The Centennial of the Birth of Rev. Nikkyo Niwano

The Significance of Lay Buddhism in Japanese History

http://www.rk-world.org/dharmaworld/dw_2014octdec_the-significance-of-lay-buddhism-in-japanese-history.aspx

The Significance of Lay Buddhism in Japanese History

The Japan News: Kyoto Hidden Stories / Moss temple shows hand of man and nature

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002279073

The Japan News: Kyoto Hidden Stories / Moss temple shows hand of man and nature

By Yasuhiko Mori / Yomiuri Shimbun Senior WriterSaihoji temple in Kyoto’s Nishikyo Ward is better known as Kokedera (Temple of moss). Beyond its gate, the grounds are covered in moss like a green carpet measuring about 30,000 square meters. A place like this can hardly be created overnight, so how did this garden come to be?

The Shikoku Pilgrimage 2012-05-03

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIXSQ3N0GTk

[Begin Japanology] Season 5 EP16 : The Shikoku Pilgrimage 2012-05-03

Published on Jun 25, 2015

The Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路 Shikoku Henro?) or Shikoku Junrei (四国巡礼?) is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims (known as henro (遍路?)) still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic, pious, and tourism-related purposes.[1] The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles, or motorcycles. The standard walking course is approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) long and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete.
In addition to the 88 "official" temples of the pilgrimage, there are over 200 bangai — temples not considered part of the official 88. To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order; in some cases it is even considered lucky[citation needed] to travel in reverse order. Henro (遍路?) is the Japanese word for pilgrim, and the inhabitants of Shikoku call the pilgrims o-henro-san (お遍路さん?), the o (お?) being an honorific and the san (さん?) a title similar to "Mr." or "Mrs.". They are often recognizable by their white clothing, sedge hats, and kongō-zue or walking sticks. Alms or osettai are frequently given. Many pilgrims begin and complete the journey by visiting Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, which was settled by Kūkai and remains the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism. The 21 kilometres (13 mi) walking trail up to Koya-san still exists, but most pilgrims use the train.

Zen podcast - In our time Episode (BBC Radio 4)

http://classjump.com/s/sharkey/documents/Zen_podcast___In_our_time_Episode.mp3

 Zen podcast - In our time Episode (21.73 MB)

A 45 min episode of Melvyn Bragg's 'In our Time' broadcast on Radio 4. Download this on to your phone and listen to it when you get a chance.

Lotusinthemud: Buddhism and Japan

http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/2015/05/part-i-a-brief-history-of-buddhism-in-japan.html

1. Buddhism Introduced to Japan

Presentation of Korean Buddhist Materials

http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/2015/05/part-ii-the-japanese-and-buddhism.html

2. Japanese Buddhism Today
Secularization of Japanese Society


http://lotusinthemud.typepad.com/sujatin/2015/05/japanese-buddhism-part-iii-toward-the-future.html

3. What Does Buddhism Contribute to World Peace?

Importance of Avoiding Polarization

"How Buddhism Became a Religion."

http://religion.fsu.edu/player/Bartholomuez_2015_JJ_How%20Buddhism%20Became%20a%20Religion.mp3

April 10th, 2015, from 4:30 to 6:30. Dodd Hall Auditorium. By Dr. Jason Josephson, Williams College talk about "How Buddhism Became a Religion."
>>Flyer
>>MP3

Japanese Buddhist Statues Japanology Plus ( 仏教 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcSoWaNqJms

Japanese Buddhist Statues Japanology Plus ( 仏教 )

Published on Mar 25, 2015

Japanese Buddhist Statues Japanology Plus ( 仏教 ) Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafted works of art in their own right. When Buddhism reached Japan.

Video Link : Whether it's learning about a traditional custom, or a newly popular sport, people in Japan. Video Link : Sports days are all-day athletic meets held annually at schools in Japan.

Japanese Buddhist Statues Japanology Plus ( 仏教 ) Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafted works.

Tea Ceremony Demonstration at Japan Society

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OVu_yBWfac&index=7&list=PLfOuX3uAnpc8xTgCAOU3wsJ07qp5KRIhM

Tea Ceremony Demonstration at Japan Society

Uploaded on Oct 24, 2009

Sword & Serenity Enshu Style Tea Ceremony & Kenjutsu Demonstration

http://www.japansociety.org/event_det...

Expertise in bun and bu, or the arts of letters and the arts of war, represent the ideal of samurai culture during the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868). This video clip features a demonstration of samurai style tea ceremony by Kobori Soujitsu, 13th Grand Master of Enshu School of Tea. Moderated by H. Paul Varley, one of Americas leading historians of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Samurai Culture.

Visit us at http://www.japansociety.org for more information

Life and Devotion in the Kannon Villages (English subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF69e4uRf0I

Life and Devotion in the Kannon Villages (English subtitles)

Published on Jan 16, 2015

Kannon (観音) is among the most revered boddhisattva deities in Japanese Buddhism and is often kept as the main object of worship at temples around Kyoto, Nara, and other historic areas of this central region such as Nagahama.

Embodying both a geographic and cultural crossroads in the heart of Japan, Nagahama City encompasses several traditional villages surrounding the northern coast of Lake Biwa, a region known as Kohoku (lake’s north side). Here in these communities, we find the continuation of a unique and centuries-old tradition to preserve the Kannon.

