Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE CULTURE OF KYOTO
The cultural life of Kyoto was centred on the imperial court for over 1100 years. The court
drew to it the finest artisans and craftspeople from across Japan, resulting in an incredibly
rich cultural and artistic atmosphere. Today Kyoto is still home to many of Japan's best
artists in every field, from textiles and bamboo craft to the tea ceremony. The imperial
court also left its mark on the language of the city, and true
Kyoto-ben
(Kyoto dialect) has
the lilting tones and formality of the now-departed imperial residents.
In addition to playing host to the imperial court, Kyoto has always been the headquarters
of Japan's major religious sects, including Zen, Pure Land and Tendai. The astonishing pre-
ponderance of temples and shrines in the present-day city is testament to the role that
Kyoto has always played in the spiritual life of the Japanese.
Kyoto's cultural life is deeply informed by the natural world. Due to its geographic loca-
tion, Kyoto has always enjoyed four very distinct seasons, which are reflected in, and cel-
ebrated by, the yearly procession of Kyoto rituals and festivals. From the hanging of scrolls
in people's homes and tableware in
kaiseki
restaurants, to the young lady's
yukata
robe the
and an echo of the season. This rich and complex culture is still apparent to even the most
casual visitor and it seems to embody a certain elegance, refinement and style that has few
rivals elsewhere in the world.
