#karesansui

[tanuki-kimono]

Sleek pastels for this antique outfit, pairing chic fuji (wisteria) black obi, with a romantic sandwaves-patterned kimono (probably depicting a karesansui Japanese "zen" garden)

[kaelula-sungwis]

Kokoro no Niwa / こころの庭 by Patrick Vierthaler Via Flickr: Jissō-in / 実相院門跡

[bonguri]

20240518 Kiso-Fukushima 8 by Bong Grit Via Flickr: 日本で一番広い枯山水のお庭だそうです。 Photo taken at Kiso-Fukushima area, Kiso town, Kiso district, Nagano pref.

[haizaaki]

Asian Landscape in Los Angeles Photo of a large asian drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel garden path.

[cookinguptales]

sketchysketchin said: You’re so fucking smart for these, they’ve been so so so cool

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Thank you, that's really sweet. ;;

Honestly, I'm just happy that people are indulging me haha. I get to ramble about two subjects I really enjoy, tarot and idiotic vampires.

One of my final projects for my major was about the history and material culture of tarot, so I finally get to shake out my nerd credentials lmao. There have been a few times where I almost went on a rant about some historical/occult tidbit but I reined it in.

(You're welcome.)

That said, tarot is also a lot of fun because there is no one "right" interpretation. There are some that are more common than others, especially when working with the Rider-Smith-Waite* tarot like I currently am, but you get a lot of leeway. If I want to bend things a bit for my blorbos, it is my right. lmao

And then, I mean. You all know what I'm like with wwdits and meta. lmao. Getting me to shut up is the hard part.

So combining them both has been a really fun project. I get to draw on my academic background, I get to be creative, and -- honestly, it's a little like a puzzle? You have to move around all the pieces until they fit just right. Like you have some characters that could work for multiple arcana, depending on how you look at things, and you have to just keep moving everything around until everything is in the best place it can be with no unassigned cards or missing people.

I know these may not be quite as popular as my usual meta posts, but I'm having fun. And the people who are reading them seem to enjoy them so much that I'm having even more fun.

I had a chance to talk to Harvey a little bit at NYCC last year, and we talked about how fun it is to be in a cycle of creativity, where you make one thing and that inspires someone to make something else and that inspires someone to make something else, and so on. It's something that I believe in strongly, so I've been really happy to see the way my creative interpretations of WWDITS characters as tarot archetypes has inspired visual artists to make some really lovely and interesting art. ;;

The only other fandom I could see myself doing something like this for is Sleep No More, so like. I guess the incredibly tiny SNM fandom better watch out. I'm an academic on the edge. haha

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*I CALLED IT WHAT I CALLED IT, fight me. I have a whole rant locked and loaded about this.

[merakiui]

ojiisan jade AHHHH i got an ideaaa… divorced older mafia jade w a sugar baby darling. he is a lot more obsessed w them than they think <3

WAAAAA OJIISAN IS TOO FINE TO BE SINGLE AND ALONE!!!!! orz filling the holes in his heart by visiting his estate in the afternoon to indulge in tea, snacks, and riveting conversation!! And if he likes you enough, he may share stories from his days as a fearsome head of his family’s business. I like to imagine he has a karesansui garden and he’s so eager to show it to you because he takes care of it himself. Omg and all of the terrariums that line the shelves in his room…… he’s too cute and so happy when you show genuine interest in his hobbies.

Sugaring helps you pay your tuition, and Jade is more than happy to provide for you financially. Omg maybe he pretends to not know how his mobile phone works so that you’ll show him. He’s fully capable of sending texts and emails, taking photos and screenshots, and so on. He just wants you to get close to him. >:)

It’s completely non-sexual at first. Jade just wants you to visit him for tea and chitchatting on the days you’re able to, and in return he pays you handsomely for your time. It’s a very useful arrangement. Of course when he starts to get closer to you and you have loans to pay off….. well, you’re not going to back down when his dick is in your face and he’s smiling bashfully at you even though you suspect he doesn’t feel a shred of shame. orz

[emmyinjapan]

Winter Peonies at Hakozaki Shrine – Part 1: A Chilly but Beautiful Visit

It was a cold, dry, and ridiculously windy day, the kind where your face feels like it’s being gently sandblasted by nature. But despite the weather’s best efforts to turn me into an icicle, I was determined to visit the Winter Peony Festival at Hakozaki Shrine.

This annual flower event runs from New Year’s Day to mid-February, showcasing 200 peonies across 20 varieties, all blooming beautifully in the Flower Garden. As someone who absolutely loves peonies, orchids, and wisterias, I couldn’t miss it—especially since the flowers would start wilting soon. Time was of the essence!