Known as a caring protector, Kannon gives but also receives protection from these villages as they pass the deity statues down from generation to generation with gratitude and devotion that has lasted since medieval times. See how the spirit of traditional Japan lives on even today in these communities.

Shingon Buddhist Fire Ritual- Mount Koya, Japan (complete ceremony)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--A-5Dxmf74

Shingon Buddhist Fire Ritual- Mount Koya, Japan (complete ceremony)

Daggy Busker

Published on Dec 1, 2014

Goma fire ritual at Ekoin Temple in Mount Koya, Japan. The Shingon Buddhist ceremony of consecrated fire is performed every morning to destroy negative energies, and cleanse the mind and spirit. This video shows the entire ceremony.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaggyBusker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaggyBusker
Instagram: http://instagram.com/daggybusker
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Japan Spirit and Form #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_omLao8rzs4

Japan Spirit and Form #3

Published on Oct 26, 2014

#3: Discovery of the “Pure Land” This episode looks at the Kamakura Period of Japanese history (12th-14th centuries) and the ways Buddhism of the time influenced so much of the art of the period, particularly statues of Buddha, statues of prominent monks, painted scenes reflecting Buddhist beliefs, and a new kind of portrait painting that emerged during that period. Temples in Japan that are visited include: Todaiji, Jingoji, Higashi Honganji and Sanjusangendo, with its rows of statues of Kannon. Monks referenced include Chogen, Zendo Daishi, Ikkyu Sojun and Shinran. We see contemporary artists at work, including Shiko Munakata, a woodblock artist. Shuichi Kato comments from time to time and points out the influence of Japanese monk portraits on a much later school of European artists, most notably Vincent Van Gogh. Ashley Thom provides the English narration. Akira Mitake composed the music. This series is an NHK production from 1989.

BEGIN Japanology - Japanese Tea Ceremony 茶道

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDhjVd1XX0

BEGIN Japanology - Japanese Tea Ceremony 茶道 

Published on Oct 25, 2014

The Japanese tea ceremony is a special way of making green tea (matcha 抹茶). It is called the Way of Tea. It is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered tea. People who study the tea ceremony have to learn about different kinds of tea. They also have to learn about kimono (Japanese clothes), flowers, and many other things. It takes much practice to learn the tea ceremony. Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the Japanese tea ceremony.

- Wikipedia

On this edition of BEGIN Japanology our theme is Tea Ceremony.

For more please visit NHK World.

 

NHK: Japanese Buddhist Statues - Japanology Plus ( 仏教 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9W2IDzGRAo

Japanese Buddhist Statues - Japanology Plus ( 仏教 )  

Published on Oct 19, 2014

Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafted works of art in their own right. When Buddhism reached Japan in the mid-6th century, religious statuary came with it, and in thickly forested Japan, the statues began to be made mostly in wood. This time on Japanology Plus, we explore the deep appeal of Buddhist statues with our expert guest Yasumi Miyazawa. And in Plus One, keeping the Buddhas in your own home.

For more please visit NHK World.

Beautiful Japanese Garden: Japanology Plus ( 日本庭園 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJb5-eDp6dc

Beautiful Japanese Garden:

Japanology Plus ( 日本庭園 )

Published on Sep 27, 2014

This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Japanese gardens, compact evocations of nature's majesty. Japan has many garden styles: from tea gardens, to the dry gardens of Zen Buddhism, to the pocket gardens of city-dwellers. Our expert guest is Takahiro Naka, a professor of garden history who is actively involved in garden design and restoration projects around the country. And in Plus One, a Japanese rock garden that fits on your tabletop.

For more please visit NHK World.

Complete Shingon Buddhism Morning Chanting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xARFuhXMC0c

Complete Shingon Buddhism Morning Chanting 

Published on Sep 13, 2014

Japanese Esoteric Buddhism morning dharani, mantra, and recitation, at Eko-in Training Temple, on Mount Koya.

 

Bodhidharma's Shoe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITnmOJbR5uU&list=PLa-FkVmUuOnvRmCSLormIlrpbhwk7_Xyo&index=6

Bodhidharma's Shoe 

Uploaded on Oct 31, 2008

Americans began to practice Zen in the 1960s under the guidance of teachers from Japan. American Zen practice preserves many Japanese monastic traditions as Tom Davenport's personal account of a seven day intensive Zen retreat, documents. The filmmaker intercuts video of the retreat with drawings by Giei Sato that were published in the book "Unsui: A Diary of Zen Monastic Life" (University of Hawaii Press).

This retreat or "Sesshin" was at Bodhi Manda Zen Center, Jemez Springs, New Mexico --one of the most rigorous and conservative Zen Centers in the United States. The teacher is Joshu Sasaki Roshi who was born in 1907 and came to the United States in 1962. Other American Zen Centers have adapted and changed (using English in the chanting, for example) but the core practices of Zen Centers are similar.

For some healthy criticism of American Zen practice, please take a look at http://www.darkzen.com/Articles/means... by Stuart Lachs.

Tom Davenport is one of the founders of Folkstreams and began his Zen practice in the late 1960s. Bodhidharma is the legendary Buddhist monk who brought Zen (Ch'an) practice from Indian to China in the 5th Century.

Buddhist Architecture: Craftsmanship unites places of worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEqcMVmXG4E

followed by  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3fGyj5YdNs

Buddhist Architecture: Craftsmanship unites places of worship

Published on Aug 15, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEqcM...
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