Edo Elegance Revived: The Tsukimi Festival at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden

The garden was hushed except for the soft rustle of pampas grass and the sound of a bamboo flute. As the moon rose slowly above the trees, its light slipped across the paths of…
#Japan #JP #Tokyo #culture #danielmanning #edoperiod #heianperiod #Koto #Mukojima-hyakkaen #news #Shamisen #tokyonews #tradition #tsukimi #東京 #東京都
https://www.alojapan.com/1386810/edo-elegance-revived-the-tsukimi-festival-at-mukojima-hyakkaen-garden/

https://www.alojapan.com/1386810/edo-elegance-revived-the-tsukimi-festival-at-mukojima-hyakkaen-garden/ Edo Elegance Revived: The Tsukimi Festival at Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden #culture #DanielManning #EdoPeriod #HeianPeriod #Koto #MukojimaHyakkaen #news #Shamisen #Tokyo #TokyoNews #tradition #tsukimi #東京 #東京都 The garden was hushed except for the soft rustle of pampas grass and the sound of a bamboo flute. As the moon rose slowly above the trees, its light slipped across the paths of Mukojima-Hyakkaen Gardens, turning leaves silver and shadows de

Tengu

Tengu literally means “Heavenly Dog.” These are a type of legendary creature found in the Shinto belief. They’re considered a type of yokai (supernatural beings) or Shinto kami (gods or spirits). The tengu were originally thought to take the forms of birds of prey & a monkey deity. They were traditionally shown with human, monkey, & avian/bird characteristics.

Sarutahiko Okami is considered to be the original model for Konoha-Tengu. This is a supernatural creature with a red face & long nose. Today, this is widely considered the tengu’s defining characteristics in popular imagination.

He’s the Shinto monkey deity who’s said to shed light on Heaven & Earth. Some experts theorize that Sarutahiko was a sun god worshipped in the Ise region prior to the popularization of Amaterasu.

Buddhism had long held that the Tengu were unruly demons & harbingers of war. Their image gradually softened into 1 of protective, if still dangerous spirits of the mountains & forests. Tengu is associated with the ascetic practice of Shugendo. They’re usually shown in the clothes of its followers, the yamabushi.

The tengu appears in a variety of shapes in art. It usually falls somewhere in between a large, monstrous bird & a wholly anthropomorphized being. It’s often with a red face or an unusually large or long nose.

The early representations of tengu show them as kite-like beings who can take a human-like form. Often they keep avian/bird wings, heads, or beaks. This feature allies with the Sarutahiko Okami. Sarutahiko Okami is described in the 720 CE text, the Nihon Shoki, with a similar nose measuring 7 hand-spans in length. In village festivals, the 2 figures are often nose-portrayed with identical red phallic-nosed mask designs.

Tengu are often shown as taking the facade of a priest. Beginning in the 13th century, tengu came to be associated in particular yamabushi. These were the mountain ascetics who practiced/practices Shugendo.

This eventually found its way into Japanese art, where tengu are frequently shown in the yamabushi’s unique costume. The costume included uncommon headwear called the tokin & a pompom sash (yuigesa). Because of their priestly aesthetic, they’re often shown employing the khakkhara. This is a distinct staff used by Buddhist monks, called a shakujo in Japanese. Tengu are commonly shown holding a magical feather fan (hauchiwa).

In folk tales, these fans sometimes can grow or shrink a person’s nose. But usually they’ve attributed the power to stir up great winds.

The Konjaku Monogatarishu is a collection of stories, that was published in the late Heian period. It has in it some of the earliest tales of the tengu. These tengu are troublesome opponents of Buddhism, who mislead the pious with false images of the Buddha, carrying off monks, & drop them in remote places, possess women in an attempt to tempt holy men, rob temples, & gift those who worship them with unholy power. They often disguise themselves as priests as priests or nuns. But their true form seems to be that of a kite.

One infamous tengu from the 12th century was himself the ghost of an emperor. The Hogen Monogatari tells the story of Emperor Sutoku. He was forced by his father to abandon the throne. When he later raised the Hogan Rebellion to take back the country from Emperor Go-Shirakawa, he was defeated & exiled to Sanuki Province in Shikoku.

According to legend, he died in torment, having shown to haunt the nation of Japan as a great demon. Thus becoming a fearsome tengu with long nails & eyes, like a kite’s.

In stories from the 13th century, tengu began to abduct young boys, as well as priests that they’ve always targeted. The boys returned, while the priests would be found tied to the top of the trees or other high places. All of the tengu’s victims would come back in a state near death or madness. Sometimes after having been tricked into eating animal dung/poop.

The tengu of this period were frequently conceived of as the ghosts of the arrogant. As the creatures have become associated with vanity & pride. Today, the Japanese expression tengu ni naru (“becoming a tengu”) is still used to describe a conceited person.

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#12thCentury #13thCentury #Amaterasu #BirdsOfPrey #Buddha #Buddhism #BuddhistMonks #Emperor #EmperorGoShirakawa #EmperorSutoku #harbinger #Hauchiwa #HeavenlyDog #HeianPeriod #HoganRebellion #IseRegion #Kami #Khakkhara #Kite #KonjakuMonogatarishu #KonohaTengu #MonkeyGod #Monks #NihonShoki #Priest #SanukiProvince #SarutahikoOkami #Shakujo #Shikoku #Shinto #Shugendo #Tengu #TenguNiNaru #Tokin #Yamabushi #Yokai #Yuigesa

Gagaku Music

”Gagaku music still lives on in Japan in traditional theater, and some religious services. It also makes a nice cover for Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, too" #Japan #Gagaku #Music #HeianPeriod

http://100poets.com/2025/09/26/gagaku-music/

Experience the captivating elegance of "Morning Glory" from the "Tale of Genji" album. Its delicate lines and serene landscapes evoke the refined beauty of the Heian court. What emotions do these tranquil scenes inspire in you?
#Art #HeianPeriod #TaleOfGenji
https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.202.h

The exquisite folding screen from #ClevelandMuseumofArt immerses viewers in the opulent world of "The Tale of Genji." A stunning blend of gold leaf and intricate details captures the elegance of Heian court life. Which scene resonates with you the most?

