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Friday, January 6, 2012
That bell makes me realize that I'm Japanese !?--除夜の鐘/ jyoya-no-kane
If you observe how Japanese people see the old year out and the new year in, you will catch a glimpse of what Japanese culture and tradition are like.
As the times have changed, some people have become fond of celebrating the arrival of the new year in new, non-traditional ways that they like. The New Year's countdown and the countdown live have become very popular in the past few decades especially among the young. However, when they are struggling to find a way to overcome enormous difficulties, they subconsciously feel tempted to ring in the new year in the traditional way. This year, because of the 3/11 earthquake, I think that many more people greeted 2012 in the traditional way.
Anyway, how do you usually celebrate the arrival of the new year in your country? I think that the New Year's countdown is the most popular event in the world. Many people enjoy ringing in the new year at popular places worldwide. Fireworks are set off in some locations. Many people ring in the new year with a party. In whatever way they celebrate, they are jubilant and the places are boisterous and bustling.
In contrast, traditional Japanese New Year's celebrations are somber, solemn and ceremonious. Around midnight on the 1st of January, the bell is struck 108 times at many temples (please see Note below. The bell is referred to as 除夜の鐘/jyoya-no-kane). Some people go to a temple to listen to the tolling bell and pray. NHK, the public broadcasting network, broadcasts some temples live from 11:45 pm to 0:15 am every year (When I was a child many years ago, the program was aired on all the TV stations), so people can put themselves in a traditional mood if they want. I think that people think about their own lives while listening to them.
I don't care how I greet the new year, but the sound of that bell still gives me a feeling of peace.
Note:
According to Buddhist teaching, humans are harassed by 108 earthly desires. It's been said that to remove the desires, the bell is struck 108 times.
Reference:
This is Japanese culture: silence, evanescence and simplicity
