Comments on: A Review of Bijin Tokei http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Stephen http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/#comment-3388 Stephen Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:56:16 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5131#comment-3388 Big subject you want me to add upon. The main Japanese Sects require a period of Monastism ranging dramatically as far as I am aware. The rules of this period and the time of this period ranges dramatically from sect to sect, and temple to temple. My wife's training was over a two year period at the Nun training facility (no longer present) and compulsory ordination retreat, only possible at Chion-in and Zojo-ji. The Nun training facilty has many full-time monastics (opportunities for Nun's are limited and the training is more strict). Apart from eggs occaisionally (and arguements about whether eggs are Shojin or not I have had enough of) the meals were apparently Shojin and small in size. Eating all that is before you is extemely important, some women can only cope with a little food, the opportunity to gain a refill is possible, but only as supplies last. Ordination procedures changed before I went and I visited four main temples: at each the style of food was different but, in general if you are not preparing the porridge like food offered in Zen prepared by accolytes, Shojin Ryori is much more expensive than regular meals and so in three of the temples meat was present, Zojo-ji in Tokyo being the exception, valuing highly it's strictness, however pungent Herbs were present. Both my wife and I took the ordination Monastic period at Zojo-ji, not a fast eater I think it was about 2 weeks into the retreat I felt the need to get another bowl of rice, and I was not in time (ordination alone is taken with both males and females so the portions are small to start off with). The ordination retreat has prostrations as a base, and requires a great amount of exercise, not to mention the stairs are infamous at Zojo-ji (it is like going up and down a five storey building 6 times a day, after all those standing prostrations, while saying the Nenbutsu at the top of your voice, I don't know how anyone older than me managed it, (the Eldest was 67 years old). I lost seven kilograms during ordination to finish up under 70kg: I am 185cm (six foot) so not a guy that had a needs to lose too much weight. Ordination at Chion is not as physically difficult in that respect as far as I am aware, about 2/3 the amount of prostrations, however it is much colder, During my preperations I spent two weeks in Chion-in and got frost-bite on my ears. I saw someone's foot get frozen to the floor during morning cleaning of the hall floors. At Chion-in we were once dished up three kinds of fish tempura (deep fried food); the fattyness of the meal made me feel kind of sick especially during the long session that followed, but rules are rules and you cannot leave a trace on your plate. Hope that gives you an insight you were looking for, Anyone out there that wants to try a diet, why not become a Jodo Shu Priest (it all bounces back once you have finished though). Stephen BTW names... We decided that our first born would be named by their Grandparents, mainly because all of their three children were named for them. Our second child we asked for permission to name ourselves and were granted it on the condition it was approved. No1 was turned down, so was No2 then three: we eventually gave a list of thirty names of which two were percieved as OK. This is a Mega traditional area of Japan... Big subject you want me to add upon. The main Japanese Sects require a period of Monastism ranging dramatically as far as I am aware. The rules of this period and the time of this period ranges dramatically from sect to sect, and temple to temple. My wife’s training was over a two year period at the Nun training facility (no longer present) and compulsory ordination retreat, only possible at Chion-in and Zojo-ji. The Nun training facilty has many full-time monastics (opportunities for Nun’s are limited and the training is more strict). Apart from eggs occaisionally (and arguements about whether eggs are Shojin or not I have had enough of) the meals were apparently Shojin and small in size. Eating all that is before you is extemely important, some women can only cope with a little food, the opportunity to gain a refill is possible, but only as supplies last.
Ordination procedures changed before I went and I visited four main temples: at each the style of food was different but, in general if you are not preparing the porridge like food offered in Zen prepared by accolytes, Shojin Ryori is much more expensive than regular meals and so in three of the temples meat was present, Zojo-ji in Tokyo being the exception, valuing highly it’s strictness, however pungent Herbs were present.
Both my wife and I took the ordination Monastic period at Zojo-ji, not a fast eater I think it was about 2 weeks into the retreat I felt the need to get another bowl of rice, and I was not in time (ordination alone is taken with both males and females so the portions are small to start off with). The ordination retreat has prostrations as a base, and requires a great amount of exercise, not to mention the stairs are infamous at Zojo-ji (it is like going up and down a five storey building 6 times a day, after all those standing prostrations, while saying the Nenbutsu at the top of your voice, I don’t know how anyone older than me managed it, (the Eldest was 67 years old). I lost seven kilograms during ordination to finish up under 70kg: I am 185cm (six foot) so not a guy that had a needs to lose too much weight.
Ordination at Chion is not as physically difficult in that respect as far as I am aware, about 2/3 the amount of prostrations, however it is much colder, During my preperations I spent two weeks in Chion-in and got frost-bite on my ears. I saw someone’s foot get frozen to the floor during morning cleaning of the hall floors.
At Chion-in we were once dished up three kinds of fish tempura (deep fried food); the fattyness of the meal made me feel kind of sick especially during the long session that followed, but rules are rules and you cannot leave a trace on your plate.
Hope that gives you an insight you were looking for,
Anyone out there that wants to try a diet, why not become a Jodo Shu Priest (it all bounces back once you have finished though).
Stephen
BTW names… We decided that our first born would be named by their Grandparents, mainly because all of their three children were named for them. Our second child we asked for permission to name ourselves and were granted it on the condition it was approved. No1 was turned down, so was No2 then three: we eventually gave a list of thirty names of which two were percieved as OK. This is a Mega traditional area of Japan…

