千代田路子

Michiko Chiyoda

Stone has continuously carved within itself the vast expanse of time since the Earth's creation. Various terrestrial metamorphoses—eruptions, sedimentation, and compression—are preserved within each stone as a microcosm of the planet's history. Since ancient times, stones have been perceived as special entities mediating between nature and humanity. In Japan, iwakura (sacred rock formations) and megaliths have been revered as the deities themselves or as vessels (yorishiro) for the divine; similarly, in Zen gardens, stones have supported spiritual inquiry as symbols of the cosmos and nature.
When one gazes at a stone and contemplates the immense eons it embodies, even the smallest stone allows one to touch a profound depth that brings forth silence. By immersing oneself in the time of the "other" that is the stone, the boundaries of the self begin to blur, and the inner world quietly settles into stillness. Within this tranquility, one becomes aware that the passions lurking in our hearts are deeply connected to the chaos of a modern society fueled by desire. Nevertheless, I believe that if this stillness, born from confronting the stone, ripples even slightly into our daily lives, it will become a certain step toward bringing peace to the world.

What Does it Mean to "Inquire"? — Two Artists in Dialogue with Daiko Matsuyama, Vice Abbot of Taizo-in.

[Speakers] Daiko Matsuyama (Vice Abbot of Taizo-in), Michiko Chiyoda (Photographer), Katsuhiro Kinoshita (Artist of Calligraphy and Ceramics)
[Date & Time] Thursday, May 7, 2026 / 14:00 – 15:30
[Venue] Myoshin-ji , Taizo-in Zen Buddhist Temple
[Admission] Free (Separate entrance fee of 700 yen to Taizo-in Temple required)
[Reservation] Required (Booking starts April 1 via website: https://www.ideaworksp.com/)

https://kgplus.kyotographie.jp/events/2026/27789/