“Shrines of the Gods”
January 27-31, 2014
CCS Gallery, University of California Santa Barbara
January 27-31, 2014
CCS Gallery, University of California Santa Barbara
The Spirit of “Shrines of the Gods”: Opening the World
Japan’s Perspective on Nature and Sense of Tradition as Imagined by the Myriad Gods
Since ancient times, the spiritual culture that we have inherited, including Shinto rituals and festivals, has as its foundation the Japanese people’s perspective on nature, or nature worship. The belief that nature itself holds a spiritual power--in other words, the mind that deifies this nature into countless gods--can be said to be an ode to life that transcends the framework of all religions. It is a hymn to every life that has been nurtured across four thousand million years.
This hymn, as our inner divine nature, marks the path of life we have taken since ancient times. We have come to teach the boons and perils of nature from generation to generation. We have inherited this as part of belief, within stories, or as culture. Nor is such nature belief limited to Japan. Rather, this sort of animism can be thought of as fundamentally existing in all human beings.
The ancient perspective of nature, living in harmony with the earth, is a self-awareness of the intuition that naturally exists within us. Accordingly, if the people of the world could share, wouldn’t the environmental destruction that comes from excessive deforestation and excavation be eliminated? Wouldn’t technology protect the earth and foster life?
Our existence, nurtured by the earth for four thousand million years, still depends on the earth, and together we move forward energetically. If we all put forth effort to protect our earth, we can pass on this beautiful star in a state yet more beautiful, along with our outstanding cultures, to future generations.
Transcending national boundaries and generations, with “Shrines of the Gods” as an axis through which to touch the conscience of all peoples, I hope to open a new world.
Masuura Yukihito
January 2014
Japan’s Perspective on Nature and Sense of Tradition as Imagined by the Myriad Gods
Since ancient times, the spiritual culture that we have inherited, including Shinto rituals and festivals, has as its foundation the Japanese people’s perspective on nature, or nature worship. The belief that nature itself holds a spiritual power--in other words, the mind that deifies this nature into countless gods--can be said to be an ode to life that transcends the framework of all religions. It is a hymn to every life that has been nurtured across four thousand million years.
This hymn, as our inner divine nature, marks the path of life we have taken since ancient times. We have come to teach the boons and perils of nature from generation to generation. We have inherited this as part of belief, within stories, or as culture. Nor is such nature belief limited to Japan. Rather, this sort of animism can be thought of as fundamentally existing in all human beings.
The ancient perspective of nature, living in harmony with the earth, is a self-awareness of the intuition that naturally exists within us. Accordingly, if the people of the world could share, wouldn’t the environmental destruction that comes from excessive deforestation and excavation be eliminated? Wouldn’t technology protect the earth and foster life?
Our existence, nurtured by the earth for four thousand million years, still depends on the earth, and together we move forward energetically. If we all put forth effort to protect our earth, we can pass on this beautiful star in a state yet more beautiful, along with our outstanding cultures, to future generations.
Transcending national boundaries and generations, with “Shrines of the Gods” as an axis through which to touch the conscience of all peoples, I hope to open a new world.
Masuura Yukihito
January 2014