Fascinantul oras Kyoto - In discutie in 13 octombrie

        Sambata, 13 octombrie, Cercul “Prietenii Japoniei” a reintrat in intalnirile tematice obisnuite, de aceasta data abordand o tema poate prea mare pentru a fi consumata intr-o singura intalnire. Tema aleasa a fost orasul Kyoto, numit Heian-kyo (Capitala pacii si a tranchilitatii) atunci cand a fost desemnat capitala in anul 794, ramanand capitala imperiala a Japoniei timp de aproape 1100 de ani, fiind si in zilele noastre capitala culturala a Japoniei. Fiind un oras mult prea incarcat de cultura pentru timpul pe care am putut sa i-l alocam in intalnirea noastra, nu am putut sa vorbin decat superficial despre ceea ce se afla in spatele multora din aspecte culturale si obiectivele care au fost aduse in discutie, incercarea noastra fiind de aceasta data, mai mult decat sa aprofundam o singura latura a acestui oras, sa deschidem cat mai multe punti pentru studiu individual in randul participantilor.

Intalnirea a inceput prin obisnuita prezentare a participantilor, care aveau pasiuni diverse legate de Japonia, de la animatiile japoneze la literatura, pictura, limba si alte domenii interesante. Dupa acest moment introductiv, dl Radu Nedisan a inceput prezentarea propriu-zisa.

Din prezentare am aflat diverse lucruri interesante, iar publicul s-a aratat interesat si placut impresionat de informatiile noi, majoritatea necunoscute pana atunci. Printre lucrurile interesante pe care le-am aflat se numara si faptul ca orasul Kyoto a fost pe pragul de a fi distrus din temelii in timpul celui de-al Doilea Razboi Mondial, cand a fost amenintat cu atacul cu bomba atomica, dar care din fericire nu a mai avut loc datorita ministrului de razboi al SUA din acea vreme, care fusese in luna de miere in Kyoto si a dorit sa il salveze.

Kyoto este un oras foarte frumos, situat in interiorul insulei principale a Japoniei, Honshu, si nu are iesire la mare. Acesta este in schimb inconjurat din trei parti de munti inalti de aproximativ 1000 de metri, acoperiti cu paduri. Orasul este foarte armonios integrat in natura, fiind de altfel asezat dupa principii Feng Shui, cateva din principalele atractii fiind florile de cires, frunzele de artar si padurea de bambus. Pe langa acestea exista o sumedenie de temple buddhiste si pagode shintoiste care pot fi vizitate, intre care cele mai renumite sunt Kiyomizu-dera (Templul apei pure), Kinkakuji (Templul cu Pavilionul de aur), Heian-jingu, Fushimi-inari, templul gradinii cu pietre, Ryoanji (Templul Dragonului Pacii). Alte atractii dintre cele prezentate sunt Castelul Nijo si vila imperiala Katsura, renumita pentru gradinile sale.

Kyoto nu este renumit numai pentru temple si pagode. Kyoto este si un oras al festivalelor, existand 3 mari festivale, dintre care doua au loc in Kyoto de peste 1000 de ani. Cele trei mari festivale sunt Aoi Matsuri, Gion Matsuri si Jidai Matsuri, cel mai mare fiind Gion Matsuri, atractia principala a acestuia fiind parada ce are loc pe strazile orasului, cu carele uriase de 12 tone trase de oameni.

Gion nu este doar numele festivalului, ci si numele celui mai renumit si mai exclusivist cartier al orasului, cunoscut pentru geishele care inca duc mai departe aceasta traditie. Geishele din Gion se numesc Geiko – copii ai artei.

La finalul prezentarii am vizionat un scurt documentar despre Kyoto, din perspectiva sunetului. Documentarul s-a concentrat pe mestesugarii care isi duc mai departe arta pastrata in familie de multi ani. Toti acesti mestesugari se bazau pe sunetul pe care il scoteau instrumentele cu care lucrau, si pe ritm, pentru a realiza niste lucrari cat mai reusite si mai deosebite. Incercarea noastra a fost de a sensibiliza publicul spre acest fel de obiecte confectionate manual, incurajandu-i sa incerce si ei sa confectioneze diverse lucruri manual, dand ca exemplu acest oras de 1,5 milioane de locuitori, in care activitatea de baza a multor oameni este confectionarea de lucruri diverse, manual, pastrand astfel traditii de generatii.

Dupa incheierea prezentarii, dra Minodora B. a prezentat putin din propria experienta in Kyoto, incurajandu-ne ca, in cazul in care vom merge acolo in vizita, sa ne luam cu noi pe cineva care stie lucruri mai profunde despre diferitele locuri care urmeaza sa fie vizitate. 

Experienta drei Minodora a fost una frumoasa, chiar daca atunci nu avea loc nici un festival si, fiind o zi ploioasa, vizitand cartierul Gion nu a reusit sa vada nici o geisha. Celor care nu au ocazia sa viziteze Kyoto, si care doresc totusi sa afle mai multe despre acest oras fascinant, dra Minodora le-a recomandat sa citeasca romanul „Vechiul oras imperial”, scris de Yasunari Kawabata, primul  scriitor japonez laureat cu premiul Nobel.  .

