Langscape Magazine is an extension of the voice of Terralingua. It supports our mission by educating the minds and hearts about the importance and value of . We aim to promote a paradigm shift by illustrating biocultural diversity through scientific and traditional knowledge, within an appealing sensory context of articles, stories, and art.

ABOUT THE COVER PHOTOS Front: Dub Kanche checks whether everything is OK with the audio Photo: Thor Morales, 2016

Back: A child gazes at the ocean. Photo: Manuel Maldonado, 2015

Terralingua thanks the Reva and David Logan Foundation and Kalliopeia Foundation Langscape Magazine is a for their generous support. Terralingua Publication Editor: Luisa Maffi Editorial Assistant & Web Support: Coreen Boucher Graphic Design: Imagine That Graphics Printing: Contour Grafix Learn about Terralingua: www.terralingua.org Receive Langscape Magazine by subscribing or by purchasing single copies. Details at www.terralinguaubuntu.org Learn about Langscape Magazine: www.terralinguaubuntu.org/langscape/home.htm Read past articles on Medium: medium.com/langscape-magazine ISSN 2371-3291 (print) ISSN 2371-3305 (digital) © Terralingua 2017 . . . . LANGSCAPE MAGAZINE nature language VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2, Winter 2017 Resilience and Resistance: Why the World Needs Biocultural Diversity

Table of Contents

Editorial...... 4 Monocultures of the Fields, Heal the Land, Monocultures of the Mind: Heal the People: Ideas The Acculturation of Indigenous Farming Strengthening Relationships at Cornerstone of Resilience: Communities of Odisha, India Hwaaqw’um in the Salish Sea Reflections on the Diversity Kanna K. Siripurapu, Sabnam Afrein, Joe Akerman ...... 68 of Species and and Prasant Mohanty...... 36 Shle’muxun: Olga Mironenko...... 8 Bahadar’s Almanac: Reconnecting with Listening to Our Ancestors: Oral Tradition in Northern Pakistan the Salish Sea Bioregion Makes People Resilient and Prepared for Biocultural Diversity through Daniel Kirkpatrick...... 74 the Indigenous Lens Natural Disasters 42 Jon Waterhouse...... 12 Zubair Torwali...... Rooted in Place: Hta: Web Extras How Karen Farming Saved a Forest Exercises in Belonging, Photo gallery: “Tsurushibina” Ecological Awareness, and Love in Thailand and Its Poetry Changed International Policy photos, complementing Mariia Radhika Borde...... 16 Ermilova’s article, at https://medium. Viveca Mellegård...... 47 com/langscape-magazine/photo-gallery- Reflections Story Map: tsurushibina-260e2f3fcd40 Never for Sale: Youth Reconnect to Place and Photo gallery “Story Map” Biocultural Heritage in Colombia Listening (or Not) to the photos, complementing Jennifer Language of the Land Jennifer McRuer...... 52 McRuer’s article, at https://medium.com/ Page Lambert ...... 21 Visions from Within: langscape-magazine/photo-gallery-story- The Obvious Mirror: Another Shot for Biocultural map-250dceef6e22 How Biocultural Diversity Is Reflected in Conservation in the Cradle of Humankind the Natural World Thor Morales...... 57 Nejma Belarbi...... 26 Action Dispatches Special: Reconnection and Tsurushibina: Reconciliation in the Salish A Traditional Japanese Craft Helps Sea, Pacific Northwest Maintain and Restore Biocultural Knowledge and People’s Connection Sustain, Benefit, Celebrate: with Nature Embedding Nature in Our Culture Mariia Ermilova...... 31 Rob Butler...... 64

Volume 6 Issue 2 | 3 Text, photos, and drawings by Mariia Ermilova

TsurushibinaTsurushibinaA Traditional Japanese Craft Helps Maintain & Restore Biocultural Knowledge & People’s Connection with Nature

