The origins of the Japanese people is not entirely clear yet. It is common for Japanese people to think that Japan is not part of Asia since it is an island, cut off from the continent. This tells a lot about how they see themselves in relation to their neighbours. But in spite of what the Japanese may think of themselves, they do not have extraterrestrial origins, and are indeed related to several peoples in Asia.
We shall have to go back a long way through history and analyse in depth the genetics, culture and language of the archipelago and try to find out whether the Japanese are indeed unique, and in what way.
During the last Ice Age, which ended approximately 15,000 years ago, Japan was connected to the continent through several land bridges, notably one linking the Ryukyu Islands to Taiwan and Kyushu, one linking Kyushu to the Korean peninsula, and another one connecting Hokkaido to Sakhalin and the Siberian mainland. In fact, the Philippines and Indonesia were also connected to the Asian mainland. This allowed migrations from China and Austronesia towards Japan, about 35,000 years ago. These were the ancestors of the modern Ryukyuans (Okinawans), and the first inhabitants of all Japan.
The Ainu came from Siberia and settled in Hokkaido and Honshu some 15,000 years ago, just before the water levels started rising again. Nowadays the Ryukuyans, the Ainus and the Japanese are considered three ethnically separate groups. We will see why.
Genetic evidenceIt is now believed that the modern Japanese descend mostly from the interbreeding of the Jomon Era people (15,000-500 BCE), composed of the above Ice Age settlers, and a later arrival from China and/or Korea. Around 500 BCE, the Yayoi people crossed the see from Korea to Kyushu, bringing with them a brand new culture, based on wet rice cultivation and horses.
As we will see below, DNA tests have confirmed the likelihood of this hypothesis. About 54% of paternal lineages and 66% the maternal lineages have been identified as being of Sino-Korean origin.
DNA analysis of the Japanese peopleTwo kinds of DNA tests allow to trace back prehistoric ancestry. The first one is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), DNA found outside the cells' nucleus and inherited through the mother's line. The other is the Y-chromosome (Y-DNA), inherited exclusively from father to son (women do not have it). They are both inherited in an unaltered fashion for many generations, which allow geneticists to identify very old lineages and ancient ethnicities.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Go (囲碁)
Go (known as “囲碁 (Igo) in Japanese)is an oriental board game that originated in China. Today it’s quite popular in East Asia that has been made more accessible in recent years through internet gaming. The rules of the game are fairly simplistic, but despite this, Go is a game rich with strategy.
Go is played by two players (who use black and white “stones” or pieces respectively) on a board with a 19 x19 line grid. Stones are placed on the points of the board where lines intersect, and black always moves first. The goal of the game is to surround more of the board or control more “territory” on the board then your opponent. Once a stone is placed on the board, it cannot be removed unless it is surrounded on all sides by an opponent’s stone, in which case it is “captured” and taken off the board. To form a group of stones on a board, they must be connected via straight and not diagonal lines.
There are some differences in scoring from country to country, but the differences do not largely impact the strategy of the game. At the end of the game the winner is determined through calculating the amount of territory each player has, which is done by counting the number of empty points a player’s stone’s surround.
Pictured above is an example of how a stone(s) can be captured.
Pictured below is a 碁盤 (goban) on which Go is played.
Professional Go players exist and are for the most part, all of Asian descent, though Professional Go players from other countries do exist. Most professional players begin to study Go seriously as children, and some even turn professional before they’re 11. In Japan student professionals are called insei, and have to play in internal insei competitions to qualify; mostly they are adolescents, and must decide whether to continue based on their chances of a career in Go, or go to university. Insei rarely take part in amateur events, but some of the top amateurs are ex-insei.
The release of the manga and anime Hikaru no Go in 1998 had a huge impact on popularizing Go among young players in Japan and abroad.
Go has, historically been a male dominated game. Special tournaments for women existed, but until recently, men and women did not compete together at the highest levels. Recently however, the creation of new, open tournaments and the rise of strong female players have seen (notably Rui Naiwei, who is the only woman to have won one of the major open go titles) will hopefully open the field up to more woman players in the future.
Go is played by two players (who use black and white “stones” or pieces respectively) on a board with a 19 x19 line grid. Stones are placed on the points of the board where lines intersect, and black always moves first. The goal of the game is to surround more of the board or control more “territory” on the board then your opponent. Once a stone is placed on the board, it cannot be removed unless it is surrounded on all sides by an opponent’s stone, in which case it is “captured” and taken off the board. To form a group of stones on a board, they must be connected via straight and not diagonal lines.
There are some differences in scoring from country to country, but the differences do not largely impact the strategy of the game. At the end of the game the winner is determined through calculating the amount of territory each player has, which is done by counting the number of empty points a player’s stone’s surround.
Pictured above is an example of how a stone(s) can be captured.
