These days we are having terrible recurrence of cold weather. Someone said yesterday she is suffering from chilblains again and I, too, am having the same trouble chiefly on the back of my left hand.
We have experienced hints of spring’s warm air a number of times. Still actually, warm weather doesn’t seem to arrive soon. In fact, I was surprised or even shocked to see a fair amout of snow when getting up this morning.
Today falls on Setsubun, the day before the beginning of spring and at the same time, beginning of a new year. There is a long tradition or a custom that we playact throwing beans to the ogres (symbol of evil spirits) in order to chase away ill fortunes on the evening of this day.
One theory says “On this evening when years switch around, people entertain ogres that come to this world from the alien world through the crevice of “time” with feast (beans) and urge them to return to their world.”
I found this phrase in one of my late teacher’s works displayed on the walls of a sushi shop near his house. I like the phrase very much and write it very often. And I used to translate this “One Heart” part as “dedicated mind” and explain the whole term as “a dedicated mind to one thing would yield many good results”.
However, I thought it should have been “determined mind” when I heard the lay sermon by the chief priest of the temple my family has been following.
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.
I searched a haiku on Christmas Eve and found this one. “A tree laughing throughout its body” – I am afraid I don’t quite get the image.
Keeps on laughing/
Throughout the body/
Tree on Christmas Eve/
Calligraphy and translation by Chio
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If you have a favorite character or phrase that you would like Calligrapher Chio to write, please let her know by sending it (them) to her address, chio_art@yushokai.com.