Far East Décorave

The Great Buddha Hall is located in a Buddhist temple complex housed within the city of Nara, Japan. The Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden building in the world, and also houses the largest statue of the Vairocana Buddha in the world. The Vairocana Buddha is the embodiment of the concept of emptiness within Buddhism. The Great Buddha Hall is one of the most majestic structures in all the world, and is well recognized in Eastern and Western culture. The temple is known as a World Heritage Site, along with several other temples and shrines located within Nara. Perhaps just as well known as the Hall are the famous koi ponds located in the courtyard in front of the temple. In addition, the Sika deer, roam the grounds and are regarded as messengers of the Gods. These deer are quite friendly towards travelers, and love to eat the biscuits that are available for purchase from vendors all around the park.

The Great Buddha Hall is a prominent temple sculpture that serves as the archetypal structure for several artisans. It’s a magical place that all people should experience at least once in their lives.

The Japanese bridal ceremonies are quite unique in relation to other bridal ceremonies in different cultures. In fact, the Japanese bride might wear three or more dresses throughout a ceremony. The first dress is often the traditional kimono, with the bride also wearing the make-up befitting of a geisha. The second dress is often a white dress, much like the bridal dresses worn in Western culture, but with certain cultural differences. The third dress is often a more colorful dress, and tends to be worn more often in the latter half of ceremonies. While in Western culture the bride tends to have just one dress, the multiple dresses make the Japanese bride quite unique, and also a lot more expensive! Despite the Japanese bride wearing multiple dresses, the most common image of a Japanese bride as expressed in a Japanese bride doll or figurine is often wearing the traditional kimono.

The kimono is perhaps the most common image because it is unique to Japanese culture, however, traditional Japanese brides incorporate much more than just a kimono into their weddings.

Porcelain dolls have been a much sought after collectible for centuries.  While the exact origin of porcelain is not known, most believe it was first created in China.  Chinese dolls made from porcelain became popular amongst nobles and upper class citizens, and throughout the ages, have also become quite a collectible.  Porcelain is made derived from clay, but is also mixed with several different minerals.  Porcelain is known for its luster and white coloring, but is quite fragile.  Throughout the different dynasties in China, porcelain was used to create some of the most prized sculptures including bowls, vases, and dolls.  Porcelain is also well known because it can be drawn or painted upon with ease, one reason its white coloring made it so popular.  Over the ages, porcelain left China and was exported to Europe, where the Europeans created their own unique pieces of art from it. 

Chinese dolls made from porcelain are quite popular to this day, and are one of the more modern uses for the material.  Porcelain is also used to create fine dishes and other sculptures, and is still prized in many cultures to this day. 

There are numerous pieces that can spice up a bare wall with a Far East appeal, and most of these pieces are ideal for all rooms in the home.  It’s important to measure the wall and frame the piece beforehand, and thus choosing the piece should more depend on the shape of the room than the shape of the art itself.  For example, an apple blossom print set, quite a popular piece around spring time, makes a great addition to a bare wall.  Most print sets contain three or more pieces, and provide a kind of miniaturized gallery.  These screened images are often printed on fabric which gives them a lasting and soft appeal.  In addition to print sets, there screens can also make a great addition to a wall.  While most screens are used as dividers, a screen can also be used to provide an accent to a wall, and even give a space an illusion of being larger than its real size.  Wall scrolls made from bamboo slats are also popular amongst wall décor.

Wall décor should be chosen with the individual in mind; it’s important for a person to be able to appreciate their own home, and even if the décor doesn’t match, if it pleases the owner it’s a great addition!

For people who love all the sights and sounds of the world at night, creating a nocturnal theme in the bedroom makes for an excellent place to relax.  When decorating, think about dark but rich colors for the walls.  Black can be too dark, but deep blues, greens, and even purples can make for a delightful space.  Make sure to add a canopy to the bed, as this can make for a better feel of being enveloped in the night.  While it might seem a little kitschy, glow-in-the-dark objects on the walls can make for a unique appearance.

