Japanese treat physical matters like as living matters
“HARI-KUYOU” is one of religious observances of Japanese Buddhism held on 8th of February at SENSOJI temple in Tokyo, ASAKUSA. It is said in Japan that the day is “KOTO HAJIME no HI” which means the starting day of work deriving from the habit of agriculture but a few people recognize this day nowadays. “HARI” means needle for sewing and etc. and “KUYOU” means mainly the memorial service praying to Buddha for the ancestors or the deceased. So “HARI-KUYOU” is praying to Buddha having with thankfulness for old and decrepit HARI(needle) of their hard work on sewing in the past on the first day of beginning the working. People especially those who handling needling task of garment industries bring old needles and put them on tofu (very soft Japanese soybean curd) prepared by the temple, and show their appreciation to needles’ hard work having being used to hard materials as almost like human being. This illustrates many Japanese treat tools not as just materials or substances but as partner as if which had soul like living person, and show their appreciation for their contribution to them.
Another scene can be seen at Sensoji, Kugi-kuyou (memorial service for nail). The carpenter’s association hold the memorial service once a year for KUGI, nail, where carpenters show their appreciations to nail and other tools helping their business.
Treat tools nice
Similarly, scenes that Japanese treat tools more than the physical matters can been seen at many occasions showing Japanese handling their tools very nicely and cleanly.
In my childhood, I was told off by my parents I got textbooks or other studying materials dirty or treated poorly and they said “you should treat them well otherwise karma will catch up with you!” During school days, I was belonging to the club of KENDO, Japanese traditional sward fighting match and similar to fencing, and teacher taught us to treat tools always nice and keep in good condition.
It may be related to the concept of “DO” of JUDO and other Japanese traditional sports and cultural activities with DO.(please refer DO道.) Further Japanese famous and successful baseball playsers, soccer football player and others, we can in the news program, are always admired how they are good in attitude as well as their treatment of their belomgings.
I believe that many of Japanese, especially successful Japanese in many field, treasure the tools and treat nice them is because the teaching of treating tools nice has been inherited over many generations from parents to children and teachers and students.
Religion of Japanese is Japanism?
Why have parents been teaching so? While Japanese religion is commonly regard as Buddhist and Japanese Shinto, the ancient creed was the animism and Buddhism come down from India through China and Korea in 6th century. Since then Buddhism become the main stream but it has been influenced by animismish Japan’s Shinto and other Chinese religions such as Confucianism, Analects, Taoism, and finally becomes, I say, Japanism.
Behind Japanese behavior and its thoughts, the one that they offer the memorial service for tool such as nail which is HARI-KUYOU I previously explained, we Japanese have unique and elaborate religious mentality composed during the long history.
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I may overlook some ordinary action which impress you or let you feel different, so if you want to know about any Japanese behavior or actions which make you interesting, please let me know. I try to analize and post the story in this site.
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