When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was how quiet and peaceful it was. No crowds, no jostling for the best photo spots—just serene beauty and a crisp winter breeze trying its best to freeze my soul. I made my way to the entrance and happily paid the 500 yen fee—which, in my opinion, was a bargain for such a stunning display.

The garden itself is a work of art, designed in the style of a Japanese karesansui (dry landscape garden). The peonies stand proudly under traditional straw hats (warabocchi), which protect them from the harsh winter elements. The whole scene looks like something straight out of an Edo-period painting—delicate, elegant, and absolutely mesmerising.

Peonies, known as "botan" (牡丹) in Japanese, have been cherished in Japan for centuries. Originally introduced from China during the Nara period (710–794), they quickly became a symbol of wealth, nobility, and good fortune. The Japanese particularly admire the winter-blooming varieties, as they represent resilience and quiet strength—blooming despite the harsh conditions, much like I was attempting to do in my very underprepared outfit.

The Hakozaki Shrine Flower Garden isn’t just about peonies, either—it showcases a rotating selection of seasonal flowers throughout the year, making it a year-round paradise for plant lovers. But in winter, it’s these vibrant pinks, reds, and whites that steal the show, creating an enchanting contrast against the minimalistic gravel garden.

As I walked around, admiring the blooms and desperately wishing I’d worn one more layer, I couldn’t help but think—if a flower can thrive in this freezing weather, then surely, so can I… right? (Spoiler: My fingers were numb, but I pressed on.)

To be continued… 🌸❄️

—Emmy

[yama-bato]

In the garden, rocks from this area were placed to create a black dry landscape. Japan's passion for gardens began with the imitation of nature.

Cherry blossom petals fall into the grooves of Karesansui, turning the spring garden into a cherry blossom color.

Light shines into the wall, creating shadows on the ink-black wall.

Tenko-san stands in front of an ink-black wall.

Photographer Yuriko Takagi captures ``Spring/Summer'' at her home in Karuizawa

[tanuki-kimono]

Soothing modern asa (hemp) obi depicting rocks and ripples under falling leaves - which could be a "real" scenery or one from a karesansui (dry "zen" garden)

[kaelula-sungwis]

Kokoro no Niwa / こころの庭 by Patrick Vierthaler Via Flickr: Jissō-in / 実相院門跡

[nanamename]

gardener construct made karesansui style garden

[artisticlegshake]

THE DANCE AWARDS LAS VEGAS 2024

HIGH SCORE BY PERFORMANCE DIVISION (JUNIOR)

BALLET:

1st Verde - THE ROCK

2nd Lost Souls - DC2

3rd Coppelia - EXPRESSENZ

3rd Merry-Go-Round of Life - WOODBURY

4th La Danza - CSPAS

4th Masquerade - PRODIGY

4th Spiraling - ELITE DANCE CENTER

5th Karesansui - PAS DE DEUX HAWAII

5th Rise - BUNKER

CONTEMPORARY:

1st Mangata - EXPRESSENZ

2nd Kneel to Pray - LARKIN

3rd Don’t Pass Me By - LARKIN

4th Bound - KIM MASSAY

4th There Will Come A Time - DC2

5th Alpha Shallows - WOODBURY

5th Derealization - KIM MASSAY

5th Somebody Like Me - CSPAS

5th Without Wings - CLUB DANCE

LYRICAL:

1st Turning Page - EXPRESSENZ 

2nd Seven Birds - PRODIGY 

3rd Everything Is Perfect, And I’m Still Sad - BOBBIE’S

4th Body - ARTISTIC FUSION

5th Come Back Home - DC2

5th Depth In Sorrow - BUNKER

JAZZ:

1st Dance With Me - DC2

1st Love Is In Control - LARKIN

2nd Breaking Dishes - CSPAS

2nd Winner - DC2

3rd New York, New York - EXPRESSENZ

4th Circle Up - KIM MASSSAY

5th I Prefer You - THE ROCK

TAP:

1st Five In Time - DANCEOLOGY 

1st Percussive Instincts - THE DYNAMIC

2nd Diablo Rojo - THE DYNAMIC 

3rd Smooth Criminal - THE DYNAMIC

4th Bennie and the Jets - PRODIGY 

4th Bolero - LARKIN

4th It’s All Right - EXPRESSENZ 

5th Green Onions - BUNKER 

5th Step Right Up - ARTISTIC DANCE PROJECT

MUSICAL THEATRE:

1st Be Our Guest - EXPRESSENZ 

2nd A Cover Is Not The Book - MLDA

3rd Ladies’ Choice - WOODBURY 

4th WONKA - PRODIGY

5th Forget About The Boy - DANCEOLOGY

HIP HOP:

