Yakumo's World
Zazen (坐禅)
Posted by GJC (Kyoto (京都), Japan) on 23 February 2009 in Landscape & Rural.
This is fairly typical of older houses around my part of northern Kyoto, especially those such as this one used by farmers. There are of course many newer houses all around that I'm sure are justifiably a pride and pleasure for their owners. But to me eyes these newer places somehow lack a certain sense that they are at ease with themselves and their surroundings. In that way these old homes seem like good students of Zen: they just sit.
cat from Tel Aviv, Israel
I see what you mean, the tiles of the roof somehow look like they've become part of the landscape, they look comfortable there. It looks amazingly clean and fresh there. I love the colours of the trees.
23 Feb 2009 8:18am
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
A wonderful composition here, Yakumo. These hills match the old houses very well.
23 Feb 2009 8:29am
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
I feel the same! The neighborhood I am living is famous for its bungalow style homes, it is an older type of American suburb architecture popular back in the 30's, even the 20's. I am living in one right now. The newer neo-(insert style) homes simply lack a sense of something I can't quite describe...
23 Feb 2009 9:32am
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
Know exactly what you mean. I made the heroic trek up your way to Iwakura by bike last week (from Keage!) which damn near wasted me. I was amazed how much like the "countryside" it felt despite being so close to Kyoto city. Some incredible old style houses up there alongside newer prefab ones that'll be past there best in only 10 years. Tragic really. Never the less I had enough energy to make it up to Jisso-In and have a wander around one of your muses. A wonderful, quiet little place, on that day at least. I can see why you keep re-visiting it.
23 Feb 2009 11:46am
@Stu: Thanks for the visit and the comment. You know you can just hitch a ride on the subway from Keage! :-) Well, anyway, it's precisely this "country" feel that keeps me here in Iwakura, though more and more houses are built all the time here. The farms are really disappearing fast.
Funny thing is, I was just down at Nanzenji the other day -- one of your muses -- and I was again impressed by why that place speaks so lyrically to you. I was particularly delighted this time to find such an impressive shrine in the hills in back of Nanzenji.
mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland
Un paysage qui ressemble beaucoup à chez nous à part l'architecture de la maison! Très belle image!
23 Feb 2009 12:21pm
Alan from Southampton, United Kingdom
Yes, I understand what you are saying. These houses look so naturally part of the environment.
23 Feb 2009 1:59pm
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Such lovely framing... enjoy very much the wonderful interplay of forms, textures and tones! Beautiful picture and words!
23 Feb 2009 2:45pm
daina from New York, United States
The lines of the mountains continue with the lines of the roof to the very bottom of the frame where the horizontal lines have it all come to a rest and the house anchors the whole. It is amazing how the house is so similar to the shape of the mountains! Your composition shows us so perfectly this sense of integration and belonging these buildings have with their surroundings and how they almost mimic them in shape and color. Beautifully done…
23 Feb 2009 3:05pm
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Wow, your photos are so extraordinary, another really stunning one...
23 Feb 2009 3:16pm
Hoshisato from Ealing, United Kingdom
Beautiful view of a typical Japanese house; i love the composition.
23 Feb 2009 4:24pm
grant from kansas city, United States
the whole house seems to have become part of the hill. very nice.
23 Feb 2009 5:04pm
Nathan from Los Angeles, United States
I certainly agree with you. The photo makes you feel like the houses are part of the environment.
23 Feb 2009 6:44pm
CushmoK from France
very interesting blog..especially for a french guy who love Kyoto..because he never gone and would like to !
23 Feb 2009 7:56pm
Ian from A nice, tranquil leafy place, United Kingdom
Oh man, that whole scene is just gold dust - would love to get in there myself! So this is a marvellous picture, complete with the towering background. Great shot.
23 Feb 2009 11:14pm
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
I was about to Comment on how well these houses rest within their setting . . but I see you have already made that point. Harmony is all.
23 Feb 2009 11:17pm
Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom
That's beautiful GJC!....I love how the colours of the building blend it to the wooded backdrop.
23 Feb 2009 11:56pm
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
Good depth it's a long way up to that mountaintop. best...jerry
24 Feb 2009 2:11am
michele from Canada
wow look at all that junk or mess or whatever in the bottom of the frame. it looks like my neighborhood - not how i think of Japan. to me this image has great documentary appeal and is very refreshing. :)
24 Feb 2009 4:30am
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I like this...the colours and the shapes of the homes, go so well with the landscape. Nice capture of these students.
24 Feb 2009 4:42am
Nikon D300
1/125 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
157 mm (35mm equiv.)