Introduction to Kamakura
Yoritomo-Minamoto (源頼朝 Minamoto-no-Yoritomo) established Kamakura government in 10th century, which was the first government that is ruled by Samurai in Japanese history.
Before Kamakura era, Japanese governments consisted of an aristocracy in Kyoto and Nara. In these eras, Samurai didn’t have a power to run the politics, playing a role only of guarding the city and their employers.
When Yoritomo-Minamoto got the power, he moved Japanese capital from Kyoto to Kamakura where his supporting community existed and where was a good place for the worrier government because it is surrounded by mountains and sea which makes it difficult for their enemy to enter the city.
Therefore you can see around the sea from top of the mountain near the coast like the following picture.
Before Kamakura era, Japanese governments consisted of an aristocracy in Kyoto and Nara. In these eras, Samurai didn’t have a power to run the politics, playing a role only of guarding the city and their employers.
However once a large civil war happened, the power of Samurai gradually got become stronger as they are regarded as necessary for their employers.
When Yoritomo-Minamoto got the power, he moved Japanese capital from Kyoto to Kamakura where his supporting community existed and where was a good place for the worrier government because it is surrounded by mountains and sea which makes it difficult for their enemy to enter the city.
Therefore you can see around the sea from top of the mountain near the coast like the following picture.
As this capital movement, there emerged a distinctive culture different from Kyoto originated Japanese culture.
Among them, the most distinctive one relates to Japanese Buddhism.
From here, this article introduces the history of it and a relating flower to the religion.
If you want to know more detailed history of Kamakura, see An introduction to the Samurai.
Religious Turning Point
Japanese Buddhism changed drastically in Kamakura-era. Before the era, Buddhism had been a religion that only upper class people believed in.
However, once Samurai got the government, the religion changed its target for normal people, which also totally changed the style of believing.
This new style of believing is called Kamakura-Buddhism.
Thus there are many temples in Kamakura that are established in this age.
The most popular one is Kotokuin (高徳院) that is famous for a large statue of a Buddhism god.
(Strictly speaking, he is not a “god” in the Western sense. Detailed explanation from religion all perspective is available in this page.
However, once Samurai got the government, the religion changed its target for normal people, which also totally changed the style of believing.
This new style of believing is called Kamakura-Buddhism.
Thus there are many temples in Kamakura that are established in this age.
The most popular one is Kotokuin (高徳院) that is famous for a large statue of a Buddhism god.
(Strictly speaking, he is not a “god” in the Western sense. Detailed explanation from religion all perspective is available in this page.
Hydrangea in Kamakura
One of the most popular things in Kamakura temples is hydrangeas, a symbolic flower in modern Japanese spring rainy season, Tsuyu(梅雨) because they start flowering from south to north as the front line of the rainy season goes to north.
The flower changes their color in accordance with the status of the soil they live in, which is one of the reasons people love this flower.
For example, if the soil is acid, they have red flowers and if it is basic, they have blue flowers.
And since they are usually put in temples where their ancestors are buried in graves , which gives people a emotional feelings, in that, they reminds Japanese people of their gone grandparents or any other loved people in a long but weak rain.
The flower changes their color in accordance with the status of the soil they live in, which is one of the reasons people love this flower.
For example, if the soil is acid, they have red flowers and if it is basic, they have blue flowers.
And since they are usually put in temples where their ancestors are buried in graves , which gives people a emotional feelings, in that, they reminds Japanese people of their gone grandparents or any other loved people in a long but weak rain.
Next Article
We will focus on sunflowers that reminds many Japanese people their young age, first love and grandparents” home.
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