557 What color is the picture of the sun? Why about the Japanese sun ☀️#Japanese podcast

Summary

In this engaging video, Leila of Bite Size Japanese discusses the cultural significance of the color used when drawing the sun, focusing on Japan's historical and symbolic connection with the sun. She shares her personal experience of drawing a red sun as a child and contrasts it with her husband’s use of yellow and orange. Delving into Shinto beliefs, she explains the prominence of the sun goddess Amaterasu and Japan's identity as the 'Land of the Rising Sun.' Leila also explores the cultural symbolism of colors like red, tying them to brightness and auspiciousness. She invites viewers to share how the sun is depicted in their own countries.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Reira, asks listeners what color they use when drawing the sun, with a focus on how people in Japan often use red.
• 😀 Reira shares her personal experience of using red to draw the sun when she was younger, adding rays around the red circle.
• 😀 The discussion contrasts the red sun in Japan with the more common yellow or orange sun used in other countries.
• 😀 The cultural context behind Japan's red sun is explored, particularly through Shinto beliefs and the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu.
• 😀 Amaterasu is considered one of the highest deities in Shinto and has been worshipped in Japan for over a thousand years.
• 😀 Japan’s identity as the 'Land of the Rising Sun' is discussed, explaining the historical significance of the sun rising from the east.
• 😀 The sun symbol has been associated with Japan for over 1,300 years, and Japan's national flag features a red sun.
• 😀 The military flag used by Japan during World War II also featured a red sun with rays, and this design is still used by Japan's Self-Defense Forces today.
• 😀 The use of red to symbolize brightness and good fortune is a key reason why the sun is depicted as red in Japan.
• 😀 The basic colors in ancient Japan were red, blue, black, and white, each with symbolic meanings like 'brightness' for red and 'clarity' for white.
• 😀 Reira notes that while researching, she found few direct depictions of the sun in ancient Japanese artwork, as it was often symbolized through the sky or other elements.
• 😀 Reira encourages listeners to share how the sun is depicted in their own countries, creating an opportunity for cross-cultural exchange.

Q & A

Why does Leila ask about the color of the sun in the beginning of the video?

Leila starts by asking about the color people use to draw the sun to explore cultural differences, specifically focusing on why in Japan, many people use red to represent the sun.

What color did Leila use when she drew the sun as a child?

Leila used red to draw the sun when she was a child, creating a red circle with rays around it.

How does Leila's husband, Jack, view the color red for the sun?

Jack finds the idea of a red sun unusual and has always used yellow or orange to depict the sun.

What does Leila believe is the reason for using red to depict the sun in Japan?

Leila suggests that the reason for using red might be because red symbolizes brightness, celebration, and good fortune in Japanese culture.

Who is Amaterasu and why is she significant in this context?

Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess in Shinto, revered for over a thousand years. She is one of the highest gods in Shinto and symbolizes the sun, which may contribute to Japan's association of the sun with the color red.

What is the historical importance of the sun symbol in Japan?

The sun symbol has been important in Japan for over a thousand years, with Japan being known as 'the Land of the Rising Sun.' It has been used as a symbol on the Japanese national flag and in other national representations.

What does the 'Land of the Rising Sun' refer to?

'The Land of the Rising Sun' refers to Japan's position to the east of China, where the sun rises first, symbolizing the sunrise or the sun's daily emergence.

How long has the sun symbol been used in Japan's national identity?

The sun symbol has been used in Japan for over a thousand years, and it became an official national symbol in 1854 when it was adopted on Japan's naval flags.

What does the red circle in Japan's national flag represent?

The red circle in Japan's national flag represents the sun, reflecting Japan's identity as 'the Land of the Rising Sun.'

Why did Leila search for historical depictions of the sun in Japan's art?

Leila searched for historical depictions of the sun to understand how the sun was represented in Japanese art. She found that, historically, the sun wasn't always depicted directly but symbolized through other elements, like an orange sky.

What does Leila's search for ancient Japanese art reveal about sun representations?

Leila discovered that in ancient Japanese art, the sun wasn't always depicted directly, and often, it was symbolized through other artistic elements, like the color of the sky, rather than a clear sun image.