Nara vs Heian in Tohoku

Motsu-ji Temple is, or is on, a vestige of Heian-style mansion. Even in Kyoto at that time, only a few high-class royal or noble families could live in such a huge mansion. The main building of the temple stands south to a big pond. The north side of the pond gently inclines upward to make a hill toward Mt. Kinkei, a symbol mountain of Hiraizumi. The ancient Heian-style mansion, something like Heian-jingu Shrine in Kyoto today, used to be on the north edge of the pond. Fujiwara Motohira (?-1157?) is said to have built the mansion. Why a Heian-style mansion? The Tohoku District used to be governed officially from Taga Castle, with Nara-style grand government office buildings. The Fujiwara Clan, who was actually ruling the area, might have needed something newer and grander.

Taga-jo Castle in Tohoku District

I visited the ruin of Taga Castle the other day. Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) visited the castle to shed tears to find something 1000-year old, an old stone monument in front of the ruin. The castle was built in 724. The monument was built in 762. Otomo Yakamochi (718-785) was sent to the castle to rule the Tohoku district only to die there. Sakanoue Tamuramaro (758-811) invaded north from the castle. Saigyo (1118-1190), lured by the reputation of the monument, visited the castle. Kitabatake Akiie (1318- 1338) carried out 2 campaigns from the castle to Kyoto to restore the imperial rule. Basho started his trip to Tohoku 5 canturies after Saigyo's death. Almost 13 centuries have passed when I reached the foot of the ruin. I almost shed tears to breathe the same air the predecessors had respired.

To Increase Friends Abroad's Postings

Students who will apply to Osaka University are to be examined on a themed English composition test as a part of the college entrance examination. That's why I gave some 20 students special English composition lessons for 5 days last week. In Osaka University's themed English composition test, students should compose their writing within about 70 words. Lsat week, I picked up 5 themes from the university's past entrance examinations: 1 Do you want to use a time machine, or not? ; 2 What is your proudest experience? ; 3 How do you use the Japanese phrase "mottainai"? ; 4 What bad example shouldn't parents show to their children? ; and 5 What Japanese cultural literacy do you want to tell to foreigners? Some of my students even posted their writings onto Friends Abroad, a mailing list designed to enhance international communication among high school students. In addition, I have been organizing self-expression weekly activities since last April, the first month of our school year. There, students are encouraged to keep diary (or memos?) in English, to combine the materials into a writing, and to post it onto an international communication mailing list, Friends Abroad.