these pedestrian sanctuaries have me longing for something unattainable: a culture quite unlike my own. the relationship you spoke of in a previous entry, while i am in complete agreement, it is not the world i can know outside of the dualism i see, breathe, am.
This page (http://www.travellady.com/Issues/Issue56/kurama.htm) is good on filling in the details I leave out in my account, like the fact that the forests on Mount Kurama are a mixture of pine and cedar.
Since Kurama is known for its onsen (hot spring baths), I will take this opportunity to ask a question I've had for a while. Anyone who's been to an onsen or sento knows the baths are usually segregated by gender. I've heard that traditionally, both men and women bathed together, and that the separation of the sexes was imposed by the Americans after WW2. If true, this would have to be the most idiotic form of cultural imperialism ever. Anyone know if this is accurate, or have more details?
Okay, I've researched this matter of gender segregation at the onsen:
'In the heyday of the Edo Era, segregation between the sexes at public bathhouses did not exist. Because the practice of bathing together was so natural, there were few problems (Hotta, p. 21). There were, of course, rules for public bathhouses and the vast majority of them were legitimate businesses, only a few were associated with immoral practices like prostitution (Grilli, p. 77). But, when American Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Yokohama Harbor in 1853, it is said that his men were shocked at witnessing the mixed bathing. As a result, an 1870 law was passed prohibiting mixed bathing. Bathing facilities were partitioned and inspectors came regularly to check. But, not all Japanese understood this strange new custom, so more often than not, once the inspectors left, the partitions were dropped and the Japanese guests went back to enjoying their mixed bathing experience as they had for centuries (Hotta, p. 21-22).
'Gender segregation in public bathhouses actually began during the Edo period, but became prominent and was really only successful during the Meiji period (1868-1912) (Grilli, p. 98). Mixed bathing as a general rule ended for two reasons: one, as a response to western sensitivities so to increase Japan's reputation as a civilized, respectable nation in the eyes of the West; and two, to end illicit acts, such as prostitution, occasionally being performed.'
'A foreigner wrote in 1859: "As a people, they (the Japanese) are most virtuous, individually and collectively, of any nation extant. A contrary report has gained ground, owing to their habit of promiscuous bathing, male and female in the one bath, and in puris naturalibus. But it must be understood that they recognize no harm in doing so --- that no harm has ever come of it, and that the practice is continued because their ancestors for ages did so before them. There is no lack of practical morality amongst them, and there is no country in the world where the ties of marriage are held more scared than in Japan; while the virgins are equally chaste, and perfectly correct in their interaction with strangers."'
'In 1870 a law was passed prohibiting mixed bathing. Today most baths are still sexually segregated, but there are some that allow a return to the old ways. Couples or families staying in smaller inns are often allotted a time when they may bathe together, and some onsen have private baths which can be rented.'
Hisae has located a private onsen in Arishiyama that allows mixed bathing. I don't think I'd like to try it, though. I'd have to concentrate hard on tax, dentistry and death to avoid making an exhibition of myself. However, I did notice some little girls running around in the male baths at Kurama. Apparently toddlers have no gender.
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Date: 2004-08-17 09:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-17 09:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-17 10:28 pm (UTC)Sincerely,
Hentai Gaijin
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Date: 2004-08-17 10:54 pm (UTC)'In the heyday of the Edo Era, segregation between the sexes at public bathhouses did not exist. Because the practice of bathing together was so natural, there were few problems (Hotta, p. 21). There were, of course, rules for public bathhouses and the vast majority of them were legitimate businesses, only a few were associated with immoral practices like prostitution (Grilli, p. 77). But, when American Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Yokohama Harbor in 1853, it is said that his men were shocked at witnessing the mixed bathing. As a result, an 1870 law was passed prohibiting mixed bathing. Bathing facilities were partitioned and inspectors came regularly to check. But, not all Japanese understood this strange new custom, so more often than not, once the inspectors left, the partitions were dropped and the Japanese guests went back to enjoying their mixed bathing experience as they had for centuries (Hotta, p. 21-22).
'Gender segregation in public bathhouses actually began during the Edo period, but became prominent and was really only successful during the Meiji period (1868-1912) (Grilli, p. 98). Mixed bathing as a general rule ended for two reasons: one, as a response to western sensitivities so to increase Japan's reputation as a civilized, respectable nation in the eyes of the West; and two, to end illicit acts, such as prostitution, occasionally being performed.'
http://www.k-i-a.or.jp/ts-report/m-report/m-report.htm
'A foreigner wrote in 1859: "As a people, they (the Japanese) are most virtuous, individually and collectively, of any nation extant. A contrary report has gained ground, owing to their habit of promiscuous bathing, male and female in the one bath, and in puris naturalibus. But it must be understood that they recognize no harm in doing so --- that no harm has ever come of it, and that the practice is continued because their ancestors for ages did so before them. There is no lack of practical morality amongst them, and there is no country in the world where the ties of marriage are held more scared than in Japan; while the virgins are equally chaste, and perfectly correct in their interaction with strangers."'
http://www.philippinestoday.net/June2001/musings601.htm
'In 1870 a law was passed prohibiting mixed bathing. Today most baths are still sexually segregated, but there are some that allow a return to the old ways. Couples or families staying in smaller inns are often allotted a time when they may bathe together, and some onsen have private baths which can be rented.'
http://www.antipixel.com/blog/archives/2003/09/13/the_gentle_art_of_japanese_bathing.html
Hisae has located a private onsen in Arishiyama that allows mixed bathing. I don't think I'd like to try it, though. I'd have to concentrate hard on tax, dentistry and death to avoid making an exhibition of myself. However, I did notice some little girls running around in the male baths at Kurama. Apparently toddlers have no gender.