Late Virtual A&S Post

No pictures for my latest research. But, I have been splitting my attention between four topics:

1. The classical Japanese language this is a long term project aimed at some amount of fluency in the language.

2. Continuing my study of modern Japanese.

3. Research about the history of certain schools of Kenjutsu (swordsmanship), changes over time, and the evolution of martial philosophy.

4. A deep look into the tea ceremony as taught within period.

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I thought I would leave you with some fitting quotes from the 100 poems of Jōō. (the first things that you would be made to memorize when you started studying cha no yu) These are lines which I think apply across all endeavours. (Numbers come from the number of the poem in Jōō’s poems)

I - If you do not want to follow this way, you must follow your own mind. In this you must determine your own course. (This applies to anything that one is doing, of you do not want to follow a particular path, don’t.)

II - When learning, learn by observation; And it is foolish, while learning, to offer opinions of right and wrong.(To paraphrase another similar quote on learning: enter all learning with an empty cup)

IV - One should cast off all feelings of shame when seeking to learn about things from others. Rather one should endeavor to learn in just this way: by asking about the fundamentals from the skillful.

VIII - During the course of one’s study begin with the individual (motions). One studies until the whole is understood, and then one returns to the individual.

Lastly one more specific to the performance of cha no yu, but which evokes an image that I thought was share worthy:

IX - No matter what you are placing down; when you release and withdraw your hand do so as if you were taking leave of your beloved. This is how this motion is to be understood.