Masato's Place #2

Hello and welcome back to the newest issue of Masato's place! Today I wanted to talk about some traditional Japanese items. From having an interest in Japan and it's culture, and working alongside Masato I have learnt a lot about the culture and all of it's wonderful celebrations and practises.

To start I wanted to talk a little about incense. From a young age I have loved incense and have purchased many different types - the most common purchased in the UK being Indian incense. I personally find it really interesting that incense has such an important place in so many cultures and the many different uses in practise.

Japan was introduced to incense over a thousand years ago in the 6th Century; by China for Buddhist rituals. Initially used for purification and meditation it still remains a common practise in many Japanese households to this day! The first ever recorded use of the burning of incense wood was recorded in the Nihon Shoki (日本書紀) - which is the second oldest surviving book of Japanese history.

Incense has been used in many different ways as the years have passed - including samurai warriors using it to 'purify' their helmets in the hopes of it making them invincible in battle. The Japanese kanji for incense is 香 (ko) which is the same word as 'to smell' and is used in the word for fragrance/perfume - 香り (kaori).

You're also probably wondering "But what makes Japanese and Indian incense so different Jade?" - I'm glad you asked! Indian incense uses a bamboo centre which makes the sticks burn much more intensely and stronger, compared to Japanese which is much lighter. Japanese incense is created from a mix of natural ingredients and natural resins whereas even though Indian incense also uses those natural ingredients and resins, they also blend in synthetic oils and fragrances.

Moving on to the next item - Daruma! If you know anything about Japan you will have seen a daruma at least once. 達磨 (Daruma Dolls) are based off Bodhidharma - the founder of Zen Buddhism. They are hollow and round (and often red traditionally - however many colours are available now!) and they symbolise good luck, preservation and the realisation of wishes.

The Daruma is painted to be covered by a priestly robe from head to toe - the mustache is painted in the shape of a turtle and the eyebrows in the shape of a crane; this is to match the Japanese proverb - "The crane lives for 1,000 years and the turtle lives for 10,000 years".

Darumas are used to set goals - you paint one eye when you have set a goal you would like to achieve and then the second eye is painted once that goal has been completed. It is recommended that you paint the left eye first; this is believed to have come from the Japanese seating protocol, where the left seats are above the right ones. Painting the eye signifies the opening of one's mind; to open the eyes of your mind.

As for where you put the Daruma in your home - traditionally the Daruma is enshrined at home on the left side, facing the homes altar. Modern houses in Japan no longer have an alter so it is no longer a must. It is however recommended that you place your daruma in a spot where it is visible by all family members and to have it facing either south or east.