I was surprised to see the photo in Tesha’s blog because she took the picture of the historical architecture in Korea that looks so similar with one that I have seen in Nara city in Japan.
Here is the Wiki page of Suzaku-mon .
Nara city had been the ancient capital of Japan in Fujiwara and Heijo era until it moved to Kyoto. You would find the influences of China culture in Nara deeper than these historical architectures in Kyoto. It came as a fresh reminder that Korea and Japan once had the same culture.
Please compare with Tesha’s photos here → ’The Coffee Press’
***heenai heenai *** 
Japanese history is very interesting because there are periods of time where they borrow foreign culture very heavily (Nara Period, Muromachi Period, Meiji Period) and then other periods where they close Japan to foreign influence (late Heian Period, Tokugawa Period, Taisho Period and before World War II). Japan’s history is like pendulum, swinging one way, then the other.
….anyways, early Japanese history is really fascinating to me because it preserves so much that was lost in mainland Asia. For example, in Shingon Buddhism 真言宗密教, they use Indian-style writing called bonji 梵字. You see it all the time on gravesites, temples, and so on. But that style of writing died out in China and India (it was called siddham there). Bonji writing was only preserved in Japan, and only for Buddhism.
Japan also preserves a lot of Buddhist texts that were lost in China, or texts that changed a lot. Historians often refer to the Japanese versions because they provide a window to early Asian history. 🙂
…anyways, I am talking too much. I agree with you that Korea and Japan once had the same culture, but it’s interesting to see how they have diverged since. Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa, etc) are another example. Korea, Japan and Ryukyu were all part of one culture and language, separate from China, but gradually diverged.
Still, when I was in college and studying Japanese, a Korean friend told me that Japanese grammar is *exactly* like Korean grammar but the vocabulary was pretty different. Interesting.
> they use Indian-style writing called bonji 梵字. You see it all the time on gravesites, temples, and so on. But that style of writing died out in China and India (it was called siddham there). Bonji writing was only preserved in Japan, and only for Buddhism.
Really?! Is it died out in original countries? I often see bonji in temples and belived that the Indian religious people still use it!
>Japan also preserves a lot of Buddhist texts that were lost in China, or texts that changed a lot. Historians often refer to the Japanese versions because they provide a window to early Asian history.
I’ve heared that some valuable ukiyoe/浮世絵 has been preserved in good condition in foreign countries. I guess they have the same logic?
> I am talking too much.
Not at all. I’m looking forward to hearing your profound knowledges about Japan!
>Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa, etc) are another example. Korea, Japan and Ryukyu were all part of one culture and language, separate from China, but gradually diverged.
Yeah, when I’ve been to Okinawa, I felt traveling in a foreign country but at the same time I felt nostalgic, too. It was a very strange feeling. I love Okinawa very much.
>a Korean friend told me that Japanese grammar is *exactly* like Korean grammar but the vocabulary was pretty different. Interesting.
Korean TV stars that come to Japan are so good at Japanese and they had mastered it in quite short period! I’d tried it once….haha..I was impatient of memorizing Hangul letters! 😀
Hello, sorry for the late reply:
Really?! Is it died out in original countries? I often see bonji in temples and believed that the Indian religious people still use it!
No, they use different style of writing now called devanagari. The language, Sanskrit, is the same, but many different alphabets, styles of writing, etc. Bonji is long gone, but still preserved in Japanese religious tradition. 🙂
Yeah, when I’ve been to Okinawa, I felt traveling in a foreign country but at the same time I felt nostalgic, too. It was a very strange feeling. I love Okinawa very much.
I would love to go someday. I’ve seen Japanese movies about Okinawa and it seems so interesting. My wife wants to go too, so maybe a second honeymoon or something. Actually we really love Kyoto too, so maybe a third honeymoon. 🙂
Korean grammar is exactly the same! Korean also uses many of the same 外来語, such as アルバイト, パン, アパート, テレビ.
It’s amazing to see the ancient similarities between Korea and Japan. The two cultures are so different now.
From mingling with people from both countries, my general conceptualization is that Korea has a rough, masculine society, while Japan is more refined and effeminate. The writing systems and spoken languages are excellent representations of this. (I’m not trying to insult either group!)
You analyze the difference well!! I don’t know about Korean culture and I have no idea why so attractive they are for the Japanese girls that love Korean actors and singers. My mother in law is a big fan of Yongjoon after she saw his movie ‘Winter Sonata’. She says in the Korean movies she can recall the good days in old Japan and maculine guys that were died out in modern Japan.
ヨン様! Hehehe!
Korean guys were popular for a time in the US because of the TV drama ‘Lost’.