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/#comment-3384 Doug Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:40:01 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5131#comment-3384 Hi J and welcome to the JLR! Yeah, I think I should put a disclaimer here somewhere retroactively, just in case. ;) Hi J and welcome to the JLR! Yeah, I think I should put a disclaimer here somewhere retroactively, just in case. ;)

]]> By: J http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/#comment-3383 J Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:18:39 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5131#comment-3383 Interesting site but if my wife catches me looking then I'm blaming you! Interesting site but if my wife catches me looking then I’m blaming you!

]]> By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/#comment-3381 Doug Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:38:47 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5131#comment-3381 <strong>Robert:</strong> Ouch, thanks for the catch! That has been fixed. Yes, that does change meaning a bit. :-p <strong>Stephen:</strong> That's a funny story. I've heard vaguely before about the tradition of grandparents naming the child, but always good to hear it in practice. Having a name like "bijin" can't be all bad either. I wasn't aware you ate monastic food (shojin-ryori?) in Jodo Shu tradition. Mind telling us more? Robert: Ouch, thanks for the catch! That has been fixed. Yes, that does change meaning a bit. :-p

Stephen: That’s a funny story. I’ve heard vaguely before about the tradition of grandparents naming the child, but always good to hear it in practice. Having a name like “bijin” can’t be all bad either. I wasn’t aware you ate monastic food (shojin-ryori?) in Jodo Shu tradition. Mind telling us more?

]]> By: Stephen http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/#comment-3380 Stephen Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:25:39 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5131#comment-3380 Because we are talking of light subjects, might I add one off my own? My wife was the first born, and with regard to local tradition, her grandfather gave her name - 美眞　Mima - which translated means I suppose "true beauty". Although her Grandfather probably never predicted she would ordain (the job of the eldest son in the family) my wife undertook ordaination before I did. Instead of changing her name (which is a fight of paperwork) she kept her name but with the required change to Chinese pronounciation - Bijin. Although it doesn't work in writing, I can say in Japanese that my wife has become beautiful thanks to her training as a priest. Note: monastic food really makes this comment not just a play on words... Because we are talking of light subjects, might I add one off my own?
My wife was the first born, and with regard to local tradition, her grandfather gave her name – 美眞　Mima – which translated means I suppose “true beauty”. Although her Grandfather probably never predicted she would ordain (the job of the eldest son in the family) my wife undertook ordaination before I did. Instead of changing her name (which is a fight of paperwork) she kept her name but with the required change to Chinese pronounciation – Bijin.
Although it doesn’t work in writing, I can say in Japanese that my wife has become beautiful thanks to her training as a priest.
Note: monastic food really makes this comment not just a play on words…

]]> By: ロバート http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2009/09/29/bijin-tokei/#comment-3378 ロバート Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:45:59 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=5131#comment-3378 Amusing slip in the end paragraph ... I feel fortunate to have married her, <b>but I like many women</b>, she’s not confident about herself.... Somehow I don't think that "I" should be in there ! 笑 changes the whole meaning. Amusing slip in the end paragraph
… I feel fortunate to have married her, but I like many women, she’s not confident about herself….

Somehow I don’t think that “I” should be in there ! 笑
changes the whole meaning.

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