Links Last updated 11/18/04

Japan is one of a few societies where it was not long ago that the warrior class were not only guradians of their society, but steeped in the bloom of its culture.

The West still has its arts, some of which are honored also in military culture, such as dressage and sailing. The officer's mess is a conservatory of traditional etiquette, with the art of the toast.

Western etiquette

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Japan

China

the three religions

I Ching

Ikebana: With a history of over 500 years the history of Ikenobo indeed encompasses the history of ikebana. Ikebana expresses not only a resonance with its plant and flower materials but is filled with our joy at the very existence of the life force itself. The form of ikebana has endured and evolved with changing life styles and ways of appreciating beauty, yet Ikenobo's rich tradition provides a firm basis for innovation in today's modern ikebana. Ikenobo's styles include not only the solemn and majestic RIKKA and traditional SHOKA, but the brightness of modern SHOKA and the abstract desines of JIYUKA, or free style.

Ikebana originated with Ikenobo, whose long history, now encompassing both traditional and modern styles, continues with vigor at its birthplace, the Rokkakudo temple in Kyoto, Japan. The temple, reported in legend to have been founded by Prince Shotoku, an important figure in Japan's early history, has served as the home for successive generations of a family of priests whose name, " Ikenobo, " means " living near a pond." The priests of this family have served as the hereditary headmasters of Ikenobo, masters who remain a central and guidng force in the world of ikebana.

As with many of the enduring traditional Japanese arts, the basic principles of ikebana were first formulated nearly 500 years ago in Japan's Muromachi period. The techings of the headmasters of that time, Ikenobo Senkei and Ikenobo Senno, contributed to a fundamental awareness of the meaning of ikebana which continues to be taught and appreciated today. In the Momoyama and early Edo periods the work of the headmasters Ikenobo Sendo I (early 1600's) and Senko II (mid 1600's) firmly established the character and popularity of the RIKKA form.

With the flowering of the SHOKA form under Ikenobo Senjo in the early 1800's the number of ikebana devotees further increased. Headmasters Ikenobo Senmyo and Ikenobo Sensho brought the Ikenobo tradition into the 20th century.

Sogetsu....

Go Rin Nosho ( a book of five rings ) by Miyamoto Musashi

Information on the culture of Japan

Origin of the samurai

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Health

Zen Shiatsu The Healing Art From Japan

Zen Shiatsu is a modernized form of the ancient Chinese art of acupressure or "acupuncture without needles." Zen is a Japanese word meaning "meditation" while shiatsu means "finger pressure." ... The meditation aspect comes into play by the practitioner's focus on the receiver, the "here and now," as well as coordinating movement with the breath. There is no music and an absolute minimum of talking during the session. Zen Shiatsu is truly"meditation in action." Zen Shiatsu follows the teachings of the late Shizuto Masunaga (1925-1981) of Japan, and combines traditional Eastern views with modern Western scientific understanding.

Academy of Oriental Medicine

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