銀閣寺に月を思う/Think of The Moon at Silver Pavilion

先日、日本語を勉強する学生さんたちをご案内しました。銀閣寺を題材に、日本文化と月を考える、この9月にふさわしいお題のツアーでした。

The other day, we visited Ginkakuji Temple, or known as Silver Pavilion with students who learn Japanese language. The theme of the tour was the moon and Japanese culture.

まだ来日して間もない生徒さんたちを前に、「月」という漢字を覚えてもらい、ツアーをスタートしました。というのも、向月台や洗月泉など銀閣寺には「月」のつく遺構が複数あります。

First of all before starting the tour, the guide asked everybody to remember one Kanji letter "月" (the moon). This Chinese character was the key to the tour, and Silver Pavilion has several places named with this letter.

最初に月待山を眺めながら、月や東の持つ意味合いについてお話ししました。どちらも「再生」に関連付けられることがあります。

We started our topic with the mountain called Tsukimachiyama, or the moon waiting mountain. Literally, the mountain is located in the east, where the moon rises. The east and the moon are often associated with renewal or rebirth in Japanese culture.

きっと義政はこの眺めを見ながら月を待っていたのかもしれませんね、というようなロマンチックなことを言っていると、景色を見る目も変わります。

When we came just in front of the building, I (guide) said that the owner in the past were maybe also waiting for the moon from the very same spot. The students might feel in the same way as him.