< Kinkaku-ji : “Houou ”(=The Chinese Phoenix) >
—–Calligraphy by Ippiki-danuki, Picture “Houou” by Tasogare-no-Ari, Background picture, Music, and Composition by Ahomaru—–
Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, the third Shogun of the “Muromachi” shogunate, had been handed over the one beautiful cottege from one nobleman.
However, in 1397, Yoshimitsu rebuild it to change as the spot of the central goverment. After his death, its structure has come to be called “Kinkaku-ji” by the general public, in accordance with his will.
“Kinkaku-ji” is a part of “Rokuon-ji” temple which is Buddhist sect “Rinzai” in “Zen”, and “Kinkaku” structure’s official name is “Shari-den”(=“Shari-den” means “The important Palace where Buddha’s ashes were stored”).
In japan, “Samurai = Bushi” had been rising at the end of “Heian” period. So, the political initiative chenged over from the nobility to “Samurai = Bushi” who took up arms and fought.
The practical capital city changed from Kyoto to various cities, too. However, Kyoto became the capital city in “Muromachi” period again.
Because, though Yoshimitsu was “Samurai = Bushi”, he was interested in the nobility culture.
And so, “Kinkaku-ji” temple has two elements, they are nobility and “Samurai = Bushi” cultures. This fused culture is called “Kitayama-Bunka”.
The another side, at about 150 years before, Japanese Buddhist priests “Eisai” and “Dougen” had visited China in “So” period.
They had studied “Zen” sect very hard in there, and brought it to Japan.
Thought some dynasties had changed and “Min” period started in China, Yoshimitsu was becaming more and more interested in “Zen” sect which began to grow in Japan.
So, Yoshimitsu entrusted a building “Zen” temple “Rokuon-ji” at just before he died.
In 1399 included “Rokuon-ji” temple, the majority of Kyoto city was burned down in the fire of “Ounin-no-Ran”(= one of the historical big war in Japan). But, only “Kinkaku” survived fire. However, in May 1950, one of Buddhist monk in this “Rokuon-ji” temple, set fire to “Kinkaku”.
At the 5 years after, “Kinkaku” was reconstruct in 1955. Luckily “Houou”(= The Chinese Phoenix) at the top of the roof was taken out before the arson.
Dealing with this historical event, Yukio Mishima wrote one novel “Kinkaku-ji”(= “The Temple of Golden Pavilion”) in 1956.
Yukio Mishima has been fearing the aspect that the mental beauty and the public order were disturbing after the Second World War.
He made main character was certain “the mental beauty exsists on the premise of death” in this nobel. However, long afterward, his act that he became just like the main character in his own nobel “Kinkaku-ji”(=“The Temple of Golden Pavilion”) and commited suicide, made a strong impact in the world .
In later years of his life, he wrote one calligraphy.
It’s “Kan-shi”(=Chinese poem) by “Rihaku” who is one of the famous poet in “To” period in China.
“Ancient time, the capital city ‘Kinryou’ (thre is Nanjing, now) in ‘Rikucho’ period, was prospering very much, as if ‘Houou’ (=‘The Chinese Phoenix’) was playing on his beautiful pedestal. However, ‘Houou’ has flown away in the current of the time, his pefestal became emptiness. Nevertheless, the world and public are flowing just like ‘Yousu-kou’ (=‘The Yangtze River’)”.
When we take notice of present-day Japan, there is only social conditions without the mental beauty and order.
It’s no exaggeration to say that “Houou” has certainly flown away in emptiness.
At first Ippiki-Danuki was transcribing this calligraphy as same as one written by Yukio Mishima himself. This method is “Rin-sho” style.
But, as Ippiki-Danuki was beginning to appreciate little by little about this “Kan-shi” (=Chinese poem) and Ahomaru’s conception, he wrote freely last 3 characters with his own idea. Tasogare-no-Ari drew “Houou” seriously after approved of Ahomaru‘s idea, Dennou-Mushi chose a noble background color.