Inainte de finalul intalnirii, dl Katsutaro Kawai a lansat o invitatie la Seara de basme japoneze ce avea sa aiba loc in ziua de vineri, proiectand ca exemple cateva basme scurte, parodiate, dupa bine cunoscutul basm Momotaro.

Basmele au fost foarte amuzante, creand multa buna dispozitie in randul participantilor.

Dupa acest moment de incheiere, participantii au fost liberi sa serveasca din bunatatile pregatite din partea Cercului „Prietenii Japoniei”, dupa care fiecare s-a intors acasa cu cateva cunostinte in plus despre aceasta frumoasa tara, Japonia.

********English Version bellow:********

On Saturday, October 13^th, Japan’s Friends Club restarted its usual cultural meetings, this time deciding to talk about a topic too vast to cover completely in a single meeting. The topic was the city of Kyoto, called Heian-kyo (the Capital of peace and Tranquility) when it was named Capital in 794, remaining the imperial Capital of Japan for almost 1100 years, and still remaining the cultural capital of Japan, to this day. Since the city is way too rich in culture for the allocated time in our meeting, we couldn’t but only talk superficially about what lies behind many of the cultural aspects and and objectives that had been brought to question. Therefore, this time our attempt this time was more than getting behind a single aspect of the city, to open to the participants as many ways to discovering this city as possible.

The meeting started with the usual introduction of the participants, who had various interests regarding Japan, from Japanese anime to literature, painting, the Japanese language and others. After this introductory moment, Mr. Radu Nedisan started his presentation about Kyoto.

We found out various interesting things from the presentation, the public showing interest for the presented elements and impressed by the new information, the majority of which had been unknown to that point. Among the interesting facts that we found out there is the fact that Kyoto was about to be destroyed during the Second World War, when it was threatened by nuclear attack. The attack didn’t take place in the end, thanks to the Secretary of War in the USA at that time, who had been to Kyoto in his honeymoon and wanted to save the city.

Kyoto is a bueautiful city, located inside the main island of Japan, Honshu, and it has no connection to the sea. It is, however, surrounded by 1000 meter, forest covered mountains from three sides. The city is beautifully integrated in the surrounding nature, its core buildings being arranged by Fenf Shui principles, some of the main natural attractions being sakura blossoms, momiji leaves in autumn and the bamboo forest. Besides these, there is a great number of buddhist temples and shinto pagodas which can be visited, the most renouned being Kiyomizu-dera (The Temple of Pure Water), Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavilion), Heian-jingu, Fushimi-inari, the stone garden of Ryouanji temple (The Temple of the Dragon at Peace). Other attractions that have been presented are the Nijo Castle and the Katsura Imperial Villa, renouned for its surrounding gardens.

Kyoto is not only renouned for its temples and pagodas. It is also a city full of festivals, with three major festivals, two of which taking place in Kyoto for more than 1000 years. The three major festivals are Aoi Matsuri, Gion Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri, the most important being Gion Matsuri, with its main attraction being the parade that takes place on the street, consisting of 12 ton floats, pulled by people.

Gion is not only the name of the greatest festival in Kyoto, but also the name of the most renouned and exclusivist neighborhood in Kyoto, renouned for the Geishas who still preserve their tradition. The Geishas in Gion are called Geiko - children of the art.

At the end of the presentation we watched a short documentary about Kyoto, from the perspective of sound. The documentary focused on the craftsmen who live and work in the city, helping to preserve the art they inherited from their families from ages. 

For all these craftsmen, the sound and rhythm which their tools produced were very important for the brilliance of their work. We attempted to touch the public in this respect, encouraging them to make things with their hands, things which have much more value than what you can buy in a store, giving them as an example Kyoto, a city of 1.5 milion people, where you can find so many craftsmen still working on a daily basis as their families used to for centuries.

              After Radu’s presentation, Ms. Minodora B. presented a little of her own experience in Kyoto, encouraging us that, if we ever go to Kyoto, to take a local guide who can tell us more profound things about each thing and place that we would visit. Ms. Minodora’s experience was a beautiful one, even though in that period there was no significant festival taking place, and since it was rainy, the experience of seeing a geisha in person, visiting Gion, remained but a desire. Ms. Minodora also suggested to the people who want to learn more about Kyoto, and will not have the chance to visit it soon, to read a book called “The Old Imperial City”, by famos writer Yasunari Kawabata.

              Before the end of the meeting, Mr. Katsutaro Kawai sent an invitation to the Japanese Folk Tales’ Evening event that was going to take place the next Friday. Several short parodies of the well known folk tale called Momotaro, which were very funny and joyfully appreciated by the participants.

              After this final moment, the participants were free to enjoy the food that the Club offered, then they went home with a little more knowledge about this beautiful country that is Japan.