JP.II: Ancient Modernity - Social Relics

Nearly 1,000 years old, the Sanjusangendo temple is a standing relic of Japan's ritualistic social order. 06/2023

Continuing the exploration regarding the topic of "Ancient Modernity," I want to discuss the crucial existence of social relics in Japan and their thriving relevance within the modern urban context of the nation. A social relic is a heritage regarding culturally learned customs, codes, and rules of behavior that are constant across generations within a specific ethnicity [1]. These items may include but are not limited to, any traditions, norms, values, and social conducts with a long-established history. Beliefs and religions are also other sub-categories of social relics. One of the more obvious Japanese social norms is the act of bowing [2]. In Japan, a bow is a handshake. A casual head nod can be taken as a waving hand, while a more profound bow at the waist level can have a value equal to a formal business handshake. More than a greeting, bowing can also be interpreted as an apology, a request, or an ask of favor, depending on its context [3}. This simple yet complex social relic has its contextual root in the beginning of Japan's Buddhism, dating as far back as from 500 to 800 AD. Other different social customs of Japan include burning incenses, clapping two hands together to pray and show respect at a temple, not drinking and eating while moving, putting shoes at the step right after the entrance, and many more. Most of these social customs have their relevance revolves around the essential manners and etiquette that one presents themself to society, and in return, representing their own self-respect. Thus, a Japanese person dressing decently in public is not just to appear nice or formal but also to encourage others to do the same. One observation I made during my time in Japan was the amount of mirrors available in public. Beyond restrooms' mirrors, there is an absolutely excessive number of reflective surfaces in every corner you go - from going down the staircase at subway stations, to in front of a normal grocery store - compared to the United States. It is as if they serve more than just the purpose of regulating traffic flow. They remind people to become mindful of their own appearances. Constantly. Was their hair messed up by the tunnel's wind? Is there something in their front teeth? Is their collar laid flat down? In Japanese culture, one truly asks for respect by first respecting themself.

Photo: A temple visitor followed the ritual of pouring water over the statue as an act of cleansing. 06/2023

In Japan, there is a proverb: "出る釘は打たれる" (deru kui wa utateru) [4]. A nail that sticks out gets hammered down. As such, this idiom demonstrates the harmonic and homogeneous society that the Japanese follow. It is a goal across various sectors and referenced at all scales of societal structures: from as intimate as one's friend group, family, and classmates, to as expansive as their workplace, neighborhood, and the nation as a whole. Japanese social relics have been casting a mold for generations after generations. And despite the rapidly increasing Westernization in many of its cities,

Japan has strengthened its customs and preserved them better than most of its peer countries. Unlike several American customs, which have mostly remained their scope to a regional level, Japanese customs are recognized not just nationally by its own people but also internationally by enthusiasts across the world. Year after year, nearly 30 million foreigners flood this country just to be able to experience and take part in its customs [5]. And every year, more than 110,000 of them decided to stay. The mighty scenery of Mount Fuji or the beautiful nightlife of Osaka might have been what brought them there, but it is truly the culture and the people that stole their hearts. Photo: Kiyomizudera temple visitors participating in the traditional ritual of drinking the wishing water streams. 06/2023

Word Count: 610 Words

Citation:

1. “Apa Dictionary of Psychology.” American Psychological Association, dictionary.apa.org/social-heritage

2. “Home.” Japanese Customs & Traditions, Manners & Etiquette | All Japan Tours, alljapantours.com/about-japan/japanese-customs-and-manners/

3. “Bowing in Japan: Japanese Etiquette Tips (Video): Live Japan Travel Guide.” LIVE JAPAN, livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-asakusa/article-a0000709/#:~:text=The%20act%20of%20bowing%20in,they%20are%20not%20a%20threat

4. “出る釘は打たれる.” Wiktionary, en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%87%BA%E3%82%8B%E9%87%98%E3%81%AF%E6%89%93%E3%81%9F%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B#Japanese

5. Tourism in Japan. (2023, June 9). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Japan