Cosmic rhythm and Japanese clocks in Edo Period (1603-1868)
Cosmic rhythm and the rhythm of old Japanese clocks were once the same. Actually, cosmic rhythm is not constant every day. In other words, the daytime time of the day changes according to the season. Therefore, living on a fixed time is not really natural. There was once a mechanical clock in Japan that followed the natural rhythm. In the Edo Period (1603-1868), Japan used the temporal hour system. Japanese clocks at that time were made based on natural rhythm from sunrise and sunset.
Japanese clocks in Edo Period (1603-1868) from sunrise to sunset creating the rhythm of the day
Now let's look at how Japanese clocks created the rhythm of the day. Daytime is from sunrise to sunset. On the other hand, night time is from sunset to sunrise. The time is determined by dividing the daytime and nighttime respectively into 12 equal parts. Daytime is longer in summer and shorter in winter (However, the southern hemisphere is opposite). The location of the clock time changes automatically. It depends on the season (to be exact, on a daily basis).In Edo Period (1603-1868), time was decided using Futeijiho (varying length system or unfixed time method). The time system divides seasonally changing sun's celestial objects infestation into 6 equal parts. However, Japanese clocks are manufactured under Futeijiho requires high technology.
 |
The essence of the spirit of Japanese technology is based on cosmology since ancient time
Japanese watch technology is based on ancient cosmology. Hisashige Tanaka (1799-1881), TOSHIBA's founder, was an inventor of Japanese clocks. He learned cosmology from the Tsuchimikado Family. The ancestor is Abeno Seimei (921-1005), a leading onmyōji (A professional practitioner of the Japanese esoteric cosmology) in Heian Period (794-1185 or 792-1192). Seimei is famous for Yuzuru Hanyu's Figure Skating, Free Programme.Hisashige Tanaka completed the mechanical clock Shumisengi, which embodies the Ptolemaic theory. And in 1851, he completed a fully automatic working clock. This watch follows the Old Japanese time system where the length of day and night changes depending on the season.
Why your rhythm is out of tune in a civilized society
However, that old Japanese time system tune with nature has been changed in 1873 in Japan. The natural rhythm since then in Japan has been out of tune in a civilized society. So delicate people may find such a punctual time unnatural. Because the rapidly developing civilized society is out of tune in Nature. For example, sympathetic nerve and parasympathetic nerve do not switch well with artificial light in night time.In 1882, Edison began sending electricity from a thermal power plant in New York. The reason is that many people use the light bulb that they invented. Thanks to it, we can work even when it was dark after sunset. It has only been about 150 years since humans have been able to extract and use electricity from outlets and batteries. Science and technology related to electricity have made remarkable progress in the last century or two. Therefore, our rhythm tend to go out of tune.
Let's bring nature back to your life by setting a rhythm for the day from sunrise to sunset.
You can adjust the rhythm even without a Japanese clock. Just take a deep breath and relax while being aware of the rhythm of the sun. If circumstances permit, let's get up at sunrise. And relax after sunset. It is the most luxurious life.
