Thursday 22 March 2018

Total Geeking out session about Japanese braided cords


Like most, I have a wide array of things I watch on TV.

Real housewives of any metropolitan city, 
1/5 of Netflix, 
RuPaul's Drag Race (we need another season though my gay friends think this show is for suburban straight people), 
and so many more.

I watch way too much but rarely regret it so now all I have to do is figure out a way of monetising watch all these shows.

I think I mentioned one of my TV shows I view as televised meditation was the NHK Japanese World channel that features the show - At Home with Venetia in Kyoto.

She is the daughter of an English aristocrat who turned into a hippie in the 60's and 70's and went to live in Asia and has become an earthier version of Carolyn Roehm / Martha Stewart in Japan. That sounds too simplistic but she also won a gardening award which is no mean feat in Japan of all places.

I wrote about this years ago here ( click for link ) 

But there is one show that is super duper culture geek and captures the essence of the best of Japanese culture called Core Kyto.

Kyoto is the former capital of Japan and still is the cultural epicentre.  Tokyo is just the capital and a commercial centre but for the Japanese lacks the refinement of Kyoto. 

The shows explore one old craft for each episode.

Image result for core kyoto japanese braided cords

I just saw an old episode I must have missed from 2017 about braided cords.

I told you it was a geek out.

But as an antidote to A.I. of super efficiency and "productivity",  I enjoy the longhand of craftsmanship. 

If you can't be bothered to watch, here is the synopsis.

Knots and cords were an elaborate messaging system as in Asia there would be fabric parcels wrapped and secure in various types of rope.
Image result for core kyoto japanese braided cords

They could signal a confession of love, a threat, and contrition.

For the aristocracy and royalty, 
there were special knots that were the ancient form of proving 
that items were not tampered with as they were so intricate that 
it was rare to recreate the knot.


Here is the link for those who might be interested that want just the beta amount of stimulus to learn and perhaps go into a google archaeological mining session to learn more about this or related arts. 

People who are Japanologists will particularly enjoy this series.


Have a great weekend!

10 comments:

  1. There needs to be a way to monetize watching the Housewives franchise for sure. Xx

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  2. That history about the cords is fascinating. Thank you.

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  3. I knew at first glance Godzilla's gauche manner reeked of Tokyo...Kyoto far more to my liking.

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  4. The Japanese seem to have an especially elaborate, intricate, or beautiful way of doing things. That is often one of the clues to differentiate Japanese from Chinese workmanship in antiques. The Chinese also have a special way with knots and string, called Zhong-guo jie, which simply means "Chinese knots," but many of them are amazing.
    --Jim

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    1. I think the Japanese got the trade from the Chinese but they put their own stamp on it. Koreans have knots but I don't think they coded their knots.

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  5. That is so fascinating about the knots and I did not know of it before reading this post. I don't have cable so my watching of TV is pretty limited. I know I would be a Real Housewives addict if I did have cable. I use Netflix as my cable TV so it's mostly movies and shows like 'The Crown' around here. xx

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  6. I've watched the programme but knots was a new subject for me

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