Introduction:
When a community endures a disaster, confusion and fear ripples continuously through their future generations as memories are past through existence of the community. The people of that community might become numb to that disaster overtime but it still lingers inside and one must overcome internal fears/ pain to re-gain their flow. Creation of Memorial Monument for Japan’s natural disaster claiming 26,000 lives on March 11th due to earthquake and tsunami will be that memory of respect, and ability for the community to conquer the past fears of loss.
Background:
Development of this monument for a nation still under current distress from this disaster is from a want to help for hope. Meaning not just donations will help Japan reverb from this disaster, but stabilizing the emotional/spiritual states of the people to help the nation become again a landmark of advancement on Earth for other nations to inspire towards.
Japan leads the world in solar power technology, electric vehicle production, purifying water systems, and robotics. These are very modern applications but Japan also still very true to past Taoist/Buddhist belief systems, and this memorial monument will be commemorating those ideals through the structures form/understanding.
Description of disaster; on March 11th a nine point magnitude earthquake trembled the near the northeast ocean coast of Kesennuma. This earthquake sent a 30-foot tall wall of water towards that fishing community and began destruction. The quake rippled throughout the entire nation causing two nuclear plant meltdowns followed with several large aftershock earthquakes. From this 26,000 lives were lost and of those 14,500 still have not been found.
Project Description:
This monument is soapstone structure that will resemble Japanese symbols reflecting belief systems. A 30-foot tall one-foot square size will reside on nine-layered circle step system (30 feet in diameter with each step with 4 feet less in diameter (except steps 6, 7, 8 and 9= 2 feet less), each step is a foot high). The top layer will resemble the ancient coin of Taoist belief “Self, Knows, Only, Contentment” when looking down upon (Calligraphy writing of meaning found on this top laer). The 30-foot column will be made out of 26,000 circles consistent with the enso circle. And finally facing towards the rising sun will be the Pictophonetic Calligraphy writing of protector deity Benzaiten.
Meanings:
-Column height to represent the size of the initial first wave of the 30-foot high tsunami
-Nine layer step platform meant to represent the 9 point magnitude earthquake and
The Japanese culture belief behind the number nine representing suffering/un-lucky.
This is known as Yid’oni.
-26,000 Enso circles to represent Zen; absolute, enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, and the void. And to represent the all the lives lost inside this tragedy.
-Benzaiten is one of the seven gods of good fortune representing the Sutra of Golden Light, Protector-Deity, and goddess of everything that flows (water, words, speech, eloquence, music, extension of knowledge)
-The coin shape is to create a larger then life ideal that “Self Knows, Only, Contentment” Audience develops their own understanding of this ancient belief.
Creating meaning through controversy of the nine, as being a problem of serious misfortune for the community but one must conquer those steps of symbols of fear to give their love to those lost. Benzaiten will help those overcome that pain with her guidance of being the rising sun for those soles.
This monument will be located on the coast side of Kensennuma to stand strong against the power of the ocean/nature and allow easy access to all for needed respect of the lost.
It will be constructed of stone to combat the elements of time but eventually will be overthrown as a symbol of re-creation of the tragedy. The Calligraphy writing of Benzaiten will be a steel cast that will be un-treated to represent the power of nature through a developed transition into a rusted green aesthetic look.
This monument is improbable because the idea is developed from a White American undergrad that has never been to Japan and Kesennuma is so devastated from this disaster that the town will be re-built decades from needed emotional support that monument gives.
Benefits:
The public gains conquering those fears of loss to give respect and flow with life in a positive manner. Helping Japan follow their roots as before in the disaster in WW2 where the community developed the art style of Butoh. This brought the nation to face their fears through visual performance art of this tragedy of war. The audience meant for this work to be Japanese universal from derivatives of the past with a modernist shape and appeal. The only problem would one must devote to conquering those pains of the past to give one’s self-freedom.
Estimated cost:
26,000 3” by 3” by 1” Enso circles (2lbs of soapstone each)
One dollar per pound= roughly $52,000 (weighs about 104,000 lbs)
9-tier platform in diameter cost of each step (one dollar per pound)
1. 707 cubic ft.= 106,500 lbs/dollars
2. 531 cubic ft.= 79,650 lbs/dollars
3. 380 cubic ft.= 56,000 lbs/dollars
4. 255 cubic ft.= 38,250 lbs/dollars
5. 154 cubic ft.= 23,100 lbs/dollars
6. 113 cubic ft.= 16,950 lbs/dollars
7. 50 cubic ft.= 7,500 lbs/dollars
8. 28 cubic ft.= 4,200 lbs/dollars
9. 13 cubic ft.= 1,950 lbs/dollars
Total cost= $333,650
www.blackpearlsoapstone.com
Carbon Steel Plate (Benzaiten Writing)
1 foot wide by 9 feet tall by 2 inches thick= roughly $850
www.yuanhang-steel.com
Cost to ship 438,450 pounds from San Francisco to Japan
$122,766
www.shipnex.com
Cost to Create:
10 employees for 6 months being paid at fifteen dollars an hour working 20 hours a week.
$78,000 (self developed price)
Total Cost of Monument: $920,916
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