This was a really beautiful and peaceful place to visit and right next to the area where all the displays of diversity and interesting/talented people were showing to the world their skills, talents and artistic abilites in the best way they know how. A perfect location I think and probably one that has lended itself to why this kind of environment has grown up around it after all the years gone by.
This is a poem that the Emperor Meiji wrote
IF EVERY NATION
COULD BE FULLY PROTECTED,
AND THE FOUR SEAS
RESTED IN TRANQUILTY,
AH, THE JOY OF SUCH A WORLD !
Were peace to reign throughout the world,by having each and every country being able to protect itself sufficiently and by having the vast seas lay in tranquil calmness, ah what joy it would bring us!
and Empress Shoken wrote this one.
BY HELPING EACH OTHER
WITH THE MEANS WE POSSESS,
WE CAN COME TO KNOW
THAT THE FOUR SEAS OF THIS EARTH
WERE BORN OF ONE MOTHER
People all over the earth helping each other according to their own means and positions. By this we can come to realize that everyone everywhere are actually brothers and sisters living in one world.
The Meiji Jingu forest was created in honour of them by their own people, who wished to commemorate their virtues and to venerate them forever and offer a place for their souls to dwell in. Every one of the 100,000 donated trees was sincerely hand planted by many volunteers. It was carefully planned as an eternal forest that recreates itself and now after 88 years it can NOT be distinguished from a natural forest,and is inhabitated by many endangered plants and animals.
Emperor Meiji took the intitiative to promote friendship with other countries when they opened the country to the world after long isolation. He too introduced Western civilization and developed technology from overseas while preserving Japanese identity, and thus laid the foundations of modern Japan.
Empress Shoken supported him and she also devoted herself to promoting national welfare and women's education. She too was concerned about world affairs and she donated a fund, named after her to the Int'l Red Cross, which still today is used for Int'l welfare activities.
The sincere heart of them both towards the people can be seen in the waka poetry they composed throughout their lives.
Here is a little more about Shinto as well for those of you who know nothing like I.
"Shinto is called Japan's ancient original religion and it is deeply rooted in the Japanese way of life. Shinto has no founder, no holy book and not even the concept of religious conversion, but Shinto values for example harmony with nature and virtues such as "Magokoro" (Sincere Heart)."
In Shinto, some divinity is found in Kami (divine spirit), or it may be said that there is an unlimited number of Kami. You can see Kami in mythology, in nature, and in human beings. From ancient times, Japanese people have felt in awe and gratitude towards such Kami and dedicated shrines to many of them."
more info
http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/index.html
May the Emperor and Empress rest in peace
Karla and CJ
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