Premodern Japanese Art Circles and Second Life

A recent article in the New World Notes analyzes an academic paper by Eiko Ikegami and Piet Hut, which was published in The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research.
The authors of "Avatars Are For Real:Virtual Communities and Public Spheres" compare the Tokugawa era of Japan (1603-1867) with the virtual world of Second Life and find many parallels.

There were many artistic circles and haiku/poetry networks that provided alternative realities where people could develop a second life, not within their prescribed roles, but as individuals liberated from status and gender restrictions. Each person could express his or her love of particular cultural pursuits, unhindered by their formal background.
"Through tea ceremony and flower arrangement to haiku and the game of Go, Tokugawa citizens could escape political pressure and meet each other freely in the safe realms of the virtual worlds of art."

That sounds much like what the friends of Shin Tao do now. But I'm not sure if there really is a connection. Maybe it would work with other periods in history too. And artsy people always try to create their own society and culture in opposition to mainstream politics and restricitions.
Perhaps DanteOsaka knows more about the Tokugawa era and can give us his opinion.

Second Life HAIGA contest winner

Congratulations to the winner of the 2008 Summer HAIGA contest at Shin Tao: LEHUA LAMINGTON!

--hibiscus blossoms
flash their red petals at me
stoplights on sidewalks--

And thank you to everyone who participated in the contest and in our celebration.

Among the contest entries were traditional haiga with drawings but also haiga with high quality SL-photography.

The participating haiga in the 2008 Summer Shin Tao Haiga Contest are on display near the Zen garden in the courtyard of the Haiku Library in Shin Tao Haiku Retreat Two in Ophelia.

RIVERS display celebration on Friday, August 8!

Shin Tao is proud to announce the opening of our RIVERS display, celebrating the wonder of flowing water in haiku, haiga, and art. We will have an Open House all day on Friday, August 8, and a haiku workshop announcing the winners of our haiga contest at 7pm slt, followed by a dance at 8pm. Come join us! -- Dante

Rivers haiku display

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat would like to invite everyone to attend a celebration
for the opening of our new Rivers display in the Library of Haiku, Friday,
August 8, with Open House all day, a haiku workshop and announcing winners of
our haiga contest at 7pm slt, and a dance at 8.  Come celebrate with us!  --
Dante

Haiga Contest in Second Life

The Shin Tao is holding a haiga contest open to all sl residents.
Deadline - Midnight SLT Wednesday August 6, 2008.

Haiga is a haiku painting, originally combining the elements of
poetry, painting and calligraphy in one form. The contest will combine original haiku plus an original image.

Please contact DanteOsaka Deschanel, Sunnie Beaumont, or Pomona Writer for further info and contest rules.

Happy Haiga!

Dante's Creek

It is still not too late. We are seeking haiku or short poetry about rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, rivulets, becks and the like to use in our next Library Display. This is an open call to any Shin Tao members to contribute. Deadline July 4. Please deliver them to me, Sunnie Beaumont, or Pomona Writer. -- DanteOsaka

Haiku in Hawaii!!

Our weekly friday haiku workshop is back, and this time we are going Hawaiian! We will be holding our workshop at its usual time, 7pm slt, this coming Friday, but at an exciting location! Shin Tao member LEHUA LAMINGTON has graciously offered her authentic and beautiful Hawaiian sim in Utwig for our workshop. We will discuss seasonal references in non-Japan settings, Hawaiian haiku and much more! Come join us! Aloha and Mahalo! -- Dante