Some layers of tile roofs, at Toji Temple, in Kyoto

Spring is surely coming part 2, in Kyoto

Spring is coming, in Kyoto

Tokonoma, the main alcove of tatami room for guests, at Koto-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

TSUBAKI, Camellia japonica, at Koto-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

This flower is called Tsubaki in Japan, Camellia, very popular in Japan and often used in tea ceremony as a decoration of Tokonoma, the main alcove of tatami room for guests. But only buds are used in the ceremony, never used the opened flower. Why are buds Tsubaki preferred in the tea ceremony?

Masters of tea ceremony specially love the sense of simple-yet-elegant, which is one of important elements of the beauty senses in tea ceremony.

The beauty of tea ceremony is, in a sense, the beauty of harmony. The aesthetic of harmony is made up with the mixture of many kinds of tea tools with a set of players' graceful carriages. Each elements is totally simple and modest and should never be showy and prominent. Excessiveness would break the harmony. Full opened flowers are thought to be rather gaudy in the realm of tranquility. The bloom would break the harmony based on the sense of the tea ceremony. A choir in a small town never needs superstars such as Luciano Pararotti or Placido Domingo.

Tea ceremony is consisted of simple yet elegant ones, and creates deep and long-lasting beauty.

By the way, Tsubaki's flower language says that this flower means natural beauty, simple elegance and modest. And, Shiseido, a leading Japanese cosmetics company, has used this flower as its trademark.

An entrance for a restaurant, in Kyoto

A sign board for a restaurant, in Kyoto

Papered sliding doors, Fusuma in Japanese, with paintings of Syuro and Hakka-cho, which were import from China, at Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto

a simple and austere room of a traditional house for welcoming guests, at Koto-in, Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Sneak's eye, Kyoto, Japan

This is a tiny cup for drinking Japanese sake and the pattern inside is popular for us. When we drink it, we use this type of cup or non-pattern cup. Sake masters usually use it to check the clearance and color and the pattern seems to makes the nature more visible.

By the way, the pattern is called 'sneak's eye', Janome in Japanese, and also have a meaning to keep evil sprits away. So using this pattern is very reasonable because the Sake is thought to be very pure, sacred and religious and often used for shrine's ritual.

Stepping stones connecting a house for tea ceremony with the waiting space, at Zuiho-in, Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

A waiting space for tea ceremony, at Kobai-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Some layers of tile roofs, at Horyuji Temple, in Nara

A sign for a Japanese restaurant, at Ponto-Cho, in Kyoto

A path in the carpet of mosses, Kobai-in, Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

A typical street in Kyoto

a building through the gate, Tofukuji Temple, in Kyoto

Trees in the evening

Ropeworks to protect pine trees from snow

Green tea with plum-shaped sweets

Take me to a hair salon, at Atago Nenbutsuji Temple, in Kyoto

The wall made of worn-out roof tiles, at Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

A woman in bamboo forest in Kyoto

A hint of spring, plum buds

The approach to a building, at Koto-in, Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

The theme day, "Graffiti"

This is not from a street, but from a book on calligraphic poet. A series of letters on the photo might look totally graffiti for most people, but very classy and elegant for the other...

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More than140 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st March theme, "Theme day : Graffiti", please use the links to below to visit them.

Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

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The photo is cited from Masu-shikishi den Fujiwarano Yukinari, Nigensha, 2002.