This
is MaryGail. everyone say "hi MaryGail." This
is MaryGail. everyone say "hi MaryGail."
This fountain was the very first
thing we saw in Ueno Park. MG insisted on having her picture taken with a silly
frog fountain. Chris is so sweet that he did so just to amuse her. MG looks like
she's dressed for a job interview because she actually was. Sadly, either MG or
the Japanese person on the phone was wrong about the location of the interview
and it never took place. No matter, that school stank anyway.
This is Chris. Eveyrone say "hi
Chris."
Chris is standing in front of of Kiyo-mizu Hall. This is part of the original Kanei-ji temple and subtemples that were built on this land in the 17th century (this particular part of the temple dates back to 1831). The existence of the temple is why the area became so popular and the area was declared a public park in 1873. This hall is a section of a Buddhist temple dedicated to Senju, the 1,000 armed goddess of mercy. Kosodate Kannon, the botatsu of conception (a botatsu is a figure or spirit that has achieved enlightenment and helps others) is also here surrounded by numerous offerings of dolls.
This is the first really, really Japanese thing we saw...well, you know, other than all of those Japanese people.
Chris is standing in front of the
Tosho-gu Shine. It's an ornate complex of halls, and is one of Tokyo's only
remaining Edo era structures.
Edo is the name of early Tokyo (the city's name changed in 1868 when it became the capital city - Kyoto was the prior capital). In the early 1600s, a man by the name of Tokugawa Ieyasu (remember that the Japanese put the family name first) was named shogun (military dictator) by the emperor. Ieyasu spilt the population into rigidly defined hereditary classes (samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants - in order from best to suck). The Tokugawa regime lasted for 268 years. In 1635, this regime became increasingly xenophobic and restricted all foreign trading to Nagasaki only. By 1641, only Dutch and Chinese traders were allowed at all. During this time, persecution of Christians also intensified.
But while Japan had turned within, the city of Edo (which had grown to be the largest city in the world at the time) hosted a huge explosion of the arts. Kabuki and bunraku theater and woodblock printing (ukiyo) made huge strides and were patronized by both the merchant and samurai classes.
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry steamed into Edo Bay leading a fleet of nine US vessels to challenge Japan's refusal to enter international relations. Weakened by internal dissent, the Tokugawa shogunate had little choice to give into US demands. Shortly after, samurai from various regions led a restoration of Imperial power and a reorganization of government.
This is the Tomb of the Shogi Tai.
It's a memorial to the samaurai who died in the 1868 battle of Ueno. The thing
that looks sort of like a well with a roof on top is a small alter or offering
table...I'm honestly not sure what to call it. You can't tell from the picture,
but there is actually a bowl of burning incense on it. Behind the alter is a
short set of steps and then there's the tall thing that looks like an obelisk
with a stone ball on top. That's the tombstone, and in actuality, there are two.
The samaurai emerged in the 9th century when the emperor decided to delegate the duty of warfare and defense to constables and local farmers. Over time, the samurai formed their own hereditary class and became more powerful than the emperor. The samaurai's strict codes of loyalty and behavior were inspired in part by Zen Buddhism and included ritualized acts of suicide to prove honor.