Japanese art, culture, mythology, and folklore all reflect a deep and inherent love of nature. If you want to appreciate these soothing Japanese songs in an even deeper way, Japanese language lessons can help. Cherry Trees in Japanese Folklore By Brian Funk | April 25, 2016 Japan is a country rich in Buddhist and Shinto legends and mythology about nature. Hone-onna, one of the creepy Japanese urban legends, is a gorgeous woman who is dressed in a kimono which covers her entire body except wrists, neck and face. Another Way to Love Japanese Songs. She is incredibly beautiful, with smooth skin and long neck, but her beauty is a disguise. According to internet legend, the poem curses the reader with misfortune and death if read aloud. Once on earth, the goddess created the gods of the winds, mountains, sea, and … Unlike most of Western culture, Japanese tend to see themselves as a part of nature rather than separate from it. Japanese mythology is a collection of traditional stories, folktales, and beliefs that emerged in the islands of the Japanese archipelago. Aside from total immersion, private lessons are the best way to sharpen your understanding of spoken Japanese, along with the written forms of hiragana, katakana, and kanji. It's common for shrines dedicated to Benzaiten to be considered romantic spots amongst Japanese couples. Benzaiten (or Benten) is the goddess of everything that flows: words, eloquence and music. Trees—cherry trees in particular—have special significance. Japanese folklore have their origins in two major religions of Japan, Buddhism and Shinto. These religious beliefs originated in India and came to Japan to China and Korea. Oni (demons) and yurei (ghosts) have played a role in Japanese culture for thousands of years, and stories of new spirits continue to be told today. The best love stories are the ones that are larger than life, and there's no shortage of epic love in ancient mythology. Japanese mythology, a mixture of animistic beliefs and sacred religion that mixes divinities with spirits and animals, has a macabre side that is reflected in a pantheon of demons, dragons, and monsters. There are a few possible ways to interpret the disturbing symbolism in the poem, which David Bowles describes in the footnotes of his superb English translation of the Japanese original. She is one of Japan's 7 … According to Japanese legend, in the beginning there were so many gods in heaven that some, including the god Izanagi and the goddess Izanami, were sent to the earth on a cloud-bridge. In the popular imagination she is also associated with love. The history of thousands of years of contact with China, Korea, Ainu, and Okinawan myths are also key influences in Japanese mythology. Shinto and Buddhist traditions are the cornerstones of Japanese mythology. 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