欄間 and a sacred space

"Your sacred space is where you can find

 yourself over and over again."

~ Joseph Campbell

欄間 (Ranma) is a transom.

Transom: | ˈtran(t)səm | 

    Noun 

• a strengthening crossbar, in particular one set above a window or door

The definition doesn't do Japanese ones justice though.  They're downright works of art. Chances of finding one in an old Japanese home are good; in newer ones not so much since most don't even have 和室 (washitsu)--traditional Japanese style rooms with 床の間 (tokonoma) alcoves, or tatami mats. I never was much of the "most folks" variety though, so the washitsu was my favorite room of our house even without having a ranma in it. I love it even more since Life gifted me one unexpectedly a couple weeks ago. 

Hand carved and way older'n me I'm guessing, which is pretty damned old!  The term "ranma" entered my vocabulary when I built a room addition over the stairwell. I wanted one in there so bid on a few on Yahoo Auction only to end up building one myself out of old shoji doors salvaged from an adult student's parents' home. His folks had passed away so he was having the home demolished before selling the land. It's the damnedest thing about Japan, empty lots sell for more than ones with traditional, well-constructed older homes. My California carpenter heart breaks every time I see one being destroyed, but that's life so take advantage of it when and how you can, like this:

Above is what was left of the house around the corner last week.  Upon hearing it'd soon be demolished I walked over to peek inside and spied two beautiful transoms. 

I returned to ask about taking some the wood. A worker said sure, I said thanks, hauled some 2x4s home then returned the following nights for more. I figured they'd remove the transoms so let them be until finding the big crusher parked outside one night. It'd already torn into the house and the transoms were still there in place so that's it! They're mine! A few days afterwards I saw a nice interior door that I almost took crushed in the rubble. Sooner or later folks int this land've gotta learn throw away and make new is unsustainable. I'll continue modeling turn trash into treasure behavior till they do. 

I knew it'd fit since all rooms in Japan are measured in "jo". A jo is the size of one tatami mat--1.8 x .9 meters.  The measurement system dates back many hundreds of years. In every house the shoji door opening widths are the length of one, 1.5 or two tatami mats, give or take a smidgeon, which is exactly how much I had to cut off the end of the transom for it to fit perfectly. That would come later though, because when I held it up against the drab green wall.... 

Ugh! I've gotta change that. 

Thus my obsession with salvaging building materials became coupled with one for painting. Days of masking, painting and salvaging between and after teaching classes ensued. 

            

 When the weekend arrived rescuing long wished for landscaping stones was added to the list. Alas transporting those required some improvising.  My Australian neighbor friend offered to help but even two men couldn't lift, let alone carry, the big ones, so what to do?  The solution is pictured below. I now know how the pyramids were built thank you very much. The Egyptians built carts out of old kids' bicycle wheels and scrap wood. 

Oh yes, and used slave labor! 

I didn't know laying eyes on the transom would lead to a retreat into the  sacred space, but that's exactly what happened. Getting lost in a project like this is always a first class ticket to the Promise Land for me and, make no mistake, the Promise Land is not a geographical location. Far too much blood has been spilt over that wrongheaded reading of the religious metaphor. The Promised Land is a place in the soul, and there are as many paths to it as there are people in this world methinks. 

I know this because time and again Life puts stuff like this in my path to guide me there. This time it was a demolished house with a transom. I've no idea what it'll be next but am certain something will come along by and by. 

The house is gone now. No more nights of donning the headlamp and walking what's left of its halls, picking through rubble for wood, removing hinges, doorknobs and the like. I scored enough to keep me busy with projects for some time. There's a certain pleasure in getting cheap building materials too. I couldn't help but think of Thorough's used materials price list for his house in Walden. I pulled it from the shelf to read before succumbing to exhaustion one night. Ah yes, here it is. I'm in good company.

And so I tell this tale as I gaze up at the 欄間  overhead. These past couple of weeks have been a reminder that Life has my back to the degree that I stay true to myself and go with the pull of it. When I get too frustrated with the mess of a world out there lo and behold It leads me back to my sacred space.  

"After" shot of Dojo/classroom/tatami room with transom,
recently salvaged interior post turned new heavy bag beam and white walls! 

Newly salvaged stones joined the countless bucketloads of beach pebbles.
Rock garden wall is currently in imagining stage ;)