CRIMSON STAIRS

STAIR'S CRIMSON CARPET-

OLD BONES GROANING AS THEY CLIMB

WINTER GUST DESCENDS



Copyright 2006 by Hayato Tokugawa & East Meets West Fine Arts

RED LEAVES

RED LEAVES, LONG SHADOWS-

KYOTO'S HOLY PLACES

A HEART LONGS TO SEE


Copyright 2006 by Hayato Tokugawa & East Meets West Fine arts

Bushido, A Historical View, Lesson #1

One of my interests, one of my passions, is Bushido: to read about it, to study it, to practice it (as best one can in a modern context), to write about it, and to teach it as a philosophy to others who are interested in learning of the old ways so that they can apply them, and their heritage, to the new ways. From time to time I will write here about Bushido as I understand it – my view of it – and thus, share my thoughts with you.. Actually, much of what I will write here is from a book I am writing, and which I hope to have finished soon, called The New Bushido: Modern and Ancient Wisdom for the New Samurai. I hope you will enjoy my thoughts and perhaps will find them stimulating.

~A Historical View of Bushido ~

Japanese culture is generally considered unique both by visitors to that country; students of things Japanese, and also by the Japanese people themselves. Such distinctiveness is often times attributed to the geographic location of Japan which is separated from the rest of Asia, notably China and Korea, by the often dangerous waters of the Japan Seas. A further contributor of this “uniqueness” was the policy of sakoku, or isolationism, by the Tokugawa shoguns from 1639 until 1854. In many respects, one of the most powerful historical influences on Japanese culture, even to the present time, has been the long duration of military rule or government in Japan, most notably the Tokugawa shogonates. The evolution of the samurai as an independent, and the dominant class, referring to themselves as bushi (meaning knights or warriors) and their eventual taking over the reins of government from the aristocracy, has had profound cultural and psychological affects on that country’s people, casting great influence on the entirety of Japanese society through its role as ruler and law-giver and through its patronage of much, if not most, cultural and educational activities. Even today, one cannot turn a blind eye to the residual influence of those “Samurai Centuries.” There is a certain irony of the Tokugawa era in that it signified the end to the persistent warfare that had inflicted itself on Japan, but also was the start of an era where there was now time to enjoy material prosperity – recognized by many elders as a weakening of the warrior spirit. In a society where the rulers where, themselves, warriors, the elders could not but interpret the decline of “knighthood” as a threat to the general moral and social order of the nation. It then followed, that a codification of traditional practical philosophies was made a part of the culture of the Tokugawa era.

In this modern day, “Business Is War” is the new cry even as real war becomes again common. It may be seen that much of the isolation problems of the world are due to misinformation and misunderstandings, and at the same time, much that is traditionally Japanese, much of what is missing in other cultures, is under attack or otherwise threatened from without as well as from within. This work is an attempt to reevaluate, and to reaffirm traditional precepts of personal responsibility, family relations, public duties, education, finance, and ethics within a modern context, yet drawing from many of the ancient sources that the original Bushido Shoshinshu drew from including: Zen Buddhism, Confucism, Shinotoism, Taoism, as well as drawing from some Christian ethics and simply contemporary experience.

IS GLOBALIZATION CHANGING JAPAN

I have many questions, which I really don’t expect answers to but which I bring up here in the hopes of opening some discussion or debate on the subject.

Historically, Japan has in modern history, undergone two, maybe three significant periods of change. The first period of change was in the ending stages of the Tokugawa Shogunate, when the “barbarians” came out of the East and West, and forced the opening of Japan to the rest of the world, followed by the Meiji Era. I think in this case, at this point in history, Japan had no choice but to change and it’s people made drastic and wonderful achievements at becoming a member of the world nations.

The second period was that following WW2. What can one say about that, except that it happened and Japan again did marvelous things to rebuild and to, in many ways, re-invent itself?

Perhaps the third period was during and immediately after the “Bubble Economy.” Now there is a trend toward “world globalization”: instant communication and commerce anywhere in the world - instant exchanges of information, instant business. I am wondering if this could (or is) having a negative effect on Japanese culture and the Japanese people.

I wonder if the Japanese government and the people in the Diet, haven’t gone about things wrong, at the sacrifice of its people and culture. The government has done things so quickly, so rapidly that it makes me question whether they have really thought about what they are doing. Has the government in its diplomatic and economic decisions, really considered or thought about Japan and the people, instead of only catering to the wants and desires of their political friends. I am concerned that there has been little thought given about the people and the culture and that in the long-term, the ordinary Japanese people will suffer and pay for the effects of government decisions.

