JAPAN - Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)

Postcard sent in a direct swap by Rachel (mooseintheloose).
Sent 20/09/2023.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 1998

Built in A.D. 794 on the model of the capitals of ancient China, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from its foundation until the middle of the 19th century. As the centre of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto illustrates the development of Japanese wooden architecture, particularly religious architecture, and the art of Japanese gardens, which has influenced landscape gardening the world over.The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) consist of seventeen component parts that are situated in Kyoto and Uji Cities in Kyoto Prefecture and Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture. Built in A.D. 794 on the model of the ancient Chinese capital, Kyoto has acted as the cultural centre while serving as the imperial capital until the middle of the 19th century.

As the centre of Japanese culture for more than a thousand years, it spans the development of Japanese wooden architecture, particularly religious architecture, and the art of Japanese gardens, which has influenced landscape gardening the world over. Most of the one hundred ninety-eight buildings and twelve gardens that make up the seventeen component parts of the property were built or designed from the 10th to the 17th centuries.

All of the seventeen components of the inscribed property are religious establishments except for the castle of Nijo-jo. Together they cover a total of 1,056 hectares and are surrounded by a buffer zone of 3,579 hectares.

There´s been a lot of time since I´ve received one card from Japan, and no less than a colourful card from the Kiyomizudera Temple. Thank you, Rachel!

JAPAN - Yakushima

 Postcard sent by Akiko S. in an Unesco tag.

Sent 10/09/2018.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 1993

Located in the interior of Yaku Island, at the meeting-point of the palaearctic and oriental biotic regions, Yakushima exhibits a rich flora, with some 1,900 species and subspecies, including ancient specimens of the sugi (Japanese cedar). It also contains a remnant of a warm-temperate ancient forest that is unique in this region. Yakushima is a primeval temperate rainforest extending from the centre of the almost round-shaped, mountainous Yakushima Island. Situated 60 km off the southernmost tip of Kyushu Island in the southwestern end of Japanese archipelago, the island is located at the interface of the palearctic and oriental biotic regions. Mountains reaching almost 2,000 m high dominate the island, and the property lies in the centre of the island, with arms stretching south, east and west to the coast.

The island ecosystem of Yakushima is unique in the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate area with successive vertical plant distributions extending from coastal vegetation with subtropical elements, up through a montane temperate rainforest to a high moor and a cold-temperate bamboo grassland at the central peaks.

The montane temperate rainforest of Yakushima is globally distinct, due to its peculiar ecosystem with abundant rheophytes and epiphytes that have adapted to the high rainfall, in excess of 8,000 mm annually, and resulting humid environment. Home to some 1,900 species and subspecies of flora, 16 mammal species and 150 bird species, it exhibits a rich biodiversity including the landscape of the Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), a primeval forest composed of trees called “Yakusugi”, which are over 1,000 years in age.

Thank you so much for this pretty and well written card, Akiko!

JAPAN - Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites

 Postcard sent by Akiko S.in a Direct swap.

Sent 10/19/2016.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 2014

This property is a historic sericulture and silk mill complex established in the late 19th and early 20th century in the Gunma prefecture, north-west of Tokyo. It consists of four sites that correspond to the different stages in the production of raw silk: a large raw silk reeling plant whose machinery and industrial expertise were imported from France; an experimental farm for production of cocoons; a school for the dissemination of sericulture knowledge; and a cold-storage facility for silkworm eggs. The site illustrates Japan’s desire to rapidly access the best mass production techniques, and became a decisive element in the renewal of sericulture and the Japanese silk industry in the last quarter of the 19th century. Tomioka Silk Mill and its related sites became the centre of innovation for the production of raw silk and marked Japan’s entry into the modern, industrialized era, making it the world’s leading exporter of raw silk, notably to Europe and the United States.

Thank you so much for this card, Akiko! Unfortunately one of the stamps went missing.

JAPAN - Shiretoko

Postal enviada por Muu (ofroski1234) en un Direct swap.

Envío - 27 de Agosto del 2015.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 2005

Shiretoko Peninsula is located in the north-east of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. The site includes the land from the central part of the peninsula to its tip (Shiretoko Cape) and the surrounding marine area. It provides an outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as extraordinary ecosystem productivity, largely influenced by the formation of seasonal sea ice at the lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere. It has particular importance for a number of marine and terrestrial species, some of them endangered and endemic, such as Blackiston’s fish owl and the Viola kitamiana plant. The site is globally important for threatened seabirds and migratory birds, a number of salmonid species, and for marine mammals including Steller’s sea lion and some cetacean species.

