Saturday, April 9, 2011

Sakura 桜


It is sakura season now. Spring is a season of encounter and saying good-by in Japan. Japanese feel happy to see sakura every year. And we go to see sakura and have a party or festival under the trees. However, this year is different a little. Because we have a lot of problems and know various tragedy of this big earthquake. 
We can't imagine our future and feel depressing. However, Sakura brooms every year and the beauty let us calm. 

I memorized some sentences in lesson of Japanese literature at junior high school. They are written in the begining of the Tale of Heike.  (See "Classic military tale" in Wikipedia. )

祇園精舎の鐘の声、諸行無常の響きあり。娑羅双樹の花の色、盛者必衰の理をあらわす。

おごれる人も久しからず、唯春の夜の夢のごとし。たけき者も遂にはほろびぬ、偏に風の前の塵に同じ。



諸行無常 (Shogyomujo) in it is very famous phrase. It means impermanence. All of things and every moment is impermanent. I didn't know why we memorized at that time and I might not have understood the real meaning. I especially realize it now. 
I like this phrase.

There is a song of sakura that I love. The title is Sakura and this song is very beautiful. We especially hear it in graduation season. It was big hit song in Japan. 

2 comments:

Chariiz said...

Hi!
I just found your blog and i've been here at least for 1 hour! Reading a lot! I love Japan, even if I've never been there it's my dream since i'm 10. I love to read about your culture, I think it's really really amazing.
Please keep writing. I promise I'll keep reading it! :)

So, now I'm at university and I've been thinking about going to study to Japan for one year. (Believe it or not, it really scares me!) Well, my university offers interchange with Waseda University, so... What do you think about it? (I mean, the school, I don't know pretty much about Universities in Japan, and I would like to hear a little bit about it's reputation, or something, could you help me, please?)

So, thanks for this amazing blog!
Hope everything is fine for you and your familiy (actually for all people Japan) after that earthquake.

Have a nice day! :D

Ricky said...

Thank you for your first comment.
I'm happy that you are interested in my country and our culture.

I think Waseda University is very famous and one of prestige universities in Tokyo. A lot of students want to enter at Waseda every year. It is one of big6 baseball league. Keio University and Waseda are rival for baseball league.

I hope you enjoy my blog!!