6. The Three Foundations of Kyoto’s Traditional Culture

Our Kyoto Manifesto is formulated through a series of discussions held in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan for over a millennium. Without being fostered by the cultural and historical settings of Kyoto, we could not come to our fruition as this book to challenge against the current global economics. In this chapter, by examining known and unknown Kyoto’s history, culture, life as well as geological setting and ecological conditions, three fundamentals of the potential of Kyoto for desirable changes for the future are identified as 1) surrounding scared mountains on three sides, products of which have shaped, 2) Kyoto’s plural culture influenced by the continental cultures transmitted via the Silk Road that has the potentials to promote inter-state and inter-cultural dialogue, 3) Unique roles of women in Kyoto may offer wisdom and prospects for the future.