|
|
Traditions
Home » Japan » Japan - People and Culture » Traditions1) Kimonos
The kimono, which literally means "clothing", is one of the world's instantly recognizable traditional garments. Kimonos became popular in Japan in the beginning of the last 1900s, thanks to the popularity of ukiyo-e woodblock prints in the West. There are different types of kimonos for different occasions and seasons, including those worn by men. Kimonos are a much less common sight in Japan today, usually only seen on older women or on special occasions.
2) Origami
Chances are at some point in your life, you’ve made a paper airplane. You may have done more with folded paper as well. Origami is considered by some to be a real art form that brings Zen-like results, it regarded by others as simply a children’s activity.
In Japan, the most complicated design that most people master is the tsuru (crane), which has developed into a worldwide symbol of children's desire for peace. But origami has a long history and was originally not for children at all.
Like so many pieces of the Japanese culture, origami (from "oru" meaning to fold, and "kami" meaning paper) has its origins in China. It is believed that paper was first made, and folded, in China in the first or second century. The earliest records of origami in Japan date to the Heian Period (794-1185).
During this period, Japan's nobility was in its golden age and the country experienced a time of great artistic and cultural advances. Paper was a rare enough commodity that origami was a pastime for the elite. Paper was folded into set shapes for ceremonial occasions such as weddings. Serrated strips of white paper were used to mark sacred objects, a custom which can still be seen in shrines to this day.
In the Edo Period (1600-1868) much of Japan’s current culture developed as forms of entertainment for the merchant classes and the common people. Kabuki and ukiyo-e are just two examples and origami also gained popularity. By the mid-19th century, 70 or more different designs had been created. Over the years, however, origami’s popularity has been in decline since the Meiji Period (1886-1912) and the modernization of Japan.
3) Tea Ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea is ceremonially prepared and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting.
Since the tea practitioner must be familiar with the production and types of tea, with kimono, calligraphy, flower arranging, ceramics, incense and a wide range of other disciplines and traditional arts in addition to his or her school's tea practices, the study of tea ceremony takes many years and often lasts a lifetime.
To participate as a guest in a formal tea ceremony, knowledge of sado – including the prescribed gestures and phrases expected of guests, and the proper way to take tea and sweets, and general deportment in the tea room – is required.
Related Japan - People and Culture Articles