Koke

Koke or moss are important elements in Japanese gardens, as well as ornamental plants (eg bonsai). The Koke garden of the Saiho-ji, Kyoto (1250) is said to have over 120 species of koke. 'Koke-covered' has a positive and respectful connotation in Japanese, respecting for an ancient time, long-term establishment and stability. The word is also featured in the national anthem, wishing he Nation's long-lasting fortune 'until it is covered with moss'.

Kage

Kage in Japanese is symbolised in two characters. 影 (kage) dark projection created by blocking the light. Shadow, silhouette, reflection. In the past, kage was used to measure the height of tall objects (trees, buildings). 陰 (kage) - places that do not receive sunlight. Shady places, darkness, also negativeness in personality. Darkness exists in kage, but without kage, there will be no depth and quality in our thinking. (Nakahichi, Chikatsuyu, 中辺路町近露)

Art of drying

Kaki or persimmons are now in season. Wakayama produces over 20% of kaki in Japan as well as mikan (mandarins). Both are planted on steep mountain sides, covering the slopes with the bright orange. Persimmons have bitter and sweet varieties and bitter ones are mostly dried (hoshi-gaki), which are lot sweeter than the sweet varieties. It is the tannin that causes bitterness, which can be removed by drying, soaking in alcohol or warm water, leaving in a sealed container with an apple etc. Many houses have kaki drying under their eaves keeping them from rain and birds. They turn sweet enough to eat in a week or so, but for preserving, a few more weeks of drying is recommended. With varieties of art of drying, people make sure they won’t waste any food and get ready for the coming winter (Nakahichi, Chikatsuyu, 中辺路町近露).

Camphor tree

The covered bridge connects two sections of Wakayama Castle over the mort. This 27m-long, 3m-wide bridge connects the castle’s central residential area and the entertainment quarter in the west where musical performance took place. Only the lord and his attendants were allowed to cross the bridge. The bridge is on an angle (11%), a design said to be quite rare. A historian speculates that perhaps the design reflected a sense of fun and excitement of visiting the entertainment quarter. The bridge was recently restored using timber such as red pine, cypress, cherry and cedar. Wakayama castle was originally built by Toyotomi Family in 1585, and after several changes of reign, was resided by Tokugawa Shogunate for 250 some years (from 1619). The castle went through two burn-rebuilt, first in 1846 by lightening, and the WW2 air raid. On the quiet castle ground, there are a number of large trees, the largest of all being kusu (camphor, cinamomum camphora). The largest kusu is worshiped as the guardian tree for the local community (Wakayama Castle 和歌山城).

Koyasan Choishi-michi Pilgrimage

Koyasan Cho-ishi-michi is a 24km mountain pilgrimage trail leading up to Koyasan mountain where 130 some temples stand in silence. Koyasan is a Shingon Esoteric Buddhism headquarter established by Kukai in 816. At the back of the Koya town lies Okuno-in, where Kukai is enshrined. Thick moss and large cedar trees cover this medieval cemetery, and walking through it, you wonder if the forests or the cemetery existed first. At dusk, the stone lantern along the cemetery are all lit, filling the place with serenity and silence. The so-called Five-ring stone stupa symbolises "Heaven, Air, Fire, Water, Earth". The same is used for the stone marker of Cho-ishi-michi Pilgrimage route standing every one cho (109m). Currently 180 original markers remain. The very first is at the Ji-son-in Temple, where Kukai's mother is worshiped. About 5km up is a shrine for Deity Nyutsuhime. The two that enshrine female figures at the beginning of the pilgrimage seems to give gentle air to this pilgrimage, although the mountain road is quite steep at places (also this blog 2008.12.12).

Condamine

The milky canvas of the river water reflected the surrounding gum tree forest - it looked as if there was another world underneath. This almost reminds me of Escher's world, in which the artist expressed his fascination with infinity, parallel world and illusionary perspectives. Perhaps if we stay still long enough, in a total silence, the invisible world may unfold in front of us (Dogwood Creek, Condamine, Qld).

Spring in Braidwood

Spring has come again to the Plumwood Mountains, Braidwood, NSW. Rhododendrons cherries, camellias are in full bloom in every possible colours you can ever image. Birds are busy and cheerfully singing. Daffodils gently dance in the breeze, nodding to you as if to say “it’s alright – we are happy.” When we arrived late in the evening, Victor the wombat promptly appeared to get his carrots, and Alice the white rat quietly observed us and shared the space in the house. It is 18 months since Val’s passing but the Plumwood Mountains is filled with her spirits, love for the place and passion for the environment. Her legacy drives us to continue learning as much as we can from this world, to find better ways of being and learn to be for the world that could disappear right in front of us. Walk gently, listen quietly and be - until our presence disappears in the forest, flowers, wind, frogs and birds. The Plumwood Mountains allows us to do that. (Photo: Simon Wearne)