Re: kanji?? (plese help)
Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on August 22, 2001 at 16:05:17:
In reply to: kanji?? (plese help) posted by jazibe on August 22, 2001 at 15:07:13:
The Formosa kingdom link in the rabbit hole works, and is a greatresource!
During the medieval period, words in Arabic and Farsi were hennaed on
people, and the tradition certainly continues today!
There is a long tradition of believing that a written word has a
slightly magical quality, one of intent and manifestation, and thus
words have been incorporated into all manner of artwork, ephemeral and
permanent. Words for blessing and protection have been written on
skin to secure divine response to a request. Though henna was used
only very briefly in China, and then not in the complex traditions of
the middle east, the traditions of body ornamentation, when considered
as a whole, support use of words written on skin to celebrate, bless
and protect.
When most people were illiterate, the "magic" of words was taken very
seriously. Westerners, who generally cannot read Asian languages,
seem to view Kanji as slightly "magical" or "mysterious" and are more
willing to have them tattooed on their bodies than they would be to
have the readable English words.
Both of my children have tattoos that include Chinese words. I made
them think long and hard about what they were getting ..... and it
seems their choices were good. Knowing that a word of intent is
permanently on you casts a perspective on life, as it becomes a symbol
and metaphor for your experience.
Have you read "The Fashioned Body" by Jonanne Entwistle? BRILLIANT
BOOK! It takes the POV that your body is your vehicle , and your
adornment is your discourse. Thus, each modification by henna,
tattoo, garment, ornament .... adjusts the way you percieve,
experience and interact with the world.... and Entwhistle takes off
from that point in a post-modernist philosophical rollercoaster.
(Focault me baby! Harder, harder!)
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