disasters also contributed to the development of a peculiar mix of spiritual reverence for nature and “Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of superstitious fear of it. infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them.” During the Heian period (794–1185), however, –John Ruskin urbanization and the consequent alienation from want to tell you the story of a Japanese craft rural nature gave rise to a “romanticized” and I that impressed me for its deep connection with “poetic” view of and affinity for nature among the the culture and customs of the people. As a regional aristocracy, which later spread to commoners. planning researcher, my attention was first drawn to One of the ways in which the commoners’ view of this craft because of its ability to forge local identity nature found expression is the tsurushibina craft. and contribute to the resilience of local communities. Tsurushibina translates as “hanging doll decoration.” Then I started practicing the craft myself—and, as I gradually learned the symbolic meaning of its The craft arose around the celebration of the elements, I began to feel that the practice might help important spring festival known as Hinamatsuri regain a lost connection with nature by revitalizing (Girls’ Day), which is held to pray for the health and traditional environmental knowledge. The craft happiness of girls. During the festival, the nobility seems to have a “biocultural code” inscribed in it, would exhibit expensive dolls that portrayed sitting which people can learn or relearn to read. figures of the Emperor, Empress, courtiers, and The roots of Japanese people’s relationship with musicians. As a more affordable way for commoners nature are found in Japan’s two main religions: to celebrate, mothers and grandmothers started Shintoism, which is close to shamanism, and using scraps of kimono silk to make small hanging Buddhism, with its reverence for all living creatures. figures of , animals, and household items that Japan’s frequent exposure to terrible natural had a symbolic protective value for girls. In so doing, women also transmitted traditional knowledge Above: Sketch of a Japanese Shinto shrine. 2015 from one generation to the next.

Volume 6 Issue 2 | 31 From the Edo period (1603– 1868) on, the tsurushibina craft became a widespread tradition in popular culture, but it went into decline with the advent of the industrialization era, just like everything else considered to be “old-style.” It took a long period of economic crisis in Japan, starting in the early 1990s, along with a growing concern for environmental issues, to revive the craft. People started remembering the old Japanese concept of avoiding a wasteful use of resources, which was Above: The Hinamatsuri Festival in Higashiizu, which attracts 900,000 expressed in the word mottainai (translating more visitors every year. Hanging doll decorations are displayed on the or less as “don’t waste”). Making tsurushibina stairs of the Shinto shrine along with the sitting dolls. 2017 figures from silk scraps was in line with those environmental concerns, and the craft began to Below: A local shop at Izu-Inatori in Higashiizu sells ready-made tsurushibina ornaments and do-it-yourself materials for the craft, flourish as a popular activity once again. and provides tourists with a list of the symbolic protective meanings of the most popular ornaments. 2017 Today, a high level of economic development in Japan encourages people to save less and spend Bottom Left: Silk fabric scraps in a handicraft shop. 2017 more, but the tsurushibina tradition continues. Bottom Right: Learning the craft by myself by using a manual As kimono silk, like all vintage materials, has and materials from a handicraft shop. 2017 gone up in price, handicraft shops offer synthetic analogues of silk and instruction manuals for making tsurushibina ornaments. Paradoxically, the traditional tsurushibina craft has now become an expensive hobby for those who can afford the time and money to learn the craft from a master. Yet, the craft continues to transmit Japanese folk knowledge and wisdom about human-nature interactions to future generations. My research brought me to Higashiizu town— one of the three places in Japan where the hanging

