The soldiers are wandering
Huddled together on a muddy road
What a cold!
(Mutyo)
In the previous article on the religious beliefs of the samurai, we stopped at the fact that Zen Buddhism turned out to be very beneficial to the top of the samurai class. Moreover, it is interesting that the matter concerned not only the spiritual sphere, but also the practical side of their military-sports training for war. The fact is that in fencing, and in archery, and in various types of wrestling without weapons, and even in swimming, the Japanese assigned the main role not to physical condition, but to spiritual condition. The psychological balance and self-control developed through Zen were very important for the samurai. Well, the main way to know the truth in Zen was meditation (zazen) - thoughtless contemplation of the environment while sitting and with crossed legs. A garden or an empty room was chosen as a place for it, in which there would be nothing to distract the meditator.
Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (1839 - 1892) - an outstanding Japanese artist who worked in the woodcut technique, depicted not only "100 views of the moon". He also performed other series in the uki-yo genre, which are as skillfully executed as they are filled with deep meaning. For example, he painted demons, which, as all the Japanese knew well, surrounded them from all sides. Here is one of his works called "The Spirit of a Waterfall".
The basic rule of contemplation was to train the lungs, teaching a person to measured breathing helped him "self-deepening" and brought up endurance and patience in him. The state achieved by this practice was called musin, after which it was already possible to attain muga (or lack of self). That is, a person renounced everything earthly and, as it were, soared above his mortal body. In such self-deepening, according to the adepts of the Zen-soto school, satori - a state of enlightenment - could descend on a person.
The koan or question that the mentor asked his disciple was also used. This method was used, for example, by the Rinzai school. The mentor's questions should also have led to satori. Moreover, logic was not welcomed here, since the ideal was complete "thoughtlessness" and, again, detachment from earthly life.
Sometimes, in order to achieve satori, the mentor sensei (which is now often practiced in various fashionable sects!) Used a blow with a stick, could unexpectedly push a person into the mud and even pinch his nose. All of this, however, had a specific purpose - to remain calm and self-control. Moreover, it was argued that a person who experienced satori after that looked at life completely differently, but the main thing is that such a person could act effectively in any situation, because he remained calm when he was pinched by the nose and beaten with a stick …
And it turned out that power, and fame, and money, and even victory, i.e. - everything that the Japanese warrior was supposed to strive for, after satori became of little value for him, which was beneficial to the elite of society, since it allowed him to save material benefits on … awards! It's like an order for courage: you got a cheap trick and rejoice … everyone seems to respect you, although in fact people respect land and expensive cars much more. But any elite usually keeps these benefits for themselves!
But this is a duel with a shadow and … who can say that it was not without Sigmund Freud?
In the XII - XVI centuries. Zenhu entered its peak and became a very influential sect in Japan, with the support of the shogun government. Although we note that Zen Buddhism greatly influenced all areas of Japanese culture. Moreover, the victory of the Tokugawa clan and the establishment of samurai power in the country in some way changed the essence of Zen.
Zen was no longer as rigorous as it was in the beginning. Of course, no one canceled the readiness to "go into the void" at any moment by order of the overlord. But now the opinion has also been established that a person should live and enjoy life, love and appreciate all that is beautiful. It was believed that a Japanese warrior should have not only one military prowess (bu), but also culture, and even humanity (boon).
One of Yoshitoshi's woodcut series was titled "28 Famous Assassins." And why not glorify them? These are not some ordinary killers, but the most famous ones !!!
Since the wars in Japan ended, the samurai began to indulge in the tea ceremony, learned to draw with ink, studied the art of ikebana and even … participated in theatrical performances! And again, the paradox of any religion like “you won't sin, you won't repent”: Zen asserted the uselessness of knowledge, but the bushi considered useful those moments of Zen that helped in fostering the character of a warrior and for the sake of this … they studied! For example, they studied tanoyu - a tea ceremony, because they saw elements of meditation in it and … why is it only in Buddhist monasteries and clergy to drink tea ?! According to legend, the founder of the Zen sect Daruma himself fell asleep during meditation, as he was very tired. When he woke up, he tore off his eyelids in a rage so that they would no longer interfere with him following the "path" to "enlightenment." He threw them on the ground, where they turned into shoots of tea bushes, which gave people a sleep cure.
"Killing Niu". This is such a mythical creature and why shouldn't the samurai kill him ?!
So that no bustle of the outside world interferes with quiet contemplation and calm conversation during tanoya, teahouses (chashitsu) and reception rooms for waiting for this ceremony (yoritsuki) were set up away from the living quarters, usually somewhere in the back of the garden. Accordingly, appropriate parks were needed, which contributed to the development of park culture, gardens (horticulture) and interior design. During the reign of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, even special rules of tea etiquette were introduced, drawn up by Senno Rikyu, whom Hideyoshi appointed as the master of the tea ceremony of his palace. The son of a seedy peasant (or a woodcutter - opinions differ here), he strove for noble manners to prove to the old aristocracy that he was no worse than them. Moreover, when Senno Rikyu fell out of favor at the age of 71, he did not wait for the old man to die, but ordered him to do seppuku.
