By far, Kyoto is one of my favorite cities in the world for the care and consideration this city takes in preseving its past and reclaiming its future. The city is modern in every sense of word and retains the powerful qualities of a rich and deeply influential past.
Our visit to the city is all about being a part of daily life while we are here and so that means living in houses, preparing food in a kitchen, shopping at groceries stores, and,. as I’ve mentioned before, having students choose their own adventures. This group was up to the challenge and began our first day by seeking out places and experiences that called to them.
Our first day took in Nijo Castle, the home to shoguns from the early Tokugawa period. Built as a residence for the Tokugawa family, the building and grounds are elaborate. On this day, rain from a tropical storm descended on us. We persevered and wandered the grounds and the castle. The wood structure, silk paintings, and the history of the place offers a unique insight into the lives of the upper class and the structure of their daily lives.
From the castle, we headed to lunch at Nishki and Shinobiya Markets. The street food is good, and we hit it just in time to experience the moment. Crowds, of course, greeted us, and we were unfazed by the masses as we made our choices.
The afternoon was given over to individual pursuits, and by evening, we settled into a heavy rain storm with high winds and downed trees.
The following AM started with drizzle, and the intrepid group walked with us to the Path of Philosophy, Gingaku-ji Temple, and then on to Kinkaku-ji. On our walk to the temple, we stop along the way and read poems from Basho’s Narrow Road to the Interior. Then, after getting used to the sound and meter of the poems, each student composed one to read about this moment. Each one offered a fascinating insight into where they were. Here are a few examples from student work:
Meditative thoughts
Visions of a peaceful life,
Fulfillment in the now
_______________________________
Every step I take
has been taken before me
I walk a new path
___________________________
Wind rustling leaves
Crunching gravel on our feet
Writing of haiku
At the end of these two days, we had each walked about 12 miles each day, and our bodies felt the need for rest. A few of us came down with an odd stomach/head cold illness and rested.
More stories to come!
May you be happy, may you be well.
gentryfunkblog 