32 | Langscape Magazine Winter 2017 Top Left & Right: Tsurushibina craft ornaments in Higashiizu town, showcasing medicinal and edible plants as well as the local marine . 2017 Bottom Left, Middle & Right: Drawing of a peach flower and a peach fruit ornament. Drawing of a red pepper ornament. 2017 doll ornament craft originated and developed a medicinal use, typical ornament motifs are also in a unique way. There I observed the Girls’ Day camellia, plum, and chrysanthemum. Festival and interviewed local craftspeople about The list of motifs also features edible plants the meaning of the craft. My observations led me such as bamboo shoot, turnip, radish, carrot, lotus to conclude that most of the fruits and vegetables root, pumpkin, mandarin orange, peach, plum, featured as motifs in the hanging decorations are strawberry, and persimmon. Many different commonly used in daily life and that plenty of them animals are also represented in tsurushibina motifs: have medicinal properties. clam, shrimp, red sea bream, flounder, kinmedai (or splendid alfonsino) fish, boar, horse, mouse, rabbit, “Urbanization and the monkey, dog, pigeon, chicken, nightingale, crane, consequent alienation from swallow, white-eye, sparrow, owl, cicada, butterfly, rural nature gave rise to a frog, turtle, and others. ‘romanticized’ and ‘poetic’ view This huge variety of motifs is associated with of and affinity for nature.” distinctive symbolic meanings, which may be conveyed by physical characteristics such as color The main associated with the Girls’ Day or shape, or even by intangible connotations such as celebration is the peach tree. Flowers, seeds, fruits, wordplay. Let me give you some examples. and leaves of the peach tree are widely used in Chinese medicine (many elements of which were Color adopted into the Japanese herbal medicine system known as Kampo) for the purification of the female Tsurushibina decorations are dominated by the body and the treatment of various diseases. The color red, which is believed to repel evil spirits. most valued healing property of the peach seed Some of the ornamental elements are associated is its effect of promoting good blood circulation. with proverbs about the color of fall fruits, which In particular, it can be applied to treat scarce are supposed to bring health. One such proverb menstrual flow or even absence of menstruation goes: “When persimmons turn red, doctors turn in women. blue.” The season in which these fruits are eaten results in fewer patients, so that doctors worry Another good example is the red pepper. It keeps about losing their jobs and get pale faces. This insects off, so it is supposed to drive undesirable Japanese proverb has similarities with the English lovers away from young women. Among plants with one: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Volume 6 Issue 2 | 33 Top Left: Craftswoman Saito-san from Higashiizu shows a Girls’ Day Shape Festival altar in her house. The red color dominates. 2017 Top Inset: The red fish is akinmedai , or splendid alfonsino, A bifurcated radish (futamata daikon) has a considered an auspicious sign and used in celebrations. shape reminiscent of the the legs in a human Also visible is a red persimmon. 2017 body. Usually farmers do not eat such radishes Below: Bifurcated daikon radish. 2017 when they find them in their fields, but instead bring them to a roadside shrine, praying for healthy legs. In addition, the resemblance of a bifurcated radish to a woman’s body makes it a symbol of fertility. This kind of radish is called a “bride of Daikoku,” Daikoku being one of the seven lucky gods. Radish has a detoxifying property and is widely known for its beneficial effect on the human body. An old proverb says: “Eating pungent radish and drinking hot tea will leave starved doctors begging on their knees.” Clam shells are symbols of fidelity, as two valves make a unique match. Some of the animals—for example, owl and sparrow—have a round shape, a concept expressed by the word fuku, which sounds the same as the word for “good fortune” (also pronounced fuku).

34 | Langscape Magazine Winter 2017 Japan is a country in which contemporary culture and technology coexist with ancient rituals and superstitious religiosity. The practice of the tsurushibina craft expresses the creative power of nature and helps revive people’s connection with nature and with the places they live in. By both drawing inspiration from nature and drawing attention to nature, it has served and can continue to serve the purposes of environmental education, if only Wordplay people are willing to read the “biocultural code” in it once again. Okada san, a local craftswoman of Higashiizu, told me that plenty of symbolic meanings come from Japanese tales, proverbs, and forms of wordplay such as homophones, as in the case of fuku above. Commonly known as nandina, heavenly bamboo, or sacred bamboo, in Japan as well as in China the nanten plant symbolizes a sacred celebration. The sound of the plant’s name is homophonic with nan wo tenzuru, or “hardship reversal.” Additionally, the dried berries are used as a remedy for cough in traditional Chinese medicine, whereas tonics derived from the roots are used for eye conditions, flu, muscle pain, rheumatism, fever, and gastrointestinal illness. From my interviews with practitioners of the tsurushibina craft, I drew the impression that they do not consciously attach special importance to how knowledge about nature can be learned from this Top Left & Right: Drawings of the red berries of a nanten craft. They do reach into it unconsciously, however, plant, a common tsurushibina ornament, and of an ornament representing the berries. 2017 learning the protective symbolism of the figures while creating beautiful natural patterns. Above: Learning the craft in a local studio in Higashiizu town. 2017

Mariia Ermilova is pursuing a PhD degree in Landscape Planning at Chiba University’s Graduate School of Horticulture, Japan. Part of her research focuses on the links between arts and crafts and citizens’ knowledge and perception of their natural environs. As an artist, she sketches urban scenes and traditional Japanese crafts. Further Reading Kinunokai Tsurushi Bina Production Association. (2017). Welcome to Silk Association [Japanese]. Retrieved from http://www.kinunokai.com/ Land of the Huled Chicks. (2017). In Tsurushi Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.tsurushi.jp/origin/index.html Mihara, N. (2009). Consideration about the Tsurushikazari Ornament: The Revival and Future of Hina Tsurushikazari Ornament [Japanese]. Tokyo Kasei University Museum Bulletin, 14, 133–149. Murguia, S. (2011). Hinamatsuri and the Japanese female: A critical interpretation of the Japanese Doll Festival. Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, 2(2), 231–247. Shirane, H. (2013). Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons Nature, Literature, and the Arts. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

Volume 6 Issue 2 | 35 . nature . language . culture .

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