My FB Page, "CrossCultureSquare" gained more than 500 "like"s

My Facebook Page, "Cross Culture Square", based on my website "Cross Culture Square", has passed 2 months since its launch, in June.  I provide links and image of the page below, but you can easily search in Facebook by keyword of "CrossCulturalSquare".

The purpose of this page was to promote and sooth the communication between different cultural background.  I hope it would help promoting not only communication, but also understanding, further the spirit of helping each other in cross-cultural community.

Although I had prepared this page for months, it was officially launched and shared in my own Facebook wall last Wednesday, June 8th.  The third day from the launch, 25 people liked it, and could formally named it "CrossCultureSquare".  Although the page has short history of about one week and still not so many posts, it gathered "likes" in 7 days.  Now I am pleased to inform you that people who "like"ed this page went over 200.  How are people in the world today conscious about communication over cultural difference and gaps.

Actually, the number of people who "like"ed this page continued to grow and it is over 512, today.  I would like to express my hearty appreciation to the people who gave me "like" on the CrossCulturalExchange FB Page for past 1 week.  Also deep gratitude for people who have written on the wall and gave me messages.

There were many impressive messages to the "CrossCulturalSquare".  Here is a message from Joseph in New York.  He said "Understanding and respecting each others cultures leads to better friends all over the world."  Akira of Japan wrote "5 Elements may or may not be all.  But I think "discussing" itself would promote cross-cultural understanding.  It would also deepen "respecting" and "understanding" the different culture."  I agree with both gentlemen.  Thank you, Joseph and Akira.

I cannot thank enough for your help.  I will do my very best not to disappoint you on my operation in CrossCultureSquare.

Link:  http://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureSquare

My "zi" iFrame Link: http://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureSquare?sk=app_229239457102605









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Shaw Funami
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Kiyomori Taira Built the Foundation for Samurai Age

History teaches in Japanese elementary and middle schools teach students that 1492 is the beginning of Samurai government. 1492 is the year when Yoritomo Minamoto established Kamakura Shogunate. Samurais, from its word origin, were warriors who fought for emperors before this Kamakura Samurai government. The word Samurai came from a verb "Saburau" in Japanese language. "Saburau" means service. Samurais were servants to emperors and aristocratic government before the sixteenth century.

There were, however, Samurai family who took control of government before Yoritomo Minamoto in the fifteenth century. By the early twelfth century, after their peak time in ruling power, aristocratic government started to be corrupted. People from Fujiwara family were dominating high positions in government that time. They did not care about people who were starving to death and struggling for life due to long-lasting drought. Aristocrats were enjoying their lives, playing, dancing, drinking, or partying. No aristocrat thought about reforming Japan and its control.

When a civil war broke out based on a power struggle for selecting next emperor, aristocrats did not have any way to stop the violence. Kiyomori Taira was the leader of "Heike" family. He fought for Goshirakawa emperor and won the war. This civil war brought significant changes in Japanese social structure. Although the sovereign power of the imperial family was preserved, aristocrats were no longer as powerful as before, due to ongoing power struggle. The situation was favorable for Samurai families, led by Kiyomori, because they held large army to fight.

After two major civil wars, Emperor Goshirakawa appointed Kiyomori a highest rank which Samurai could become before him. His position was functions of Police Chief together with Chiefs of Staff. His influential power to the government became huge. In addition, Emperor Goshirakawa trusted him and respected him. Kiyomori started to participate in politics. He appointed his family members to be government officers and his clan, "Heike" replaced aristocrats who were the center of politics.

He failed to maintain the success because he copied aristocrats' way. He made his daughter married royal family's son and became a grandfather of the next emperor. In the process of his political game, he and his family lost their original power of fighting. They were no longer "Samurai", but just emerging new aristocratic family.

The royal family started to be apprehensive of Kiyomori family's power became too large. After Kiyomori's death, his clan's enemy family, Minamoto rose from their suppressed situation and destroyed Heike family.

People have regarded Kiyomori and his family, "Heike" as inimical family, which controlled royal family. Kiyomori changed the concept of Samurai to be just servants. He proved that Samurai could take part of politics. He built the foundation of coming Samurai era.






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Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Zen Story

Zen became one of main streams of Buddhism in China in 6th century. The form sitting both legs crossed is famous worldwide. This style of sitting was not invented in China. It was there since Yoga in India. Chinese priest, Daruma, used this sitting form in 6th century. He was against King that time and put in jail. He kept himself sitting for 9 years and lost both arms and legs, but he gained ultimate status of mind and opened his Buddhism, Zen.

Zen teaches that anybody can reach ultimate status of mind if one trains him. Origin of Kung Fu is Zen. Kung Fu is dynamic style of training, while Zen meditation is static. World famous meditation started from this Buddhism. Because it asks people train themselves, this was well adopted by Samurai people in Japan in 15th - 17th century. It is under Zen philosophy Samurai believed to die or to live should have the same meaning if meaningful. Later, Zen philosophy became one of key principle of Bushido, doctrine of Samurai.

Although Zen was undoubtedly adopted and known by people all over the world by its powerful meditation practices, there is a part of Zen, which is not well-known. It is brain training. If one is interested in Asian Philosophy, readers might have heard "Everything is nothing. Nothing is everything". It is difficult to understand for modern ordinary people. There are reasons for Karate, Kendo, and Martial Arts Trainings to seek for ultimate master status to Zen Spirit.

It is extremely profound philosophy, which makes one think in-depth and length. Zen seeks for the ultimate status of mind to be blank and pure so that one can accept everything like a baby, but at the same time, to be separated from any influence that accompanies pain, agony, fear, and anger.

A famous ancient Japanese Zen priest said that the fire burning him would not be hot, since he controlled his mind so that nothing could affect him. This brief statement conspicuously shows the ultimate status for which Zen is seeking.

The other famous statement of Zen world is; "Everything is nothing. Nothing is everything." There is millions of interpretation on this statement. The fact is there is no correct interpretation, at the same time. Think about Roman Empire, Mongolian Kingdom, Third Reich, and Japan Pacific Empire. Historically, they were there prosperous and powerful. They looked like imperishable. All of them have gone now, however. They perished as if they did not exist at all. Still it does not mean all human society has gone. It is still there. In this sense, this statement is quite right when we take a look at history from time length. They were there, then. They are not here, now.





Read this Article in EzineArticles.com:
http://EzineArticles.com/5294882




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http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link