Situado al noroeste de la isla de Hokkaido, la más septentrional del archipiélago nipón, este sitio comprende una porción terrestre de la península de Shiretoko –desde su parte central hasta el cabo del mismo nombre– y la zona marítima circundante. Constituye un ejemplo notable de la interacción de los ecosistemas marinos y terrestres en la más baja latitud del hemisferio norte, así como de su productividad extraordinaria bajo el influjo de la formación de bancos marinos de hielo estacionales. Tiene especial importancia para una serie de especies marinas y terrestres, endémicas o en peligro de extinción, como el búho manchú y la violeta de Kitami. Además, reviste una importancia mundial para diversas especies de aves acuáticas y migratorias amenazadas, así como para algunos salmónidos, cetáceos y otros mamíferos oceánicos como el león marino de Steller.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1193

Postal super bonica desde Japón con unos sellos y decoración fabulosa.

Thanks for the card and the stamps Muu!

JAPAN - Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Postal enviada por  Kazue (kate0707) en un UNESCO tag.

Envío - 05 de Agosto del 2015.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 1996

The island of Itsukushima, in the Seto inland sea, has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. The first shrine buildings here were probably erected in the 6th century. The present shrine dates from the 12th century and the harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill. The shrine plays on the contrasts in colour and form between mountains and sea and illustrates the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, which combines nature and human creativity.

Lugar santo del sintoísmo desde tiempos muy antiguos, la isla de Itsukushima, situada en el mar interior de Seto, vio alzarse su primer templo en el siglo VI. El santuario actual data del siglo XII y sus edificios, armónicamente dispuestos, son testigos de la gran maestría técnica y artística de sus constructores. Su diseño y composición juegan con el contraste de colores y volúmenes entre el mar y la montaña, ilustrando así perfectamente el concepto japonés de la belleza escénica, que une la hermosura del paisaje natural a la creatividad humana.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/776

Otra postalita de Japón en su formato vertical habitual!

Thanks for the card and the stamps Kazue!

JAPAN - Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

Postal enviada por  Pinono en un Direct swap.

Envío - 23 de Agosto del 2015.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 2013

The beauty of the solitary, often snow-capped, stratovolcano, known around the world as Mount Fuji, rising above villages and tree-fringed sea and lakes has long been the object of pilgrimages and inspired artists and poets. The inscribed property consists of 25 sites which reflect the essence of Fujisan’s sacred and artistic landscape. In the 12th century, Fujisan became the centre of training for ascetic Buddhism, which included Shinto elements. On the upper 1,500-metre tier of the 3,776m mountain, pilgrim routes and crater shrines have been inscribed alongside sites around the base of the mountain including Sengen-jinja shrines, Oshi lodging houses, and natural volcanic features such as lava tree moulds, lakes, springs and waterfalls, which are revered as sacred. Its representation in Japanese art goes back to the 11th century, but 19th century woodblock prints of views, including those from sand beaches with pine tree groves have made Fujisan an internationally recognized icon of Japan and have had a deep impact on the development of Western art. 

Mundialmente conocido por el nombre de Monte Fuji, este estratovolcán de gran belleza con su cima cubierta de nieve se yergue solitario dominando aldeas, lagos rodeados de árboles y las orillas del mar y ha sido lugar de peregrinación y fuente de inspiración de artistas y poetas. El sitio inscrito comprende 25 elementos que son un exponente del carácter sagrado del monte y su paisaje circundante. En el siglo XII, el Fujisan llegó a ser un núcleo central de las actividades de iniciación al budismo ascético, que comprende elementos sintoístas. El sitio comprende los caminos de peregrinación y los santuarios de los cráteres situados en los últimos 1.500 metros de esta cumbre de 3.776 metros de altura. También forman parte de él diversos componentes culturales como los santuarios sengen-jinja y las posadas tradicionales oshi, y toda una serie de elementos naturales como formaciones volcánicas, árboles moldeados en la lava, fuentes y cascadas, que se consideran sagrados. El Monte Fuji ha sido representado en el arte japonés desde el siglo XI, pero fue sobre todo a partir del XIX cuando las estampas xilográficas hicieron de él un símbolo internacional del Japón con una profunda influencia en el arte occidental de esa época.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1418

Una vista del archi conocido monte Fuji, gran simbolo de Japón y que hemos podido conocer a través de numerosas obras de ficción del país.

Thanks Pinono for the awesome card and the stamps!

JAPAN - Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

Postal enviada por Muu (Muushishido) en un direct swap.

Envío - 26 de Agosto del 2016.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 2000

Five hundred years of Ryukyuan history (12th-17th century) are represented by this group of sites and monuments. The ruins of the castles, on imposing elevated sites, are evidence for the social structure over much of that period, while the sacred sites provide mute testimony to the rare survival of an ancient form of religion into the modern age. The wide- ranging economic and cultural contacts of the Ryukyu Islands over that period gave rise to a unique culture.

