Lesson 6 Kyoto: The Heart of Japan

Introduction: Kyoto 日本第七大城市 人口 : 約一百四十萬人 西元 749 年起至 19 世紀中為日本首都，曾為 日本的政治、經濟及文化中心

Introduction: Kyoto 城市規畫仿唐朝長安城，呈棋盤式規劃 留有多處文化遺產 (e.g. 清水寺、金閣寺、銀 閣寺、龍安寺、二條城 ……)

Paragraph 1 Kyoto, like a beauty in a kimono* full of bright colors, delights tourists throughout the year. In spring, pink cherry 1 blossoms 2 * create a romantic atmosphere 3. Emerald* leaves rustle* in the summer breeze 4, scattering 5 sunshine on the narrow 6 alleys 7.

Paragraph 1 Maple 8 leaves in autumn blaze* with the colors of orange and red. When winter comes, white snow turns the whole city into a silver world.

Paragraph 1 Kyoto is the spiritual 9 heart of Japan. It was the nation’s capital 10 for more than 1,000 years, leaving behind a large number of historic 11 shrines 12 and temples 13. One of the most photographed temples is the Golden Pavilion Temple*.

Golden Pavilion This pavilion is covered in gold leaf and shines as brightly as the sun. It casts a postcard reflection on the Japanese garden pond in front of it

Paragraph 2 Those who seek Zen* simplicity should visit Ryoanji Temple* to see the most famous Zen rock garden in Japan. Zen rock gardens use rocks and sand to suggest mountains and water. They are designed to imitate 14 nature within a limited space.

Paragraph 2 The skillful 15 arrangement 16 of the rocks and the sand is meant to imitate rippling* water, and to provide the viewer 17 with a tranquil* sense of natural beauty.

Paragraph 3 A visit to a temple or shrine can never be complete without getting yourself an omamori* at a gift shop. An omamori is a good-luck charm in the form of a small cloth 19 packet 20. In it are prayers written on a piece of paper or wood 21. It is believed to bring love, protection, good health, good luck, or success either in school or in business.

Paragraph 3 The Japanese also believe they should not open an omamori. Once it is opened, the omamori will lose its magic power.

Paragraph 4 The Gion District 22 * is another popular tourist attraction 23. The mysterious charm of the Gion District hides in the teahouses, where geishas* in colorful kimonos have been performing their traditional arts for hundreds of years.

Paragraph 4 Geishas have to spend up to five years learning the traditional tea ceremony, musical 24 instruments 25, songs, and literature

Paragraph 4. They also have to learn how to perform the traditional kyomai* dance. Its dance movements are very controlled yet show very strong emotions. If visitors to this district are lucky enough, they can catch sight of geishas on their way to or from work.

Paragraph 5 In Kyoto, the past and the present 26 flow together like the graceful 27 movements of kyomai. Tourists like to come to Kyoto to view autumn’s maple leaves or spring’s cherry blossoms. However, Kyoto’s temples, geishas, and traditional arts can capture 28

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