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Introductory statement from the the book.
My first visit to Japan in 1970 had a profound and lasting effect on my life and work. While working on a theatrical project in Tokyo, I visited the Shinto shrine at Ise Shima. In the Shinto tradition, purity was achieved through dismantling then rebuilding the shrine in the same form every twenty years. It was astounding to learn that this remarkable wooden structure had been rebuilt over and over for almost two thousand years. Trees from the surrounding forest have been used by generations of craftsmen. The tradition, skills, and techniques for re-creating the structure are passed down from generation to generation under the supervision of the Shinto monks. The purity of the Shinto architecture expresses a philosophy steeped in history and refinement. I experienced an awakening at Ise Shima that led me to deeply appreciate the Japanese culture. My encounter with the Shinto shrine in 1970 developed into a fascination with Japanese gardens and architecture that continues today.
I have returned to Japan many times since 1970. In 2005, I visited Nara for the first time. Nara, a city of many treasures, was the capital of ancient Japan in the 8th century. The Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara, founded after the Shinto shrine at Ise Shima, followed the Shinto concepts of tearing down and rebuilding until 1863. This tradition of ritual made Kasuga Grand Shrine another place of great interest to me.
Kasuga Shrine is located at the far end of Nara Park. On the walk through Nara Park, one encounters a forest with inviting paths. The assent toward Kasuga Grand Shrine begins along these paths. The paths merge into an avenue that reveals the first glimpses of ancient stone lanterns; only a few at first, then more and more as one draws nearer to the shrine. Over the centuries moss and lichen have covered the lanterns creating a patina reflecting their age. Remnants of paper are attached to the stone lantern windows. These fragile papers, with prayers written in calligraphy, linger year-round from festivals when all 3,000 lanterns are illuminated by candles, keeping a centuries old tradition alive. These visual and historic elements offer a transporting and a calming experience. Kasuga Grand Shrine is a place of refuge and contemplation.
In 2008, I returned to the Kasuga Grand Shrine. Again, the shrine offered a feeling of quiet and reflection as I walked along the paths during the early morning . It was the same harmony I felt when I first discovered the shrine. During this visit, the light mist and patches of morning fog were perfect conditions for photography. The Kasuga Shrine photographs are my interpretation of a remarkable place and reflect my respect for the incredible culture that created these sacred sites.
My first visit to Japan in 1970 had a profound and lasting effect on my life and work. While working on a theatrical project in Tokyo, I visited the Shinto shrine at Ise Shima. In the Shinto tradition, purity was achieved through dismantling then rebuilding the shrine in the same form every twenty years. It was astounding to learn that this remarkable wooden structure had been rebuilt over and over for almost two thousand years. Trees from the surrounding forest have been used by generations of craftsmen. The tradition, skills, and techniques for re-creating the structure are passed down from generation to generation under the supervision of the Shinto monks. The purity of the Shinto architecture expresses a philosophy steeped in history and refinement. I experienced an awakening at Ise Shima that led me to deeply appreciate the Japanese culture. My encounter with the Shinto shrine in 1970 developed into a fascination with Japanese gardens and architecture that continues today.
I have returned to Japan many times since 1970. In 2005, I visited Nara for the first time. Nara, a city of many treasures, was the capital of ancient Japan in the 8th century. The Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara, founded after the Shinto shrine at Ise Shima, followed the Shinto concepts of tearing down and rebuilding until 1863. This tradition of ritual made Kasuga Grand Shrine another place of great interest to me.
Kasuga Shrine is located at the far end of Nara Park. On the walk through Nara Park, one encounters a forest with inviting paths. The assent toward Kasuga Grand Shrine begins along these paths. The paths merge into an avenue that reveals the first glimpses of ancient stone lanterns; only a few at first, then more and more as one draws nearer to the shrine. Over the centuries moss and lichen have covered the lanterns creating a patina reflecting their age. Remnants of paper are attached to the stone lantern windows. These fragile papers, with prayers written in calligraphy, linger year-round from festivals when all 3,000 lanterns are illuminated by candles, keeping a centuries old tradition alive. These visual and historic elements offer a transporting and a calming experience. Kasuga Grand Shrine is a place of refuge and contemplation.
In 2008, I returned to the Kasuga Grand Shrine. Again, the shrine offered a feeling of quiet and reflection as I walked along the paths during the early morning . It was the same harmony I felt when I first discovered the shrine. During this visit, the light mist and patches of morning fog were perfect conditions for photography. The Kasuga Shrine photographs are my interpretation of a remarkable place and reflect my respect for the incredible culture that created these sacred sites.