When adding accessories to the room, be sure to think about objects that compliment the theme of the night.  You might consider a celestial moon mirror, a room divider featuring nocturnal animals, or even a fountain complete with ceramic frogs.  Having these objects in the room will give it a real appearance of a nocturnal habitat.  But despite being a place inspired by the nocturnal, you’ll love spending time in this bedroom no matter what the time of day!

When it comes to interior decorating, for most people choosing the colors of the walls and the furniture is simple.  But it can be difficult to tailor a neutral space into one where spending time becomes a pleasure.  Accessorizing an interior space can be a little difficult, and instead of thinking how the space will appear to someone else, it’s best to think about how it will appear to you.  You might ask yourself questions like “How do I see this space being used?” or “What do I want to do in this space?”.  Once you’ve answered these questions, you might have a better idea of what kind of accessories to use in the space.

For example, if you imagine a space being used as an area for coffee and conversation, consider a theme complete with unique pieces that might spark conversation; objects like a scenery screen, wall art, and statuettes.  If you imagine a space being used more for an entertainment area, consider wall speakers, window treatments to diffuse the light, and a few pieces of media inspired art.  Don’t be afraid to try out different themes; if what you imagined doesn’t work, make sure the place where you purchase your accessories has a return policy!

When I visited Japan a few years ago on business, I brought back my son a gift.  I found a cool Japanese samurai warrior doll at a little stand I passed by as I was walking around downtown.  I didn’t find out much about it (since the merchant didn’t speak English), but I thought Christopher would like it so I bought it and packed it away in my suitcase.  When I returned home a few weeks later, Christopher was delighted that I with the Samurai warrior doll.  The next day he wanted to know all about samurai, which I wasn’t too familiar with at all. 

I did some research and found a lot of information about samurai in feudal Japan, then I read it over with Christopher.  From just that one samurai doll, he became fascinated with Japanese culture.  Chris later learned all about samurai; their code of honor, their practices, and he became interested in Kendo.  I think it’s great that he became so interested in samurai, it’s certainly been a great hobby and with his Kendo classes I know he’s getting out and exercising. 

While most people often associate Buddhism with Chinese culture, in truth, Buddhism is quite prevalent in India, and several of the most famous Buddhist temples and locations of significance are located in India.  While Buddhism is prevalent in India, it’s also in direct competition with Hinduism, the most prominent religion in India, and a religion quite different from Buddhism.  In the past, members of these two religions have clashed on issues of faith and government.  Much of Indian culture is based on Hindu practices, but Buddhism has also etched out its own place in India.

In the tradition of the elephants found in India, the ivory Buddha statue represents the teachings of Buddha drawing on the regal nature of the largest living land animal.  There are thousands of Buddhist items that are intended to remind believers of the first Buddha, and his state of spiritual enlightenment. 

 All over the world, gardening enthusiasts are present in just about every family.  Humans have an affinity for plants, flowers, and natural flora that inspires them to become gardeners, even if they’re just weekend gardeners.  For the gardener in your family, here are a few gift ideas:

~Planters – no gardener can have too many planters.  Even if their entire garden is full, planters are great for the porch, deck, and patio too.  Give them a unique elephant planter or one featuring another animal and they’re sure to love it! 

~Trellises – gardeners often think about expanding outward, but not too often think about expanding upward.  With a trellis and a vine plant, a gardener can expand their garden to the vertical dimension. 

~Fountains – the sound of running water brings a whole new appeal to your standard garden.  No outdoor space is complete without a water fountain to add an aural appeal.

In Chinese culture, the Yin and Yang are used to represent two opposing forces that are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world.  Yin refers to the darker or shaded area, while Yang refers to the sunlight, or lit area.  Yin is often associated with that which is slow, soft, and cold, like nighttime.  While Yang refers to that which is fast, solid, and hot, like the daytime.  In order to achieve balance, it is believed that these two forces must be equal. 

The Yin-Yang, sometimes referred to as Yin-Yan, is formed when both the Yin and the Yang are in balance.  If either the Yin or the Yang should disappear, the other must disappear as well.  It’s impossible to think about either Yin or Yang without thinking about the other, even if it’s on a subconscious level.  In Chinese culture, philosophy, and medicine, the Yin-Yang is central to understanding human life.