Este conjunto de sitios y monumentos es representativo de la historia de las islas Ryukyu entre los siglos XII y XVII. Los castillos en ruina, encaramados en cimas imponentes, ilustran la estructura social de una gran parte de esa época, mientras que los sitios sagrados son testigos mudos de la rara supervivencia de un antiguo culto religioso en la edad moderna. Los múltiples contactos económicos y culturales de las islas durante esos cinco siglos dieron origen a una cultura única en su género.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/972

Thanks for this beautiful card Muu, i like it a lot!

JAPAN - Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

Postal enviada por una UNESCO de España.

Envío - 14 de Noviembre del 2016.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 2015

The site encompasses a series of twenty three component parts, mainly located in the southwest of Japan. It bears testimony to the rapid industrialization of the country from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century, through the development of the iron and steel industry, shipbuilding and coal mining. The site illustrates the process by which feudal Japan sought technology transfer from Europe and America from the middle of the 19th century and how this technology was adapted to the country’s needs and social traditions. The site testifies to what is considered to be the first successful transfer of Western industrialization to a non-Western nation.

Siderurgia, construcciones navales y extracción de hulla (Japón) – Se trata de un bien cultural en serie compuesto por once sitios industriales situados principalmente en el sudoeste del Japón, que constituyen un testimonio del acelerado desarrollo industrial del país entre mediados del siglo XIX y principios del XX, gracias a la intensificación de la siderurgia, las construcciones navales y la extracción de carbón. Esos sitios ilustran no sólo la tentativa del Japón feudal para conseguir una transferencia de las tecnologías aplicadas en Europa y América, sino también la forma en que las adaptó a sus propias necesidades y tradiciones sociales. Se considera que esa transferencia de técnicas industriales desde Occidente hacia una nación no occidental fue la primera en su género que pudo realizarse con éxito.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1484

Thanks for this awesome card!

JAPAN - Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Postal enviada por Fann Yang a cambio de  una UNESCO española.

Envío - 15 de Setiembre del 2015.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 1995

Located in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, these villages with their Gassho-style houses subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. The large houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs are the only examples of their kind in Japan. Despite economic upheavals, the villages of Ogimachi, Ainokura and Suganuma are outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people's social and economic circumstances.

Situadas en una región montañosa aislada durante mucho tiempo, las aldeas de Ogimachi, Ainokura y Suganuma han vivido ancestralmente del cultivo de las moreras y la cría del gusano de seda. Sus casas de estilo gassho con techos de paja de doble pendiente muy inclinada son únicas en Japón. A pesar de los cambios radicales experimentados por la economía, estas aldeas constituyen un notable ejemplo de la perfecta adaptación de un estilo de vida tradicional al medio ambiente y las condiciones socioeconómicas de la población.

No se porqué pero siempre que me llega una postal de Japón, se inmediatamente que es de Japón. No solo por el formato vertical que gastan, si no con ese interés y faena que meten en completar cada postal, aunque sea de forma informal se nota. Siempre buscando crear una postal colorida y completa, en ocasiones, como esta vez, a partir de un pequeño "horror vacui".

Thank you very much for this colourful and beutiful card Fann! And for putting so much effort in make it!

JAPAN - Himeji-jo

Postal enviada por Muu (Muushishido) a cambio de  una UNESCO española.

Envío - 27 de Noviembre del 2016.

INSCRIPTION/INSCRITO: 1993

Himeji-jo is the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture, comprising 83 buildings with highly developed systems of defence and ingenious protection devices dating from the beginning of the Shogun period. It is a masterpiece of construction in wood, combining function with aesthetic appeal, both in its elegant appearance unified by the white plastered earthen walls and in the subtlety of the relationships between the building masses and the multiple roof layers.

Himeji-jo es la más perfecta expresión arquitectónica de un castillo japonés de comienzos del siglo XVII. El sitio comprende un conjunto de 83 edificios con dispositivos defensivos muy perfeccionados y sistemas de protección notablemente ingeniosos, que datan de la primera época del sogunato. Obra maestra de la arquitectura en madera que une los aspectos funcionales a un gran atractivo estético, el castillo de Himeji-jo se destaca por la elegancia de su silueta y sus muros de tierra blanqueados, así como por la sutil relación establecida entre los volúmenes de sus edificios y los múltiples planos de sus techumbres.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/661

Este castillo me trae recuerdos encontrados de mis actividades en los videojuegos y comics japoneses que siempre mostraban prototipos de castillos semejantes a este. Muu ha sido muy amable poniendome un sello que tiene que ver con el conjunto y una pegatina muy ilustrativa!

Thanks a lot for sending me this awesome cards and for the effort that you put on the reverse of the card, It's always nice to understand a little more about the world!