Everything is done these days in such a hurry – rush, rush, dash, dash. I think that this has potentially done great damage to Japanese culture and society. One of the things that made Japan great, that enabled it to make so much wonderful progress in the Meiji Period and after, was Japanese diligence. Japan was famous for its quality craftsmanship and industrial ability because Japanese people (even the “little people” – artists, crafts people, etc.) took the time to do good planning, and to properly investigate things before doing something. They took their time and did not rush. It would seem that the Japanese government, Japanese business, and now even the people themselves, no longer take the time, the thought, the care, that made them so special and unique in the world.

Politicians are not connected to the lives of the real people – to the real world. There is now a vicious cycle of the people paying more, for example gasoline, and then having to work more to pay for things, and because they are working more and are earning more, the prices go up once again. It is potentially a never-ending cycle. It is like a dog trying to catch its own tail – it doesn’t happen. And because they are caught up in this cycle, there is not time for anything else – no time for art, for culture, not even to be kind (which is something else that made Japan and the Japanese people stand out in the world).

The good news is that it all can be changed, while Japan still maintains its place in the world. Globalization is, I think, driven by greed and the seeking of power. There is no vision of tomorrow, unless it is only about how profits will appear on the next quarterly report. No one, from the top and now progressing downward to the average person, things about the future. It is, in my mind, becoming more a world of only “now” and of
“self”, which I will admit is the way of things in the US now. Most sad.

I am wondering if such things as Bushido have even more relevance now in the life of Japan, on all levels. Should it come back? Can it come back? I think so. I think everyone it is an important consideration – to be accountable or responsible for our mistakes and to move forward from them with discipline. It is something that is missing in American culture and is disappearing from Japanese culture, and I think it is necessary.
Today we play the “Blame Game.” It used to be if there was something wrong, you stopped, thought about the problem, fixed it, and then moved on. The “American Way” has been to find someone to blame, punish them, and then move on. That is becoming more of a “global” attitude towards things. It saddens me.

I come from an older generation that had a respect for the land and for other people. In Japan, people felt a responsibility, a duty; to do not only what was asked of them, but in addition, what was not asked of them. It gave strength of character that is lost in the US and is being lost here. We no longer take the time to sit and talk to our children, and they do not take the time to sit and listen, and to learn from older generations with the result that American culture has slipped away, and Japanese culture is rapidly slipping away.

I an American, not a Japanese, and while I love and embrace many things of Japanese society and culture, I will always be an American. But with globalization I see a trend for young people (especially) to try so hard to be “non-Japanese” and I worry about there becoming a “non-Japanese Japan.” Englishmen are Englishmen, Americans are Americans – there is nothing wrong with that. What is so wrong with being Japanese? We don’t expect Japanese people to be like us or us to be like them. It is one of the things that makes us all unique, makes Japanese unique, and makes the world a sometimes fun and interesting place. I think young Japanese people should enjoy being Japanese. This is from someone who is on the “outside” looking in. Sometimes I think (especially young people) are on the “inside” looking out, and forget to see themselves. Be yourself! It’s nice!

Lastly I am wondering, does it fall on people of my generation to teach again, how to be Japanese or to be the preservers of Japanese culture? Is that right or is it wrong? Is there a place for such people as myself, who studies the old ways and teaches the old ways, and practices the older arts, in Japan? Should fathers and mothers take the time to teach their children, or make it possible for their children to learn about what makes Japan a most unique place in the world?

I wonder.

SHADOWS ON SHOJI

Bamboo leaves rustle

Dancing on warm summer breeze –

Shadows through shoji

© 2006 by Tokugawa Hayato & East Meets West Fine Arts

Introduction

Irasshaimase!

Thanks for visiting!

By way of introduction: I am an artist, writer, sometimes teacher, and a long-time student of Japanese art and culture. In addition, I work in many media such as oils, acrylics, and watercolor and do haiku, shodo, sumi-e, and ukiyo-e among Japanese art forms. I have company which offers Asian and Japanese art and home decor items for sale at http://www.emwfinearts.com and you are most welcome to visit it. While the site is still in the "construction phase" we are "open for business" and have more and more items to offer each week.

I am always open to hearing from new artists, in Japan as well as in the US, who do Asian art and might be looking for representation or a place to sell their works. Please don't hesitate to contact us at admin@emwfinearts.com.

In the future I hope do discuss a variety of topics, from Japanese art and culture to Bushido and Martial Arts, from Buddhism, Taoism, Siintoism and Asian philosophy to the weather. So please stop by when you can.