Dear zen friend

1)     December Sesshin:     12/06,   12/07,   12/08. 

        Year end Sesshin:        from  12/27  to    12/31.   

        January Sesshin:        01/17,    01/18,    01/19.

2)     Tale of Genji trivia 2 

Around the year1000 AD in Kyoto, the most peaceful and prosperous culture was established.  Although Tale of Genji was the best sold novel, many other literatures like essay, history, diary, and collection of poems were published. Some were done individually,  some were compiled by multiple people. Those intelligent writers knew each others and often worked together. Researchers nowadays can cross-reference their works and reconstruct lives those days fairly and precisely. To learn newest knowledge from ancient literatures has been favorite hobby this year. . 

Kyoto was named as ‘Heiankyo’, the capital of peace. There was a contemporary police department in Kyoto, but the government had no military forces. There were no wars nor riots for 3 hundred years.  There was no capital punishment. Governing class enjoyed peaceful time and tried to enhance the quality of beauty in their lives. They wrote letters with brush on papers, some of which are existing national treasures. Colorful kimonos have been the standard for centuries afterwards. Their lacquered bowls and furnitures were crafted arts. 

Michinaga was the most powerful figure in Kyoto. He helped Murasaki to write Tale of Genji. Without his finance and power, the novel could not be realized. A situation of royal family was closely reflected on the novel. The Tale of Genji was a product of political events and social consciousness at the time. 

Takaie was rival of Michinaga and politically a loser. The unhappy loser was sick in his eyes. He needed a treatment and rest. At the time Tale of Genji was almost finished, he offered to become a commander of Dazaifu legion in Kyushu for 5 years. The legion existed only on paper since there had been no fighting for long. His offer was accepted by Michinaga. 

In the fifth year of Takaie’s watch, an invasion occurred to Northern Kyushu. Hundreds of people were killed and taken. Takaie wrote a warning letter for Kyoto and immediately gathered volunteer samurais. Instantly made primitive samurai forces fiercely fought foreign pirates and successfully sent them back to the continent. Oh, kamikaze helped Takaie, too. In the context of fighting, the sickness in his eyes was not talked about. The sickness might have been cured due to lack of political pressure.  

Takaie saved the nation. But the central government, in which Takaie knew all the members, did not appreciate his contributions. The governing class did not even feel that there was crisis. Peace was their deep belief. 

The most peaceful time was peaked as Tale of Genji was completed. Such words as samurai and daimyo began to be heard.  3 generations later. Michinaga’s lineage still stayed in the center of the power. At the same time, Takaie lineage was asked for protection as many samurai forces were growing all over the country. The samurai power gradually became dominant for centuries. 

Regards. 

Eishin Ikeda

Valley Zendo