Sounds from my Archive - #3
Gentle rainfall in the ancient cedar wood forest of Mt. Haguro
Sounds from my Archive is a series in which I’ll be selecting a recording from my archive and sharing with you the tale of its coming into being…
Sitting in the sacred forest
Water drops on forming moss
Where dragons fly
Recording of the soothing rainfall in the cedar wood forest at the summit of Mt. Haguro in the holy Dewa Sanzan region of Yamagata, Japan
Woken gently one morning by the patter of rain on my windowsill, I emerged to find this most peaceful scene. I had been staying the night at Haguroyama Sanrosho Saikan or Saikan Shrine, located at the summit of the sacred Mt. Haguro. Saikan is a former temple that has provided a sanctuary for many generations of Yamabushi mountain monks in-training; altars for rituals, Shojin Ryori (Ascetic Cuisine), Shiroshozoku garments for purification, and of course, lodging.
Surrounded by towering ancient cedars, welcoming many weary travellers, sages, pilgrims and wanderers — Saikan offers a space for contemplation, rest and initiation into the strange, supernatural power found here amongst the sacred forest of Mt. Haguro.
One feels observed, as though entering another realm…
Climbing the 2,446 stone steps to the summit is an experience like no other. Immersed in a nature so pure, one feels the peaceful presence of the ancient forest. Visible (like the one pictured below) and non-visible signs, sounds and remnants point to a hidden secret, passed down through time. It is said that many deities are believed to dwell on this mountain. One feels observed, as though entering another realm…
In a traditional Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage, Yamabushi will climb Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, Mt. Yudono and then exit via Mt. Haguro again. Each mountain represents a part of the life cycle, with Mt. Haguro symbolising the present. Mt. Gassan — the past. The final peak Mt. Yudono represents rebirth, or the future. To complete the full pilgrimage, ascetics make their way down Mt. Haguro’s 2,446 stone steps to return to the world of the present as reborn individuals.
If you are curious to know more about Dewa Sanzan and Yamabushi culture, I highly recommend checking out
’s Substack Mountains of Wisdom.
Since adopting the practice of field recording as a mode de vie, my perception, interaction and integration with my surroundings have become influenced, it seems almost unconsciously, by this craft. My objective has a beautiful simplicity — seeking to observe and record nature in its natural state. The Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote:
The path to finding and experiencing this reality as a sound recordist, one that is free from the hums, drums and drones of the Anthropocene age — this, it turns out, is one of the greatest challenges that constantly remind us of the limitations that threaten the preservation of quiet, forming a barrier that suppresses our kinship with Nature.
Anyone practicing field recording knows well the great many measures to be considered when seeking purity in environmental sound - both from a technical and technological perspective.
EARTH.FM 🌍
https://earth.fm/recordings/saikan-temple-rainfall/
This recording can be found amongst the wonderful earth.fm archive - a completely free streaming service of 700+ nature sounds from around the world, offering natural soundscapes and guided meditations for people who wish to listen to nature, relax, and become more connected.
Check out their recordings of nature ambiences from sound recordists and artists spanning the globe, including some contributions of my own. Also check out their curated playlists of immersive soundscapes and their wonderful Wind Is the Original Radio podcast.
You can support the earth.fm project by signing up to their newsletter of weekly inspiration for your precious ears, or become a member and not only enjoy extra earth.fm features and goodies but help to grow new forests on our beloved planet.
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Thank you for being here with me.
Mat
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