Basho's CROWS

Crow or CROWS
#haiku scholars and fans often debate the use of #karasu in a famous #autumn #haiku by #Basho.

Kare eda ni / karasu no tomari keri  / aki no kure

Bare / dry branch on / at
crow(s) connective on / of stop
autumn end of or autumn sunset

Personally I give more consideration as to whether  kure means sunset or seasons end?

Given the reference to bare branches I prefer seasons end.

Regarding whether crow should be singular or plural may I note that  corvids flock!

I actually have a small raven clan living in the immediate area and even when the flock spreads out to feed if I see one their mate is usually near by and even after fledglings grow up and move away there's usually a consistent core group of five or six who stay together. I opt for crows plural unless Japanese crows behave differently?

Another Autumn PNG for you !

Another Autumn PNG for YOU

#freebie #png  created with #inkscape #hanzi #kanji

I've trying to evoke ... invoke ... thoughts of autumn leaves fading with torn edges ... let me know if or how you use it?

AUTUMN TECHNOZI 2015

I've been busy editing images for scarves for #redBubble so here's My Autumn Giveaway #freebie copyright free public domain image for you to play with!
Also I just felt earlier versions didnt work or werent special enuff

Its  png format so have fun adding backgrounds and layers and let me know if it inspires anything! This was an svg file created using #inkscape and then exported as a png for uploading.

That Elephant Guy

THAT ELEPHANT GUY
#samantabhadra #buddhistart #boddhisattva #fugen

Wandering thru stores that sell chinese ceramics or buddhist supplies one could be forgiven for thinking Chinese and other Mahayana Buddhists only revere Kuanyin Hotei and the Buddha. I suspect there's a factory somewhere where some one said ... just change the hands in the mold!

There are other Boddhisattvas.

REMINDER

CHECK WHAT THE HANDS ARE HOLDING

SAMANTABHADRA

Patron of the Lotus Sutra Speaker of the 10 Vows of the Boddhisattva

Boddhisattva of Action and law this entity is also known as 

Chinese Fu Hsien Pu Xian Bo Hsian 

Japan FUGEN

Korea PoHyon

Vietnam Pho Hien

Mongolia Qamugha Sain

Tibet Kuntuzanpo 

Paintings and sculptures usually depict him in a trinity or group with the Buddha or other Boddhisattvas but also sometimes on his elephant and other times standing or on a lotus throne.

The Tibetans seem to prefer depict him in Tantric congress. 

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Chinese Blue and White Ceramics

I started this series showing you a medley from various Asian nations and I'ld finish it just showing ceramics from China.

The Classic David vases

A Qing period piece

Ming dynasty

Note this has been reposted cos I just find out I uploaded it to the wrong blog!

Sometsuke Japanese blue and white

#SOMETSUKE #japaneseceramics

The Japanese like other Asian nations started doing blue and white ware as soon as they could source a good white stone ware clay and the the cobalt ore for blue slip.

While the Japanese do copy some Chinese motifs they also attend to have a greater use of geometric or textile inspired patterns probably influenced by the experimentation with mixing weaving tiedyeing handpainting and embroidery you see on many Noh and Kabuki costumes and the kimono of the wealthier merchants and aristocrats. Bear in mind most people had to wear ramie hemp or cotton or a much rougher  lower grade "raw" silk.

My first example is "Old" KO Imari. Its very similar to Chinese ceramics and yet  the same kilns were also producing the first Japanese polychrome wares.

This is from the Seto kilns Note the box shape probably influenced by lacquer ware and the beautiful composition.

Kingfisher Blues

Kingfisher Blues
Two Examples of Korean Blue and White Ware
#korean #ceramics

Who ever throw these vase shapes was a master of their craft with skills equal to the finest Chinese potters.  Korean painting while always vigorous on ceramics and other medium shows both a "folk" style with broad strong bold strokes and yet also very refined minimalism images like the bamboos in the top image.

Its also noteworthy how beautifully Korean paintings on ceramics flow around the form whether faceted or smooth.

The koreans also tend to avoid overall complicated patterns unlike some chinese pieces covered from footing to brim.