The Korean-American actor from that show, Daniel Dae Kim, was voted one of the ‘Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine. http://www.danieldaekim.org/jin.html
This idolization of Korean men is a very strange phenomenon. Actual Korean guys smoke too much and drink themselves stupid with soju. Male heroes in Korean dramas are perfect men that don’t actually exist in the real world! They’re an ‘urban legend’, just like ‘fan death’. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_death
‘fan death’!!! It’s so funny! I really would like to ask my Korean friend whether he believe the legend or not!!
Thanks for linking my post on Korean palaces 🙂
I like going to and taking pictures of historical sites, and I find it amazing how other countries, in particular Japan and Korea, maintain and restore World Heritage sites. I saw in one episode of Japan Video Topics aired in a local TV channel a master artist in charge of restoring the painting in a structure (I forgot which one) and his apprentice who will carry on the task when he is no longer able to.
Your mother-in-law watched Winter Sonata? I went to Namiseom where many of the scenes were filmed. I also got to see the high school where they filmed the scenes when the characters were younger.
I would love to see Nara City someday. And go to filming locations of dorama 🙂 Is there any near your place?
Your post refreshed my thought about the similarilties and the differences between Korea and Japan. I had forgotten them because Japanese culture is too close to me. Honestly, I had not ever comepared both of two cultures.
My mother-in-law tried me to join to her ‘Yongjoon world’…I’m afraid to say he is not my type. Fortunatelly, she gave up to persuade me!!
The gate ‘Suzaku mon’ I took its picture was filmed on ‘あをによし’ played by Hiroshi Tamaki and Haruka Ayase. あをによし You can see some of the locations of the dorama in this site.
There is the castle Himji-Jo that is one of the world Heritage near hear and Mt.Shosha was filmed on ‘Last Samurai’ by Tom Cruse, Ken Watanabe, and Koyuki.
Reading Doug’s comment just made me so intrigued and very much interested. Its like being in class! I enjoyed reading his comment and the others too! I agree though about the ancient similarities of Korea and Japan.
Nara and Kyoto were influenced and settled by two Korean Kingdoms. Kudara ( Baekje) and Koma ( Korguyro) Kingdoms not China. In historical reality all contacts were done by Koreans or Korean Kingdoms not by China or Chinese. Introducing Buddhism, Chinese characters, Buddhist text, writing Japanese history, Building Temples in Nara and Kyoto, Yayoi and Jomon migration, Early settlement in Nara, Kyoto, Kansai area were all Koreans. Not Chinese!!! Even though Korea and Japan shared wars. Both nation share a lot of similarity because it was done by Koreans.
Oh, really? I’ve never heard of that. Weren’t Koreans influenced by China?
Korean Three Kingdoms ( Korguryo, Baekje, Shilla, Kaya) derived from Puyo tribal people from Manchuria. Manchuria wasn’t part of China or Chinese cultural sphere. To answer your question. Koreans or Korean Three Kingdoms were not influenced by China.
Kansai area ( Nara, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe) Kyushu and Kansai area were discovered by Kudara ( Baekje), Koma ( Korguryo) Korean Kingdoms. Korean Kingdoms were not Chinese. Even today in Kansai and Kanto area you will find Kudara and Koma settlement names such as Kudara station or Koma station. Koma san or Kudara names everywhere in Kansia and Kanto area. I think you cannot hide historical truth. Historical Truth reveals at the end. Even though during Japan Meiji Period they tried so hard to erase all Korean cultural connection with Japan. Japanese DNA genes and Japan land reveals the historical and human genetical truth.
The temple resembles more Korean style temple. Not China Tang dynasty. Have you sceen original China Tang dynasty temple??? It doesn’t look like that at all. If you look at Korean temple it resembles to the picture sugaku gate.
Wow, it’s very new to me. I’m not good at history and geography since I was a kid. Out of curiosity, are many the Korean people taught history of relation of Korea and Japan like you said?
Historical truth reveals itself. You cannot hide the truth. More you read and study history. Specially Three Korean Kingdom period alot of Koreans migrated to Kansai area of japan. During Meiji Period of Japan. Japan try to destroy or distort history specially with all Korea and Japan historical relationship. I think average Japanese are afraid of historical truth compared to average Koreans. Koreans don’t have reason to hide history. Korean history is based on not becoming chinese. Korea and China historical relationship always have been ” lip and teeth” relationship. I think for 5, thousand years Koreans have kept lip and teeth for along time.
Study Kudara ( Baekje) and Koma ( Korguryo) history. You will probably find the book in Japanese book store. If you read and study Two Korean Kingdoms you will understand your country better. To be much more precise suzuku gate, Nara. The gate architecture is much more toward Baekje culture not Tang, China. This is probably honest and truthful opinion.