“House of Furyu,” a collage diptych by Wind MA. Originally published in “Collage 26,” a photobook available as a paperback/ebook on Amazon: windma.net/collage26.
The Japanese concept of “furyu” originated in the Heian era, which itself was inspired by the Chinese concept of “fengliu” or courtly elegance. More specifically, however, furyu pertains to a sense of natural elevation. The refined beauty of a cherry blossom; the sound of a drum in the distance while the poet writes verse. Furyu was explored deeply by the idiosyncratic monk Ikkyu Sojun, known for his off-beat, highly sensuous poems about carnal desire and Zen. These visuals capture the furyu inherent of quiet, even reclusive, country living—one which I was fortunate to experience many years ago.
The stars, gathered in a celestial vault, smile brightly from the night sky.—WM
