Nara-the Spiritual Home of the Japanese

Going to Nara is actually a little obsessive-compulsive Nara, the catchy name of Nara, makes me feel good inexplicably. Once obsessed with Miyazaki Hayao's "Princess Ghost", this beast with deer body, face and bird claws is said to refer to Nara sika deer.

I came across an article by a China student living in Japan, saying that he loved Nara deeply in all Japanese cities. I love Nara deeply because it is quiet and lush. It has been a deer for thousands of years, its historical precipitation and its cultural essence. Although it is right next to Kyoto, it is still not eclipsed in front of such a famous ancient capital.

Nara is the capital of Nara era in Japan and a famous historical and cultural city with many world cultural heritages. The earliest Japanese literature appeared in the Nara era.

It's about 40 minutes' drive from Beijing, so it's not easy to enjoy the convenience and keep it quiet. Nara belongs to the kind of city that I fell in love with at first sight. Look at JR, a small but clean station, enthusiastic flight attendants and no bustling crowd. I feel a beautiful breath from the sea of people.

From the station to Nara Park, it is difficult to see large-scale buildings, small and regular streets, not too busy and concentrated businesses, and the air is filled with moisture. I bought a box of strawberries on the way. Strawberries are the seasonal fruit of that season. They are small strawberries not much bigger than nails, sweet, sour and fragrant. It rained all the way, and Nara immediately conquered me with a unique freshness and simplicity.

Nara is the place where Buddhism was first introduced to Japan, and sika deer is regarded as the mount and messenger of God. Nara people think sika deer is the owner here. Legend has it that sika deer have also thrived here for thousands of years, so it is more appropriate for people to domesticate them, but it is more appropriate for them to domesticate humans.

Buddhism was introduced into Japan from Nara era and gradually became the national religion of Japan. It was not until the edo shogunate period that Christianity was slowly introduced to Japan. At that time, some women from aristocratic families believed in Christianity, and they used the support of nobles to promote the development of Christianity in Japan.

Japan was originally a closed-door country. /kloc-In the shogunate era at the beginning of the 7th century, it is said that Wang Yangming's theory of mind was introduced to Japan from the Ming Dynasty, which is a typical example of "flowers inside the wall, fragrance outside the wall". Wang Yangming's theory of mind, as a branch of Neo-Confucianism, has been rejected by mainstream scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Until my death, I didn't get the honor I deserved.

There is a simple reason. The mainstream literati in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty were all Zhu School, who read four books and five classics, took an examination of stereotyped writing and entered the official career. In their eyes, Wang Yangming's theory of "being a teacher" is a heresy to Mr. Zhu Lao's Ah Q. Therefore, his theory of mind and nature was left out in the cold and even swept out of the house in the Ming Dynasty. Later, it spread to Japan, and the Japanese got the treasure. Some studies have pointed out that the Meiji Restoration, which greatly increased Japan's national strength, was a perfect practice under the guidance of Wang Yangming's psychology, which made Japan quickly become an East Asian power and influenced Japan for 500 years.

Sika deer can be seen everywhere in Nara Park, strolling or taking a nap. Sika deer is an animal with aura. The deer in Nara have seen all kinds of the world and have higher IQ. Signs warning sika deer are erected everywhere. These "sacred beasts" are not always gentle and lovely. They sometimes bite, push or kick people.

You can buy a deer biscuit and feed it to them in the park, but it is generally of little use. The deer at the door is fed by people all over the world every day, not only full, but also tired of eating. It is difficult to impress this beautiful and noble animal with deer cakes. They usually look at you under those long eyelashes and then walk away without looking back.

People and animals get along very harmoniously here, and the deer takes a nap by itself, ignoring these tiny mortals. I also saw a naughty deer, probably tired of eating deer cakes, stealing a magazine from a stroller parked on the side of the road and running away to eat it.

The famous Spring Festival couplets are hidden in the mountains of Nara Park. It is said that when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in April, the pink clouds of cherry blossoms all over the mountains are at the top, which is one of the best places to enjoy cherry blossoms in Kansai and even Japan.

The big house in spring is a famous building in Nara. Because of its unique form, it has created an architectural style of its own. On important festivals, men and women wear kimonos to worship at the Spring Festival Society, and crowds are endless. Tradition and modernity blend here without any abrupt feeling.

Walking up the mountain road, I left those experienced and bold deer, and some shy deer ran out of the Woods. Because these deer are inexperienced, they dare not get too close to people to ask for food, and cherish food more. They often look at you from the stone lamps on both sides of the road. The weathered ancient stone lamp, coupled with the lively deer, feels that time has stopped under the shade of towering trees.

I always think that deer is an animal with too much spirituality, with dark eyes and slender eyelashes. I don't know whether it is natural spirituality or the result of Japanese training. These deer will keep nodding and bowing when begging for food, and bow again after feeding to show their gratitude. Soft and lovely, the bow is really Japanese.

There are many forests in Narayama, but the Japanese natural scenery is far from magnificent. The mountain is a simple hill, and its Excellence lies in the perfect integration of humanistic architecture and nature. The feeling of coming to Nara is even more obvious. No matter where ancient buildings, antique streets and shrines appear, there will be no sense of disobedience. There are not many traces of "fake monuments" in the ancient buildings shaded by green trees. Its perfect integration also embodies the perfect integration of religious spirit with Japanese society and life.

Compared with the magnificence of our mountains and rivers, Japan's natural scenery is more like a bonsai that has been carefully trimmed and maintained. It is just right to change the scenery and integrate Zen with nature. A friend commented that the Japanese city of Peace (Kyoto, Heian period) is a beautiful "high imitation" compared with the ancient capital of China, and it is by no means a poor cottage. In the process of imitation, Japan has also strengthened its unique culture and aesthetics, and then integrated into the exquisiteness of the Japanese ubiquitous "small focus", with its own style and innovation.

The price in Nara is slightly lower than that in Kyoto, and people are always smiling and very modest and enthusiastic. Japanese in the service industry, whether you understand it or not, must try their best to say the welcome greetings from beginning to end. Nara is also rich in food. We had a very satisfying meal, including sushi rice, mixed rice, udon noodles, caviar and other authentic foods.

Nara produces many handicrafts. I bought a set of porcelain, simple and elegant, which combined these two unimaginable opposing styles. Tourists can buy silk, tea, pottery and so on. But don't forget Nara's biggest specialty: all kinds of souvenirs of sika deer: cute dolls, all kinds of desserts with deer printed on them, and deer crafts. ...

Tired from walking, you can have a cup of tea and eat some matcha-scented fruits by the roadside to relax yourself.

Kyoto is called the spiritual home of the Japanese, and Nara is called the spiritual home. In Nara, you can completely relax, slow down, calm down and look forward to an encounter with sika deer in the depths of the jungle; The feeling of unhurried is still full of charm after thousands of years.