dilemma
it would vacillate between being a beautiful box constructed by traditional japanese joinery finished in beeswax and a bright pink lacquered frame. every time it would morph from one to the other, we would all 'ooh' and 'ahh'. both were exquisite and we all agreed there seemed to be sound arguments on both sides when it came to choosing either one. finally someone said, 'only a geisha would know the right answer!'. at that exact moment, two geishas entered the room and as they carefully folded their flowered umbrellas, we ran to them and excitedly explained our dilemma. the geishas did not interrupt the smooth forward flow of their entry despite being mobbed by us. they folded and then carefully placed their umbrellas into the porcelain stand and then slipped out of their wooden getas. they only nodded at us over their shoulders as they continued wordlessly up the stairs and on into their rooms.
we felt somewhat deflated but quickly agreed that our excitement must have seemed frivolous to them. we returned to our previous spot, marked two columns on the top of a paper and began to make a list outlining the attributes of each as the object ebbed and flowed from one form to the other.
posted by shandra beri @ 7:29 AM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
Who were the others in "we all"? And why do you know the name for Japanese wooden stilt slippers in your sleep? :-)
my dream friends! sometimes they are specific, but if it's just all chatty and fun, my brain doesn't single them out.
regarding all thing japanese... it's kind of an obsession. i know i imagine the culture in a quaint, nostalgic way ( i'm mad about the pop culture too! ) that has very little to do with reality, but i have decided to ignore any grim social realities and simply focus on the aspects that captivate and charm me.
it's my last bastion of societal enchantment. i'm still trying to get over the fact that i'm not actually living in a billy wilder movie. ;)
I'm struggling to become cognizant that it's almost 2015. I have no idea how I got here; last I knew it was 1993. :-)
the time... she flies!
:)
Now see, I actually OWN a pair of geta, so I have an excuse. Purchased in Japan, around 1955-6. I was pretty small; but I remember a good deal of it. Fascinating culture. "I'm going to spend this afternoon arranging cherry blossoms." "Yes?" Then, tomorrow morning, I'm going to slaughter everyone in the next village. Then a few days of writing haiku, I think." "Ah." Then; some days of meditation at the Zen monastery. Then I have to slaughter the monks, also." "More sushi?"
:-)
(fingers in ears) 'LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA!'
LOL! You surprise me. I thought surely, with your interest in zombies, this well known dichotomy in Japanese culture would attract you, in some mystic fashion. :-) They certainly know it; which is much of why the great goal of Zen is to truly live each day as if it would be your last. It might. We know this, logically; which means we don't know it. They can come to know it viscerally, which can change your life. Because they see it and experience it directly. I'm assuming you are a big fan of "Shogun" miniseries? I am.
I don't find the contrast attractive; but I do find it fascinating; as are the parent cultures in China. Towering esthetics, and utter ruthlessness when beneficial to family or self. It strikes me that understanding this only surviving ancient group of cultures may be critical for our species; either to survive, or avoid the descent into pure savagery.
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