Women's initiation rites in Africa

African female initiation ceremonies are rites of passage for girls entering womanhood, and are usually a public annoucement of the girl's eligibility for marriage. Nearly every culture in the world ritualizes the important milestones throughout life. Birth, marriage and death are typically marked by special ceremonies. The final passage from childhood to adulthood also figures prominently among various ethnic groups worldwide. Hispanic cultures have quincineras for their daughters. Jews hold Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs for their children. And in America we celebrate with Sweet Sixteen parties. In Africa, initiation ceremonies are rooted...

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The Japanese tea ceremony ritual

Rooted in the Zen principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility, the ritual Japanese tea ceremony provides participants a respite from their daily routines. The Japanese tea ceremony is not a ceremony at all, if that word is taken to mean an unchanging program of actions and rituals. Rather, it is a subtly variable way to commune with nature and with friends. Deeply rooted in Chinese Zen philosophy, it is a way to remove oneself from the mundane affairs of day-to-day living and to achieve, if only for a time, serenity and inner peace. On the surface, chanoyu – the Japanese term for what is known in the West as the tea ceremony – is...

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What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the practice of balancing life's energy. Find out more about it! The practice of Feng Shui has been used by the Chinese for centuries. Translated, the name "Feng Shui" means the wind and the water. These are considered to be two of the most important forms of energy. The basic idea of this age-old practice is to make our environments as beneficial as possible to our health and well being. That is, if our life energy is balanced, then good things and happiness will surely come to us. This is achieved by making the natural energy in a room or an entire building flow naturally and positively. The Chinese believe that this is achieved...

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Kendo: techniques of Japanese sword fighting

What is the kendo technique of Japanese sword fighting? Fully armoured knights attack in a flurry, bamboo swords cracking on polished leather. Learn more about this popular sport. From a nearby gymnasium comes the sound of a loud cry and the crack of bamboo hitting leather. A stranger peeking into the room could be forgiven for thinking they had entered some science fiction movie set with a race of masked and armoured aliens. In fact, what they see is the traditional, protective clothing of kendo. What is kendo? Kendo is based on traditional Japanese fighting forms called bujutsu which were designed to practice the most efficient ways of attack...

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Understanding cultural references in japanese anime and manga

Ever wondered why anime characters have big eyes or wear beads? This article gives you an insight into Japanese culture, as seen in anime and manga! Most Japanese anime is, obviously, made for a Japanese market, meaning American viewers will be unfamiliar with much of what they see. While some of this unfamiliarity adds to the pleasure of watching, some facets of Japanese culture could stand to be explained. The Eyes: The large, shiny eyes that have become a staple of anime style are actually more a product of history than of culture. In the past, characters in American and European cartoons, such as Betty Boop and Felix the Cat, had disproportionately large eyes. This style was emulated by Tezuka Osamu, one of the most influential founding fathers of anime. Today, this distinctive eye style...

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