Where art meets spirit

Young Chang

Underneath the black ink of Japanese calligraphy, the beating of

traditional drums and the soothing practice of the tea ceremony lies a

framework of religion.

At least that’s what the Rev. Tsuyoshi Hirosumi of the Newport Beach

Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple says.

Although religion is different from culture, Hirosumi says Buddhism

produced much of Japan’s culture after the religion was brought over from

India and China.

“And Buddhism produced so [much] beautiful art,” said the priest.

Some of that art will be emphasized during the upcoming third annual

Fall Japanese Cultural Festival. The Rev. Makoto Honda, who is in

training, expects more than 100 visitors from around the county to come

to the temple..

Bonsai, Japanese dolls, calligraphy, Japanese archery, flower

arrangements and tea ceremony exhibits will be some of the festival’s

features, in addition to tours of the temple for people to learn the

basis of Buddhism.

The temple’s Honganji denomination -- a form of Buddhism -- came from

Japan, member Harvey Maruya said.

“If they see the interior of the temple and the icons, it gives them a

better background of where the founding members came from,” Maruya said.

Exhibits will show the Buddhist beliefs of the oneness of nature,

appreciation of beauty in nature and how these concepts became formalized

into social rituals such as the tea ceremony.

Japanese archery is one example. It is more than a hobby or skill,

Hirosumi said. Most of all it is a form of standing meditation that

requires concentration and focus.

Tea ceremonies, which traditionally last more than 45 minutes, are a

form of sitting meditation, in which participants are soothed by the

sound of percolating water and the smell of tea.

“You absorb the quietude, the peaceful mind, and it’s a different kind

of meditation in art form,” Hirosumi said.

Calligraphy is a form of writing meditation. Scrolls of Japanese

characters can take weeks to write, and every stroke is more artistic

than mere penmanship, Hirosumi said.

Arrangements in which multiple kinds of flowers combine to form one

flower reflect the oneness of nature. The Japanese culture focuses on

changing seasons, he added, as the summer’s heat, autumn’s color change,

spring’s blooms and winter’s cold directly affect people’s mentality.

Honda and Maruya expect curious, nonreligious visitors to attend the

festival along with practitioners of Buddhism. Hirosumi thinks the

connection between art and religion will draw crowds.

“If they really understand what is behind art, there is Buddhism,” he

said. “Therefore the Buddhist temple is related to art style.”

FYI

* WHAT: The third annual Fall Japanese Cultural Festival

* WHEN: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 21

* WHERE: Newport Beach Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, 254 Victoria

St., Costa Mesa

* COST: Free

CALL: (949) 722-1202