ZEN-KAIZEN AT AMA

Bonsai (literally meaning ‘planted in a tray’) is an art form using cultivation techniques to produce small trees in containers that mimic the shape and scale of full-size trees. Bonsai refers to miniaturized, container-grown trees adhering to Japanese tradition and principles. Bonsai have come to be accepted as symbols of harmony, balance, patience, or even luck.

The first Zen Gardens came to be created by Buddhist Monks to encourage meditation. Using sand, rocks and pebbles, these miniature stylized landscapes recreate the essence of nature and help evoke calm, tranquillity and peace. Raking the sand into swirling patterns is relaxing, and looking at the lines helps you focus. The symbolism of the stones in a Zen Garden is its key design element.

Zen Garden Waterfalls represent the flow of life. Like a river, it is ever changing but its essence remains the same. Philosophically, a Waterfall (Taki in Japanese) symbolizes the permanent impermanence of the Universe as preached in Buddhist thought. In Zen Gardens, Waterfalls can be of water or even cascades of stone or sand suggesting the fall of water.

Chabutro or Bird Feeder, derived from the Gujarati word Kabutar or Pigeon, is a tower-like structure with an artistic canopy to place grains and water for birds. Ahmedabad, acknowledged by UNESCO as India’s first World Heritage City proudly boasts of this landmark and the Fusion Chabutro with its Pagoda Style top subtly symbolises Indo-Japanese Friendship and closeness of Zen to Nature and Birds.

Torii is a traditional Japanese gate, commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. According to several scholars, Torii, both etymologically and architecturally, was inspired from Torana, the free-standing ornamentally arched ceremonial gateway in the Hindu Culture.

Used in traditional Japanese Architecture, Shoji represent sliding doors or windows made with lattice frames and covered with translucent sheets. They typically act as room dividers to provide privacy and softly diffuse light throughout the house.Traditionally, Shoji screens were used as decorative displays depicting legends and elements of Japanese history.

AMA’s Mission to be ‘Forever in Pursuit of Excellence’ has been aptly reflected in its Passion to promote the Kaizen Spirit for Continuous Improvement! The sparkling décor of the Kaizen Hall in the backdrop of the scintillating beauty of the Zen Garden sets up the perfect ambience for the Japanese Soft Skills & Business Culture Learning to be conducted by the Kaizen Academy.

The traditional Japanese national dress Kimono has earned name and fame, not only for its colourful splendour and elegance, but also for its exquisite artistry and flair. Kakemono, Japanese hanging scrolls for exhibiting paintings and calligraphy, have also featured astounding Kimono Artwork in vintage style.

Nihonga is a traditional Japanese style of painting, using classical painting materials such as paper or silk, outlined in sumi ink and mixed in nikawa, an animal-derived gelatine or glue, with lamp-black. For decorative effects, finely beaten gold, platinum or silver are used as metallic leaf for backgrounds.

Koinobori, meaning ‘carp streamers’ in Japanese, are flown to celebrate a traditional event, now designated as Children’s Day in Japan. Koinobori symbolises success and advancement for children. The top carp streamer is black, representing father of the household, followed by a smaller red to represent eldest son and then blue, green, purple or orange for subsequent boys in the family.

Japanese Art covers a wide range of art styles and media, including ancient pottery, sculpture, ink painting and calligraphy on silk and paper, Ukiyo-e paintings and woodblock prints, ceramics, origami, and more. The decorative 3-D Wall Mural at Zen-Kaizen, artistically showcases celebrated Japanese elements of Sakura or Cherry Blossom, national flower Chrysanthemum, Sacred Mount Fuji, Green Pheasant, Koi Fish and the Rising Sun.

A Pavilion (Azumaya in Japanese) is an integral part of a Japanese Garden. Japan has both traditional and contemporary Tea Houses that practice its celebrated Tea Ceremony. The Garden Pavilion at AMA, named as the ‘AMA Azumaya,’ has been decorated with a Special Roof Design using the traditional Awaji Tiles gifted by the Hyogo International Association.

Tsukubai is a Stone Washbasin at the entrance of a Tea Ceremony Pavilion to enable visitors to purify themselves through the ritual washing of hands and rinsing of mouth. A bamboo ladle is used to scoop the water out from the stone basin. The basin is kept at a low height, making people to bow down to the ground, an action symbolising humility.

Daibutsu meaning ‘Giant Buddha’ represent large statues of Buddha. Nofukuji Daibutsu in Hyogo Prefecture is a very historic temple established in the Eighth Century. It is ranked as one of the Three Great Buddhas of Japan. Inspired by the Hyogo-Gujarat Sister State Relationship and Hyogo Prefecture’s magnanimous gesture in supporting the Zen-Kaizen Project, Hyogo Daibutsu has been replicated in the Zen Garden by AMA/IJFA.

Japanese Lanterns known as Toro were originally used in Buddhist temples to light pathways and symbolise that the teachings of the Buddha help overcome the darkness of ignorance. Made from Stone, Wood or Metal, these Lanterns are exquisitely carved and are truly elaborate pieces of art and architecture.

Guzei in Japanese meaning the ‘Red Arched Bridge,’ is an iconic landmark of all traditional gardens in Japan. In the language of Zen, Guzei symbolically represents the transitional journey from the Physical World to the Realm of the Spirit, with its red colour representing the sacred, as well as wisdom, enlightenment and transformation.