Like the moon and the stars and the sun.
—John Lennon
I was on my way home from a photo walk, walking over the bridge, when I happened to look to the side and spotted this lovely sunset. Luckily my camera was with me, so I could easily capture it.
Thinking of the setting sun reminds me of a story...
One of Japan's first great leaders was Prince Shōtoku[1], who ruled Japan as regent to Empress Suiko from 593–622. He was a very devoted Buddhist---his support for the religion was instrumental in it spreading in Japan instead of dying out. He was a popular ruler and remains a very popular historic figure. He did all kinds of firsts: including, he may have been the first person to refer to Japan as Nihon, which is often poetically rendered in English as Land of the Rising Sun.
He may also have been the first Japanese ruler to make China angry, something many Japanese leaders since have made an art of.
In 605, the Sui Emperor sent a letter asking about the state of things in Japan. Prince Shōtoku replied back, 'From the sovereign of the land of the rising sun to the sovereign of the land of the setting sun'. Needless to say, the Sui Emperor wasn't amused at having his country referred to as 'The Land of the Setting Sun'.
Internet trolls have nothing on Shōtoku!
| David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. |
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Maybe. Some scholars suggest that he wasn't a real person. The primary source of his life and accomplishments comes from the Nihon Shoki, the second oldest book of Japanese history. This book is known to alter facts to make a better story and that may be the case with Prince Shōtoku. ↩
