Introduction
A long, long time ago, a Japanese monk was being praised for a wooden idol he had carved.
To this he replied:
" It is not I who has made this piece.
I have but only uncovered that which was contained within it."
You could say this episode is an appropriate representation of the Japanese concept of kami. Since ancient times, the Japanese have found spirituality and kami in all things. For example, there are kami that inhabit pebbles, the darkness of night, or even drops of water with the world being formed by the mutual interaction of their wills.
These beings are known as "Tsukumogami", or "eight million gods" which have continued to be a simple and familiar presence in the daily life of the Japanese people.
Unfortunately, the significance of these gods have been replaced gradually by various other things in modern Japan. Nowadays, there seem to be very few people who can remember the presence of these gods.
We thought to rediscover the presence of these "Tsukumogami" within the innumerable objects in our materialistic, modern age.
Just as spirits can inhabit stones by a roadside or a large tree in the forest, every manufactured product, and yes even the iPhone you hold in your hand right now are inhabited by kami.
Discover the spirituality in the things around you and try to sense its true form. Maybe even fall in love with it.
While this barcode may be but a dry symbol, the entrance to another world leads behind it.
Nov.14 2010 Yokey
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