But this is just "Demon". Remember? "The sad Demon, the spirit of exile, flew over the sinful land …" That's the same for Yoshitoshi, but in Japanese!
Dry gardens, which were also initially arranged only by Zen monks in their monasteries. Well, the Japanese called them "gardens of meditation and thinking" (as an example of such a garden, the garden in Ryoanji monastery in Kyoto is usually cited) also went beyond the monastery walls and began to settle in the courtyards of the nobility, and ordinary samurai, who took an example from their overlords.
In the XIV century. Zen doctrine also touched the No theater - the theatrical art of the highest aristocracy and the serving nobility, which developed from the farcical sarukagu dance (which Buddhist priests turned from a comic into a religious dance). It is clear that the plays "No" glorified, first of all, the bravery of ancient heroes (modern ones were all in plain sight and could not serve as objects for imitation by definition!), And of course, the vassal's loyalty to his master. They were subdivided into both historical (they were also called "military performances" (shurano), and lyrical ("feminine" (jo-no)). Again, Hideyoshi himself played in the performances of the No theater, performing on stage with chants and pantomime dances. At the same time, his courtiers, and ordinary feudal lords, and ordinary soldiers (in extras) should have taken part in the "No" dances, which was seen as a sign of good form and "fulfillment of a vassal duty." Nobody dared to refuse, as it would be his violation with all the ensuing consequences. It is not without reason that it has been noticed that someone who has gone “from rags to riches” (it does not matter, in Japan or elsewhere) always wants to become “holier than all saints” and tries to succeed everywhere and in everything. Or to show that he succeeds everywhere and in everything and for some reason at the same time pulls very many to the stage …
"Big carp". Have you seen such a big carp? So, not just a carp, but a spirit or a demon, you cannot immediately determine … You have to look …
But here the development of military affairs again came into conflict with the culture of Zen. It turned out that no matter how you contemplate, a musket bullet will kill you in any case, and you will not even see it and you will not be able to dodge like an arrow! Besides, there was peace in Japan. Samurai got much more time for their education, and many became teachers, poets, and artists for various reasons.
At the same time, other sects began to spread, responding to the "trends of the times." First of all, this is the Nitiren sect, which arose in the middle of the 13th century and promised that after a certain period of time all beings and things will turn into Buddha, since he is in everything around us. Over time, many samurai became members of the "Nitiren" sect, but most of the "Nityren" were still ronin, peasants and other disadvantaged strata of samurai society.
What if such a ghost appears to you in a dream? This is not Bondarchuk's film, is it? Only a sharp samurai sword will save!
Samurai also worshiped individual deities from the Buddhist pantheon. These included the bodhisattvas Kannon (Avalokitesvara) - the goddess of mercy and compassion and Marishiten (Marichi) - the deity who patronized the warriors. Samurai put small images of Kannon into their helmets before the march; and they asked the Marishiten for protection and help before starting a duel or battle.
The very ancient cult of Shinto, which quite peacefully coexisted with Buddhism, occupied almost the same important place in the samurai religion. The essence of Shinto is belief in the spirits of nature. That is, it is, in fact, one of the variants of paganism. Three main Shinto shrines were considered (and are still considered today!) By the Japanese as symbols of state power. This is a sacred sword, a jewel (a necklace made of jade, jasper, or just a gem) and a mirror.
Now do you understand where Japanese animalists get their ideas for their horror films? Here is one of the works of the "classics of the genre" a hundred years ago! By the way, the picture is called "Heavy Basket".
- The sword (ame-no murakumo-no-tsurugi - "Sword of the swirling clouds") was the symbol of the entire samurai army, and was supposed to protect Japan from enemies.
- The jewel (yasakani-no magatama - "Shining curved jasper") symbolized perfection, kindness, mercy and at the same time firmness in management. The ancient warriors specially wore whole bundles of such magatama. It is possible that they (originally the teeth of wild animals) played the role of amulets, like many other peoples of Siberia.
- The mirror (yata no kagami is just a "mirror" and that's it!) - was the emblem of wisdom and the symbol of the sun goddess Amaterasu. It was also used as a protective talisman. Therefore, it was attached between the horns of the Kuwagata helmet.
And this is "Kami Cherry Tree". Do you remember: "Cheri, Cheri Lady"? This is a song by the German disco group Modern Talking. And we also have - "Cherry, cherry, winter cherry …" The Japanese understand both these songs very well. Probably, we all came from the same Hyperborea …
All three of these Shinto attributes were often offered to deities as sacrifices, and sometimes they themselves represented the Shintai or "body" of the deity, something like our Christian Trinity.