#ClevelandArt #TaleOfGenji #HeianPeriod
https://clevelandart.org/art/2024.160

Channel Buoys, a stunning illustration from the Tale of Genji, captures the elegance of Heian court life through delicate brushwork and subtle color. How does this artwork's minimalist style reflect the sophistication of its time?
#ClevelandArt #TaleOfGenji #HeianPeriod
https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.202.d

#PennedPossibilities 649 — What research did you conduct for your WIP, and did you uncover anything surprising or fascinating?

My research is rather slapdash. When I need to know something, I look it up and seldom before.

Fascinating: The Japanese court in the Heian period. I have even switched from writing haiku to waka as a result. It still has that minimalist feel, but has more scope.

#NMPP #NMPrompts #HeianPeriod

Rack of Clouds captures the elegance of Heian period life, illustrating the sophistication of courtly activities through delicate lines and subtle color. How does this artwork redefine our understanding of intimacy and narrative in ancient Japan?

#ClevelandArt #TaleOfGenji #HeianPeriod #ArtHistory
https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.202.g

The Gatehouse from the "Tale of Genji" album masterfully showcases the elegance of Heian period aesthetics. Each stroke narrates a story of simplicity and serenity. How does this delicate portrayal resonate with modern themes in art?

#TaleOfGenji #JapaneseArt #HeianPeriod
https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.202.f

#Today #Yesterday I didn’t do of the editing I expected yesterday. I ended up finishing another chapter. It includes waka (classic Japanese poetry) which was easier than I expected, except the double meaning prophesy. Wrote one last night and then changed it all around this morning.The rest of the day, I want to wrap up the new chapter in 100 to 300 words. Then I have to edit and do research. We’re entering the sorcerous’ court in the next chapter and I want to know as much as I can about the 10th century Japanese court by the time I write that.

Finished about 1/3 of “The Shining Prince” and down loaded “The Pillow Book.” So research is coming along. #konbiniIdol #KonbiniIdolWIP #Heian #HeianPeriod

From the poetic joys of the "Manyoshu" to the melancholy depths of "The Tale of Genji," how do Japan’s ancient traditions of “leaving the world” resonate with today’s "hikikomori" phenomenon. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/17/japan/history/genji-manyoshu-poetry-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #history #thetaleofgenji #manyoshu #history #naraperiod #heianperiod

The Dark Side of Heian Period Japan

Amidst all the culture and elegance of the Heian Period of Japanese history, there was very much a dark side to this culture too. #Japan #JapaneseHistory #HeianPeriod #HyakuninIsshu

http://100poets.com/2024/11/08/the-dark-side-of-heian-period-japan/

Wild Carnation from the Album of Illustrations for the Tale of Genji captures the essence of Heian court life with exquisite subtlety. The minimalist approach highlights elegance and hierarchy. What emotions do you feel observing such refined artistry?
#TaleOfGenji #HeianPeriod #ArtAppreciation
https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.202.m

The opening passage of the 12th century work "the Pillow Book" by Sei Shonagon, explores the four seasons, and the beauty of each one. It is something every kid in Japan learns, but like all kids, promptly forgets. #Japan #PillowBook #HeianPeriod

http://100poets.com/2024/09/14/the-four-seasons-through-the-eyes-of-a-twelfth-century-author/

Experience the elegance of "His Perfumed Highness" from the Tale of Genji. The refined ink lines and serene composition evoke the beauty of Japan's Heian period. How do you think the depiction of nature enhances the narrative?
#ClevelandArt #HeianPeriod #TaleOfGenji
https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.202.p

#Emakimono (jap. handscroll) are a captivating form of narrative art, emerged during the #HeianPeriod (794-1185). Combining text and pictures, they tell stories, document courtly life, or illustrate poetic themes. The format allows for sequential viewing, where the story unfolds as the scroll is gradually unrolled from right to left, offering a unique and intimate artistic experience. Here is a short summary of the history and significance emakimono in #JapaneseArt:

🌍 https://www.fabriziomusacchio.com/weekend_stories/told/2024-07-26-emakimono/

Princess Aiko on Saturday visited the National Archives of Japan in Tokyo to view a special exhibition featuring literature from the country's Heian Period (794-1185). https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/12/japan/princess-aiko-first-solo-official-duty/ #japan #princessaiko #imperialfamily #literature #museums #heianperiod

Hello readers, If you've been following this blog for a while, and gotten to know some of the authors of the Hyakunin Isshu, then you may have noticed some patterns with the names of the authors. The authors are rarely listed by their birth name, and instead are listed under a sobriquet, or just their official title in the Imperial Court. #hyakuninisshu #Japan #japanesehistory #Poetry #Heiankyo #HeianPeriod

http://100poets.com/2024/01/24/names-in-the-hyakunin-isshu/

Reading footnotes to the Pillow Book in early lockdown:
"Man, I'd sure hate being stuck with one gender for the rest of my life! Still cis though."

#HeianPeriod
#Genderfluid
#Egg