Pictured below is a 碁盤 (goban) on which Go is played.
Professional Go players exist and are for the most part, all of Asian descent, though Professional Go players from other countries do exist. Most professional players begin to study Go seriously as children, and some even turn professional before they’re 11. In Japan student professionals are called insei, and have to play in internal insei competitions to qualify; mostly they are adolescents, and must decide whether to continue based on their chances of a career in Go, or go to university. Insei rarely take part in amateur events, but some of the top amateurs are ex-insei.
The release of the manga and anime Hikaru no Go in 1998 had a huge impact on popularizing Go among young players in Japan and abroad.
Go has, historically been a male dominated game. Special tournaments for women existed, but until recently, men and women did not compete together at the highest levels. Recently however, the creation of new, open tournaments and the rise of strong female players have seen (notably Rui Naiwei, who is the only woman to have won one of the major open go titles) will hopefully open the field up to more woman players in the future.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The largest wooden temple! (Todai-ji)
Constructed in 752 on the order of Emperor Shomu, Todai-ji Temple's Great Buddha Hall in Nara is the largest wooden structure in the world and houses an immense statue of Rushana Butsu. The Daibutsu Hall contains this 14.84 metre bronze statue of the "Cosmic Buddha" (Mahavairocana), later known as Dainichi Nyorai in Japan's esoteric Buddhism. Todaiji is a temple of the Kegon sect of Buddhism, which reveres the Buddha Vairocana (Birushana in Japanese) as the cosmic, central Buddha. The principal image of the temple is a bronze statue of Vairocana, colossal in scale.
According to legend, nearly 2,600,000 people helped construct the Buddha — but as that would amount to nearly the half of the people in Japan at the time, the figure is probably exaggerated. Nevertheless, by the time the Buddha was completed in 751, it had consumed most of Japan's bronze production for several years and left the country almost bankrupt.
According to legend, nearly 2,600,000 people helped construct the Buddha — but as that would amount to nearly the half of the people in Japan at the time, the figure is probably exaggerated. Nevertheless, by the time the Buddha was completed in 751, it had consumed most of Japan's bronze production for several years and left the country almost bankrupt.
Nihonto (Japanese Sword)
Nihonto are an important part of Japanese history and culture. There are many varieties of Nihonto, but they can generally be organized into three main catagories, classified by their blade length. The traditional unit used in measuring blade length is shaku, a unit roughly equivalent to 33 cm, or 1 foot.
Less than 1 shaku is known as a tanto (dagger)
Between 1 and 2 shaku is a shoto (short sword)
Greater than 2 shaku is a daito (long sword)
There are also subclassifications denoted by the prefixes "O" for big, and "Ko" for small. For example, a katana (daito) with a length around 2 shaku would be called "Ko-katana", and a wakizashi (shoto) with a length just under 2 shaku would be called "O-wakizashi".
There is also a special classification for very long swords with a blade over 3 shaku. Such swords are called either Odachi, meaning "great sword" or Nodachi, meaning "field sword". Such weapons were usually used by foot soliders to give them an advantage of reach. Due to their extremely effective killing capability, it is now illegal to own one of these swords, except for ceremonial purposes.
Traditionally, swords were generally made by one of five different schools, known as the Gokaden (Five Traditions). These schools were located in the Soshu, Yamato, Bizen, Yamashiro, and Mino provinces, and even today very old swords can still be traced back to their place of origin through certain characteristics that were unique to each school.
Less than 1 shaku is known as a tanto (dagger)
Between 1 and 2 shaku is a shoto (short sword)
Greater than 2 shaku is a daito (long sword)
There are also subclassifications denoted by the prefixes "O" for big, and "Ko" for small. For example, a katana (daito) with a length around 2 shaku would be called "Ko-katana", and a wakizashi (shoto) with a length just under 2 shaku would be called "O-wakizashi".
There is also a special classification for very long swords with a blade over 3 shaku. Such swords are called either Odachi, meaning "great sword" or Nodachi, meaning "field sword". Such weapons were usually used by foot soliders to give them an advantage of reach. Due to their extremely effective killing capability, it is now illegal to own one of these swords, except for ceremonial purposes.
Traditionally, swords were generally made by one of five different schools, known as the Gokaden (Five Traditions). These schools were located in the Soshu, Yamato, Bizen, Yamashiro, and Mino provinces, and even today very old swords can still be traced back to their place of origin through certain characteristics that were unique to each school.
一休さん＜いっきゅうさん＞
一休さんis an anime based on the historical Zen Buddhist monk 一休 that follows his mischievous adventures as a child during his stay at Ankoku Temple. In each episode, 一休 relies on his intelligence and wit to solve all types of problems, from distraught farmers to greedy merchants.
