Museum Musings

Today we visited the Edo- Tokyo Museum, and it wasn't until today that I really started to understand the culture I was in. This museum was a goldmine for Japanese history and helped me gain a new perspective on this country I have been blessed with the opportunity to see.

A model of a book/paper store during the Edo period!

First off, certain exhibits had explanations, either written or audio, in English, which I wasn’t expecting, but in retrospect makes sense. It was clear to see the evidence of collectivism and the influence it had on Japanese culture from the beginning. Village and town replicas showed how everyone contributed to early societies, especially since the social hierarchy was extremely rigid (to the point where someone was only recognized as part of a family, not even an individual). Everyone had a place, and they did their tasks and what was expected of them to keep the daily life of their community going. Overtime, as with nearly every community, they changed, grew, became aware of outside influences, and experienced conflict and hardship. One concept I found most interesting and noteworthy was gaman, the ability for one to endure hardship. Going back through Japanese history, it is apparent that the Japanese people endured their fair share of hardship. After a fire would breakout across the city, they would rebuild, only to have an earthquake destroy it further down the line, then after earthquake reconstruction, some cities were flattened due to bombing of World War II. Despite all of these incidents that would normally cripple a society, they came back and were stronger for it and I find that trait to be extremely admirable and rare. Learning about gaman gave me a new appreciation for the new culture I was in and provided a greater understanding of the history of Japan.

While exploring the museum, I also thought about our worldviews, and how we almost don’t even think about them until we are exposed to one that is different from our own. The text we are using for our class is Communication Between Cultures by Samovar et. Al. (and it’s the 8th edition for those of you interested in some summer reading! 😊) and it states that our worldviews can be created through everyday things, as well as core values. At this point, Han Sensei has taken us to both a shrine and a temple, and some of the exhibits here at the museum have helped me reflect on the popular religions in Japan; Buddhism and Shintoism. In Shintoism, there is a large emphasis on nature, and the idea that each part of nature is treasured and can be a reason why the Japanese try to keep things clean and pick up after themselves. I also find the religious rituals fascinating between them. Before each temple or shine, we have had to wash our hands before entering, and it kind of reminds me of going to mass back home. Before we go inside, we dip our fingers in the Holy Water and make a sign of the cross. Two different rituals, two different religions, but seeing the commonalities between them was very cool and intriguing. I know that seems rather tangential, but somehow looking at the little city replicas and imagining life from their perspective lead my train of thought that direction.

Going to this museum also made me painfully aware of how little I knew about Japanese history, but a large part of going on a trip like this is to learn about where you are and how it got to be that way. Towards the end of the museum, they covered more “modern” history and had a large focus on World War II, complete with bunkers and bomb raid stories. One thing I did notice was that there was no mention of Pearl Harbor-at all-which seemed odd to me. I was close to a tour group and I even overheard the guide talking about WWII, going straight into the part about the U.S. bombing Japan. Again, the idea of not knowing a worldview outside of yours until you are in one. The Edo-Tokyo museum was definitely thought provoking and I feel it has put me in the right mindset to keep my mind open to new idea and experiences this trip will offer.