Ritasakano - Outubros

The polluted brain

Some of the health risks of inhaling fine and ultrafine pollutant particles are well-established, such as asthma, lung cancer, and, most recently, heart disease. But a growing body of evidence suggests that such exposure can also harm the brain, accelerating cognitive aging, and may even increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

by Emily Underwood

for Science

brought to you by Graphic Services for Science and Graphic Biology

Kyoto e seus encantos.

Classic Kyoto by Peter Stewart

Borboletas 🦋 Borboleta

nancynicholsondesign via Instagram

A set of Japanese iron armor, Kofun period, 5th century AD.

Currently on display at the Tokyo National Museum.

The Traditional Colors of Japan

You might not think much about colors, especially in this day and age when the 24-bit display you're...

From the article: “Some of Japan’s colors have a lengthy background dating back to the Asuka period (538 ~ 710) and the hierarchical Japanese color system itself can be most easily traced back to 603 AD, when Prince Shōtoko established the first Twelve Level Cap and Rank System in Japan. Based on Confucian values and the five Chinese elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), this particular hierarchy determined one’s rank by quality, rather than one’s heritage. Ranks were made identifiable by specific colors, as follows:

大徳 (Daitoku) Greater Virtue

小徳 (Shōtoku) Lesser Virtue

大仁 (Daijin) Greater Benevolence

小仁 (Shōjin) Lesser Benevolence

大礼 (Dairei) Greater Propriety

小礼 (Shōrei) Lesser Propriety

大信 (Daishin) Greater Sincerity

小信 (Shōshin) Lesser Sincerity

大義 (Daigi) Greater Justice

小義 (Shōgi) Lesser Justice

大智 (Daichi) Greater Knowledge

小智 (Shōchi) Lesser Knowledge

Within this system, the kinkiji (禁色), meaning “forbidden colors” were exclusively designated for use by only the highest ranking government officials and their robes. For example, the robes of the kuge (公家, the dominant aristocratic class in Kyoto’s imperial courts) were of the color Ōtan (orange), therefore the use of this color by any other lower rank was strictly prohibited.

 As such, the warm orange and red hues came to be associated with power and affluence. Examples of this can also be found in everything from ornamental combs and katana scabbards to the torii gates of Shinto shrines and the shrine-maidens’ garb. On the opposite end of the spectrum (ha!), the yurushiiro (許し色, “permissible colors”) were usable by commoners.”

I find it particularly interesting that at this early period in Japanese development, they were of course still using Chinese philosophy and science to systematically organize something very abstract and unscientific as what color clothes you should wear– and not only that, but using Chinese science to determine that some colors should be forbidden in society to some people, and thus literally color-code peoples’ castes using a color system based on magic! :)

Quando o falar não se faz necessário

Quando o olhar completa as palavras

Quando o toque confessa

Tudo o que somos

Rita Sakano

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A Lua Entre as nuvens De uma noite Suave Brisa Cheirosa