Japan
Back
from a 2-week cultural tour of Japan, organized by Overseas Adventure
Travel. Definitely recommended!
Not recommended: going there and back, starting with a
3-hour delay getting off the ground from Reagan-National Airport due
to a thunderstorm. At one time “getting there was half the fun”,
but now with delays, full flights, cramped seats, and other items you
are eager to add to that list, the fun starts on arrival. Jetlag is
only now beginning to recede for my wife and I, allowing a little writing about the
trip.
I had never been to the Far East, though you know,
without studying a map, the mid-section of Japan we visited was a
sliver of the giant that is Asia. Nonetheless, the two weeks were
packed with experiences and short talks on the history and nature of
Japanese society by a fine leader, Marika, and great companionship from
others on the tour.
We visited a number of gardens, many
connected with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. I took pictures of nice landscapes and kept an ear out for birds. I didn't get to add too many to my lifelist. Time was
stolen from temple gates and incense to lean over hedges for a
glimpse of birds making a racket. They expertly hid, not knowing I didn't have a gun. Better to be safe. On
occasion they would slip up and show themselves, eventually allowing
me to add 18 species to the modest list I've kept for almost 50
years.
As for gardens, the style was formal in the extreme,
showcasing hedges that must have been manicured with nail clippers.
Quite the opposite of the naturalistic gardens in my area, and
backyard.
British gardens have the same formality with man's hand
dominating nature's attempts to be itself.
Powerful, rich people show their dominance of nature,
grabbing it by the throat and twisting it into artificial forms.
Possibly neither British nor Japanese gardeners influenced the other,
rather developing by “convergent evolution” toward the same
artificial idea. This convergence is apparent, for example, in birds
of different families developing similar structures (bills, feet,
etc.) for individuals with a need to survive in an evolutionary
niche.
How are the two countries' gardens different? Japanese
gardens have more rocks and water features than I saw in Britain. A
scattering of stone lanterns seems to fill a need. English formal
gardens have elaborate fountains and statuary, celebrating myth and
glory.
If you promise not to tell anyone, I'll let you in on a
secret: I'm not rich or powerful! Who would'a thunk it?? My garden
will stay naturalistic, and I'll enjoy its woodsy setting. Here's
hoping your garden is a reflection of what you enjoy!
