Category Archives: KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto

05 LP 054 Kyoto, Clothing, Customs Culture, Festivals, Heian Era, Hinamatsuri, KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, KD 4-066 General Japanese Culture, Kimono, Kyoto 京都

Heian costume Junihitoe, Kyoto

30/10/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

04 LA 091 Festivals まつり, 05 LP 054 Kyoto, Customs Culture, Famous Buildings Places, Heian Era, Hinamatsuri, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, KD 4-066 General Japanese Culture, Kyoto 京都, Mirai 2-061, Obentō 02-076

Heian Era 平安時代　へいあんじだい

12/06/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

Heian Era 平安時代へいあんじだい heian jidai

The Heian Period was a time period when the Imperial Court lived in great splendour and opulence. The common people did not, of course.

Heian Era 平安時代へいあんじだい heian jidai

The dolls represent courtly ladies who would be busy all day long talking about poetry, silk, hair dressing, make-up, children, men and status, and gossip and other equally important matters. Although every so often a lady would rise in fame because of her personality, her birth rank and her talents.

Hundreds of years ago, one of these courtly ladies, the Lady Murasaki, has been credited with writing the first novel in history. Also, over a period of time courtly ladies were the first women to develop the hiragana handwriting script, as a sort short-hand version of Chinese kanji.

Heian Era 平安時代へいあんじだい heian jidai

These photos were taken during various Kyoto Festivals all celebrating the glorious past of the Imperial Court and the aristocracy. We doubt there is a festival celebrating the Age of the Wretched Common Worker. Never mind – it’s colourful.

Each layer of kimono indicates a higher status level. Layers could be counted on the arm and around the neck. Mind you, to be realistic, if you were in the presence of a person who wore such an elaborate kimono, you would either wear one yourself, or you would be a servant. Either way, you would already know the other person, so you wouldn’t have a need to count kimono layers. Imagine that these days Queen Elizabeth II would have to explain to her guests that the glittering stones on her head are actually diamonds!

Here is a link to a support page:

JUNIHITOE

05 LP 054 Kyoto, 06 TT 091 Kyoto Landmarks, Heian Era, KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, KD 4-066 General Japanese Culture, Kyoto 京都, Mirai 2-111

Heian Shrine in Kyoto 京都の平安神宮　Kyoto no Heian Jingu

04/06/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

平安神宮　へいあんじんぐう　heian jingū

For more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_Shrine

04 LA 091 Festivals まつり, 305f Adjectives in action, Grammar, Heian Era, Hinamatsuri, KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, KD 4-066 General Japanese Culture, Kimono, Kodomo no hi, Koinobori, Kyoto 京都, Mirai 2-067, Mirai 2-094, Obentō 01-047, Presents, Shopping, Sport Hobby Pastime

Dolls　　日本人形　にほんにんぎょう

31/01/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

Japanese Dolls

日本人形

There are many different styles of Japanese dolls. These dolls are in a style of doll that children of wealthy families would have played with in the olden days. These days such dolls tends to end up in display cases – more for adults to look at than for children to play with. These dolls are extremely expensive.

にほんにんぎょうはとてもきれいです。

Japanese dolls are very beautiful.

きれいなおんなのこのにんぎょうです。

This is a beautiful girl doll.

ふたりのおんなのこ

two girls

おとこのことおんなのこのにんぎょう

a boy and a girl doll

それはきれいなおひめさまです。

That is a beautiful fairy tale princess.

おひめさま

fairy tale princess

きれいなきもの
beautiful kimono

それはおおきいにほんにんぎょうです。

That is a big Japanese doll.

それはきれいなにほんにんぎょうです。

That is a beautiful Japanese doll.

それはおおきいにんぎょうです。

Those are big dolls.

それはたかいにんぎょうです。

Those are expensive dolls.

それはきれいなにんぎょうです。

Those are beautiful dolls.

にんぎょうのかみのけはきれいです。

The doll’s hair is beautiful.

それはきれいなかみのけです。

That is beautiful hair.

それはきれいなきものです。

That is a beautiful kimono.

Do you see the difference in pattern here?

げいしゃのきれいなきものです。

That is a geisha’s beautiful kimono.

きれいなげいしゃのきものです。

That is a beautiful geisha’s kimono.

ふるいひなまつりのにんぎょうです。

Those are old Hinamatsuri dolls.

きれいなひなまつりのにんぎょうです。

Those are beautiful Hinamatsuri dolls.

もっとやすいひなまつりのにんぎょう
cheaper Hinamatsuri dolls

もっときれいなひなまつりのにんぎょう

more beautiful Hinamatsuri dolls

きれいです。

It is beautiful.

きれいなにんぎょうです。

Beautiful dolls.

人形

HERE IS A SUPPORT LINK TO

HEIAN COSTUMES

AND TO HINAMATSURI DOLLS

HEIAN

Clothing, Festivals, KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, Kimono, Kodomo no hi, Koinobori, Presents, Shopping

Children’s Day 　子供の日　こどものひ

27/01/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

kodomo no hi

KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, KD 4-066 General Japanese Culture, Religion, Spa onsen, Sport Hobby Pastime

National Anthem 　君が代　きみがよ

27/01/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

The National Anthem of Japan

君が代　or きみがよ

This rendition was played at the Beijing Olympic Games.

This rendition shows the many modern sights of Japan with many young people.

The last rendition is an official one which has the lyrics added.

The national anthem of Japan is “Kimigayo”. It is also one of the world’s shortest national anthems. Its lyrics are based on a waka poem written in the Heian period (794-1185). The melody is only just over a hundred years old.

04 LA 094 Religious Festivals, 05 LP 093 Religion, KD 2-100 Heian Era Kyoto, KD 4-062 Temple, Mirai 2-111, Obentō 01-108, Obentō 02-113, Religion

Temple お寺　おてら

26/01/2011 lamihome Leave a comment

Temple お寺　おてら

A temple is always Buddhist, while a shrine is Shinto.

Also check the connection with butsudan.

Here is a clearer break-down. The explanation is made up. However, our explanations are reasonably plausible. They will certainly help you remember the shape of each kanji.