Thursday, June 7, 2012

Arigato, Japonia! 20. Nene no Michi / Arigato, Japan! 20. Nene no Michi

Going to Kodai-ji, I walked on Nene no Michi, an old street which shows us how Kyoto used to be.

Nene was a noblewoman, who married the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After his death, she decided to become a nun and founded the Buddhist temple Kodai-ji (1598). It became the burrial place of herself, her husband and his mother.


The little street arrive somewhere in Sannen-zaka or, if you continue up the street, you come to Kyomizu-dera.

Old wooden houses, shinto shrines, private gardens (which I saw only through a half-opened door or through a fence, Japanese fountains or stone lanterns, all preserve the Japanese atmosphere which is so hard to find in other places...
In drum spre Kodai-ji, am trecut pe Nene no Michi sau Calea lui Nene, o straduta veche care ne arata cam cum era Kyoto demult.

Nene era o nobila, casatorita cu razboinicul Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Dupa moartea sotului sau, ea a decis sa se calugareasca si a fondat templul budhist Kodai-ji din apropiere (1598), unde au si fost inmormantati ea, sotul sau si mama acestuia.

Straduta se uneste pe undeva cu Sannen-zaka, despre care am scris deja, iar daca o urci, poti ajunge la Kyomizu-dera.
Aici se pastreaza inca casele din lemn si atmosfera veche japoneza, atat de greu de gasit in zilele noastre, in alte parti. Chiar si firele de telefon, atat de vizibile peste tot, aici au fost ingropate. Altare shintoiste, gradini private, la care am putut doar sa trag cu ochiul printr-o poarta intredeschisa sau printr-un gard, felinare de piatra si fantani japoneze...Plimabti-va si voi putin pe Nene no Michi, alaturi de mine...
Cred ca aici am descoperit si secretul: stiu de ce japonezii sunt atat de solidari si isi revin atat de repede dupa diverse nenorociri. Pentru ca sunt educati, chiar si prin afise ca cel pe care l-am vazut si pe care sunt sfatuiti cum sa se comporte in caz de cutremur. Ce ai de facut in afara de a nu te repezi afara si de a stinge orice sursa de foc? Ajuta-ti vecinul!
Un vas de piatra in fata unei case, in care se adunase, poate, apa de ploaie si pe care pluteau petale de cires, mi s-a parut atunci chintesenta spiritului japonez.

18 comments:

Joop Zand said...

Thanks for this very nice post, always nice too see your photo's.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks for the comment, Joop!

Viorel Iraşcu said...

Ce frumusete, ce experienta! M-as uita la gradinile japoneze ore in sir, oriunde ar fi ele. Sa le vezi la mama lor, este chiar o binecuvantare. Felictari pentru articolele foarte bine documentate.
Sarutmana.

LifeRamblings said...

such a beautiful and peaceful park. looks like an awesome spot to go for a stroll.

Helma said...

A very special series of photographs Traveling Hawk and also instructive. I read that the Nene became a nun after the death of her warlord. That a piece of garden Japanese garden, fountain or atmosphere could find a half-opened door or gate. Werkelijkk beautiful and special series.

Greetings, Helma

Traveling Hawk said...

Multumesc, Viorel! Gradinile japoneze si templele m-au facut sa optez a sta 6 zile in Kyoto, in defavoarea unei incursiuni in Tokyo. Si da, a fost o experienta pe care am apucat sa o am acum, la sfarsitul "carierei" de calator...si ma bucur tare mult!

Traveling Hawk said...

Life Ramblings, there are such spots in Kyoto, which makes it a great city among the other Japanese locations!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Helma, for your kind words.

VP said...

I like wood and one of the things I admire of Japan is the wide use they make of this material even in relatively modern buildings.

Traveling Hawk said...

I agree, VP. Wood has a lot of character.

Randy said...

I love the fountains.

Traveling Hawk said...

Me too, Randy. They are so typically, I can't imagine a Japanese garden without them.

Liliana said...

Ne-ai înnebunit cu cireşii! În ultima vacanţă, undeva departe, am întâlnit şi eu câţiva cireşi ornamentali, la marginea unui lac. A fost o clipă dezlegată cumva de restul excursiei, neaparţinând locurilor.

RIZALENIO said...

I find the last photo so enigmatic. Can't stop staring at it.

Traveling Hawk said...

Aceasta calatorie a stat sub semnul ciresilor, Liliana, asa am planificat-o! Desigur, am avut noroc si vremea a tinut cu mine.

Traveling Hawk said...

I liked immediately that stone block with a hole full of water and floating petals over it, Rizalenio!

Francisca said...

So charming.

Traveling Hawk said...

I know they are very touristy but I like them too:)