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John Lindsey
25th October 2000, 18:29
There is a poem in Manyoushu (Volume 1).

Watatsumi no
Toyohata kumo ni
Irihi sashi
Koyoi no Tsukuyo
akirakeku koso.

The meaning may be as follows:

Trailing clouds over the sea are lit up by the setting sun.
This evening, the moon will be certainly clear and bright.

I think it is an inherited characteristic of the Japanese people
to feel the beautiful nature is "akirakeku", in other Japanese
words, "sei-mei" (clear and bright).
The orientation toward "sei-mei" is one of the most important
feelings in Shintoism.
--- S. Shingai


This message was posted with permission from the Nippon Culture mail list. Shingai san runs the mail list and is not a member of e-budo. Visit: http://www.yk.rim.or.jp/~planet/index.html for information on the list

John Lindsey
26th October 2000, 17:12
I wrote in my last post:

The orientation toward "sei-mei" is one of the most important
feelings in Shintoism.

There is an old Japanese word "magagoto", which implies
(1) natural hazards,
(2) uncleanness,
(3) unconscious sin, and
(4) an evil deed.

When a Japanese who loves "sei-mei" (cleanliness and brightness)
has encountered "magahoto", he will perhaps go to a Shinto shrine
and request the shrine to perform "misogi" (ritual ablutions) or
"oharai" (a Shinto rite to exorcise evil spirits).

--- S. Shingai

John Lindsey
30th October 2000, 05:38
Through the Ise Jinguu (Shrine), there flows a clean stream named
Isuzu-gawa, along or in which there are "chouzu-ba" (a place to
purify oneselves by washing their hands and mouths) and "misogi-ba"
(a place to perform one's ablutions).
Before attending the Shinto rituals, trainee priests or visitors
purify themselves by washing their hands and mouths, or their bodies
using clean water of Isuzu-gawa at these places.
We sometimes say "mizu ni nagasu", which means
(wash something away into the stream) literally, and
(Let bygones be bygones.) in common usage.
--- S. Shingai