1st It’s the Remix - DC2 

2nd P.D.D. Symphony - PAS DE DEUX HAWAII 

3rd Picture This - EXPRESSENZ

4th New Phone Who Dis? - ARTISTIC DANCE PROJECT

4th Why You So Jealous - CSPAS 

5th Bills - MLDA

5th Overtime - THE ROCK 

BALLROOM:

1st Down to Georgia - DC2

2nd Like That - CSPAS

3rd Do It Like This - PRODIGY

4th Digga Boom - BUNKER

5th Do The Conga - MARIES

5th Let Me Think About It - PAS DE DEUX HAWAII

SPECIALTY:

1st Like An Angel - DC2

2nd Heart Shaped Box - CSPAS

3rd People Are Strange - PRODIGY 

4th Soul Glow - MLDA

5th Ke Kuko E Ka Manawa - OHANA 

[blnxpc]

枯山水

Karesansui (Zen Gardens)

砂 = Sand 苔 = Moss 岩 = Rock 石 = Stone

[artlimited]

Karesansui by Nathan Wirth https://www.artlimited.net/nlwirth/art/photography-karesansui-digital-nature-landscape-beach/en/11890726

[luke-r-gillespie]

May 24 - Kinkakuji / Daitokuji

Freewriting

Today I woke up at 7 (with a sore throat) and took this morning's quiz before hightailing it to the morning meeting scheduled for 8:10. I grabbed my breakfast bento on my way out of the door so that I could pick at it during the meeting (the rest of my class did the same.) Immediately following the morning meeting, the whole class poured onto a local bus (because much of Kyoto's public transportation centers around buses, as there are less available train lines.) We road the bus to Kinkaku-ji, a famous Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, known for being covered in gold leaf. The temple itself was really cool but due to it being a popular tourist destination and today being Friday, the temple was unfortunately mobbed with tourists.

Our next stop after Kinkau-ji, was Daitoku-ji Temple which was about a 30 minute walk away (this was lightwork, considering that on excursion days I usually average around 25,000 steps.) Daitoku-ji is home to various karesansui gardens (often mislabeled as "Zen gardens" by westerners) that were beautiful. Unfortunately, I was not able to take any photos inside the gardens due to strict rules, but I was able to take photos of the outside temples which were equally as cool! We spent some time mediating within the karesansui gardens and it was a very peaceful and pleasant experience.

Daitoku-ji Temple was todays last group excursion, so after being released a little earlier than I had originally anticipated, I grabbed some lunch with the guys at "The Hamburger." Japan once again delivered with some great and authentic tasting American food (I love burgers.)

After catching a bus back from "The Hamburger," I took a three hour nap (I hadn't been feeling great all day and am probably coming down with what many of my sick classmates have but this nap definitely helped!) Following my nap, I went back into the city with Rich and Zachary where we got some Chinese food and I bought a carry on suitcase to bring home all the stuff that I've bought (I don't know who I was kidding thinking I was only going to need the one I brought with me.) I took it easy for the rest of the night and even got to facetime Corinn!

Academic Reflection

Kinkau-ji was a truly breathtaking site to witness. I find it to be extremely impressive that the temple lasted from its initial conception until 1950. Unfortunately, in 1950 a 21-year old monk burned the historic Zen temple to the ground in an unprecedented act of arson. No one is certain as to why the young man did this but it is heavily speculated (mainly by renowned author Yukio Mishima) that he did so because of his own idealization of the temple's beauty. The prevailing theory is that he committed the act of arson because Kinkau-ji Temple's beauty was preventing him from finding other beauty within his life. Personally, this feels like a reach to me. Especially considering how little is known about the young man who committed the act of arson but regardless it is an interesting perspective.

The other site that we visited today, Daitoku-ji Temple is home to various karesansui gardens (often mislabeled as "Zen Gardens" by the West.) The tour of Daitoku-ji Temple's gardens was really insightful and I found it really interesting how the gardens all represented Buddhist lands of thought. For example, the "flowing river" of small rocks or the large rocks that represented mountains featuring cascading waterfalls.

[lisaalmeida]

Parfois, seulement parfois,

Se retirer n'est pas abandonner

Changer n'est pas de l'hypocrisie,

Défaire n'est pas détruire.

Être seul, ce n'est pas s'éloigner

Et le silence n'est pas de ne rien avoir à dire.

Rester immobile n'est pas de la paresse,

Ni lâcheté, c'est survivre.

Plonger n'est pas se noyer,

Reculer n'est pas fuir.

Parfois, seulement parfois,

Il faut s'éloigner pour voir, s'abandonner,

Laisser couler, que le vent change,

Fermer les yeux et se taire.

Donne ma karesansui di Maria Guadalupe Munguía Tiscareño