bernini

DostoevskyDostoevsky and His Wife's Fateful Journey: Travels in Western Europe of Madness and Love

Do you know the Dostoevsky statue in Baden-Baden? ~ The ultimate sculptural work that I was most impressed with in Germany!

There is something I would love to share with you all in this article. I want to say this out loud to the whole world! I want to tell you that here in Baden-Baden, Germany, there is a masterpiece of sculpture that is among the finest in the world!

Our days in Baden-Baden were some of the most powerful impacts of the 2022 trip. It was the highlight of the trip! The sculptures were amazing, Michelangelo-grade!
Takahiro UedaDiary of a Monk

Welcome to our website. For those of you who are visiting our blog for the first time. First of all, please click here.

Nice to meet you. My name is Takahiro Ueda, the administrator of this blog. This blog started as my attempt to look at various things in my daily life and write words with the motto of asking myself questions, as you can see in the title of the blog.

This article will give you a general guide within our blog. If you are new to our blog or wondering what to read, please read this article first.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots in RomeThe Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, the Vatican, and Roman Catholicism

List of Recommended Reference Books on Rome - History, Culture, Religion, and Art! A list of great books that will make Rome more interesting!

In the previous article, "Monks' Recommendation: 15 Sightseeing Spots in Rome! From the Royal Road to Maniacal Churches, Taste the Ultimate in Beauty" introduced the recommended spots in Rome, and in this article, we will introduce a recommended reference and guidebook to enjoy Rome even more.

Please refer to each link for a more detailed discussion of the book.

Rome is so deep. It is like a bottomless swamp that the more you know about it, the more you become addicted to it. I, too, have become completely obsessed with this Roman wanderlust.

I hope this article has been helpful to you.
Recommended Sightseeing Spots in RomeTravels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

15 recommended sightseeing spots in Rome unique to monks! Taste the best of beauty from royal to maniacal churches

In this article I will introduce some of my favorite places to visit in Rome.

In this article, we will introduce not only famous churches such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum, but also maniac churches that are not often visited by tourists.

Rome is indeed a wonderful city. However, there is a trap of having too much to see and do. We hope that our blog posts will be of help to you.
The Holy Land of DisneylandDreamland Disneyland Research

Masako Notoji, "Disneyland, the Holy Land" - A highly recommended book with an exciting perspective on Disney as a sacred place of faith and pilgrimage!

本作は「聖地」「信仰」「文化」という側面からディズニーを見ていく点にその特色があります。僧侶である私にとってこれは非常に興味深いテーマであります。

はっきり申しましょう。「この本はものすごく面白いです・・・！」

新書でこれだけのことがまとめられているというのはかなり奇跡です。これほどの本にはなかなかお目にかかれません。ディズニーファンだけではなく、文化や宗教に関心のある方にもぜひおすすめしたいです。
Apollo's CupYukio Mishima and Japanese Literature

Yukio Mishima's "The Cup of Apollo" Synopsis and Impressions - A travelogue of his first trip around the world and his experiences in Greece! Recommended to learn about Mishima's view of art!

三島由紀夫は朝日新聞の特別通信員という形で１９５１年末から世界一周の旅に出かけました。この旅の旅行記が『アポロの杯』になります。

三島はアテネやデルフォイの遺跡や芸術を堪能し、その思いを旅行記にしたためます。彼はこの世界一周旅行で様々な地を巡りましたが、この地に対する感動は明らかに突出しています。

そして三島がギリシャの芸術についてどう思うのか、そして自身の文学観、人生観にどのような影響を与えたのかが率直に書かれていますのでこれは非常に興味深いです。

『アポロの杯』には三島の原体験とも言えるギリシャ・ローマ体験がこれでもかと詰まっています。彼の文学や生き方を知る上でも非常に参考になる作品です。
Rome and DostoevskyTravels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(42) What does Dostoevsky, who criticized Roman Catholicism, think of Rome, the temple of beauty and theater city?

We have updated our Rome travelogue 41 times so far.

As I reported in the introduction to this travelogue, I toured Rome with the question, "Although Dostoevsky hated Roman Catholicism, could he not be captivated by St. Peter's Basilica, its main temple, and Bernini's stage art in Rome?

For me, I did not forget Dostoevsky for a single moment during my stay in Rome. I was always with Dostoevsky during my stay in Europe.

So what did Dostoevsky actually think of Rome during his stay?

The truth is that we do not know as Dostoevsky left nothing behind. But even so, I have come to the conclusion that Dostoevsky would have liked but disliked Rome.
Travels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(41) The Death of the Genius Bernini: Learning from the Master who Lived and Died as a Good Catholic

We have finally come to this point. We have been tracing Bernini's life and looking at his works so far, but Bernini ended his life in 1680 at the age of 81.

It was quite a long life for those days. Moreover, he had the amazing vitality to produce works until the very end of his career.

And, after all, his end was no ordinary one either. He was an overwhelming figure right up to the moment of his death.

In this article, we will look at Bernini's journey to death.
berniniTravels in Rome" - Charms of the Theater City of Rome and Pilgrimage to Bernini

(40) Bernini suffered disappointment and slander in his final years - Construction of the third colonnade in St. Peter's Square was also halted.

I cannot help but feel saddened by the fact that Bernini, who had so much glory, spent his last days in pain. If he had achieved his glory through arrogance and pushing others away, it would have been karmic retribution. But he was never like that. That is why I feel regret.

Great artists are often prone to suffer from slander. And it is not uncommon for them to finally be appreciated decades after their death. People who are called geniuses are too immense to be understood by their contemporaries. It would be extremely fortunate if they were appreciated while they were alive.