A running gag of 一休さん is that whenever 一休 is trying to think of a plan, he sits in a lotus position, wets his two index fingers, and rotates them above his head.
THE REAL 一休さん...
一休宗純, ＜いっきゅうそうじゅん＞（1394-1481) was an eccentric, iconoclastic Japanese Zen Buddhist priest and poet. He had a great impact on the infusion of Japanese art and literature with Zen attitudes and ideals.
一休 is one of the most significant (and eccentric) figures in Zen history. To Japanese children, he is a folk hero, mischievous and always out-smarting his teachers and the shogun. In addition to passed down oral stories, this is due to the very popular animated TV series "一休さん". In Rinzai Zen tradition, he is both heretic and saint. 一休 was among the few Zen priests who argued that his enlightenment was deepened by consorting with pavilion girls. He entered brothels wearing his black robes, since for him sexual intercourse was a religious rite. At the same time he warned Zen against its own bureaucratic politicising.
WIKIPEDIA 一休さん
A running gag of 一休さん is that whenever 一休 is trying to think of a plan, he sits in a lotus position, wets his two index fingers, and rotates them above his head.
THE REAL 一休さん...
一休宗純, ＜いっきゅうそうじゅん＞（1394-1481) was an eccentric, iconoclastic Japanese Zen Buddhist priest and poet. He had a great impact on the infusion of Japanese art and literature with Zen attitudes and ideals.
一休 is one of the most significant (and eccentric) figures in Zen history. To Japanese children, he is a folk hero, mischievous and always out-smarting his teachers and the shogun. In addition to passed down oral stories, this is due to the very popular animated TV series "一休さん". In Rinzai Zen tradition, he is both heretic and saint. 一休 was among the few Zen priests who argued that his enlightenment was deepened by consorting with pavilion girls. He entered brothels wearing his black robes, since for him sexual intercourse was a religious rite. At the same time he warned Zen against its own bureaucratic politicising.
WIKIPEDIA 一休さん
Gionmatsuri
Gionmatsuri is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It takes place in Kyoto every year for the enitre month of July. The festival is crowned with the big parade on July 17th called Yamaboko Junko. Three nights prior to the parade are called yoiyoiyoiyama(July 14th), yoiyoiyama (July 15th), and yoiyama(July 16th).
The streets are lined with many different vendors selling all sorts of food. They include such foods as takoyaki(baked octopus), taiyaki(japanese fish cake), yakitori(grilled chicken), and okonomiyaki(japanese pancake), frozen chocolate dipped bananas, and many other types of sweets. Women wear their Yukata(summer kimono) and carry traditional purses and paper fans.
This festival wasn't as always a big party as it seems today. It has a lot of history behind it. In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence from the rampaging Deity Gozu Tenno. Emperor Seiwa then ordered the people to pray to the god of Yasaka Shrine, Susanoo-no-mikoto. They decorated 66 Halberds, one for each province of Japan, and were erected at Shinsen-en.
This tradition was followed everytime there was a bad year, but in 970 it was declared an annual event and was held almost every year since then.
Now a days they have floats for the parade instead of halberds called Yamaboko. There are 9 floats that represent the 66 halberds. And 23 smaller floats that carry life-size figures on it of famous and important people of history. All the floats are decorated with the finest tapestries from all over the world.
The streets are lined with many different vendors selling all sorts of food. They include such foods as takoyaki(baked octopus), taiyaki(japanese fish cake), yakitori(grilled chicken), and okonomiyaki(japanese pancake), frozen chocolate dipped bananas, and many other types of sweets. Women wear their Yukata(summer kimono) and carry traditional purses and paper fans.
This festival wasn't as always a big party as it seems today. It has a lot of history behind it. In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence from the rampaging Deity Gozu Tenno. Emperor Seiwa then ordered the people to pray to the god of Yasaka Shrine, Susanoo-no-mikoto. They decorated 66 Halberds, one for each province of Japan, and were erected at Shinsen-en.
This tradition was followed everytime there was a bad year, but in 970 it was declared an annual event and was held almost every year since then.
Now a days they have floats for the parade instead of halberds called Yamaboko. There are 9 floats that represent the 66 halberds. And 23 smaller floats that carry life-size figures on it of famous and important people of history. All the floats are decorated with the finest tapestries from all over the world.
The Tokyo Tower
The Tokyo Tower is one of the largest structures in Japan. Actually, it is the second largest structure in Japan. At nearly 332.5 meters it's gigantic. Conversion wise, that's 1,091 ft high! that's almost a mile in height! The tower was built back in 1958 and is mostly for tourism and antenna leasing purposes. Several major Japanese television companies use the Tokyo Tower for broadcasting power through the use of antennas set up there. To give a description, the Tokyo Tower looks similar to the Eiffel Tower only it's a maroon-ish color instead of silver.
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