Ingestorte brug over de Biwajima-rivier te Japan before 1892

This photograph captures the Ingestorte Bridge over the Biwajima River in Japan, presenting a structure laden with symbolic weight. The bridge, a recurring motif across cultures, serves here as a passage, a connector of disparate realms, and reflects the ever-evolving journey of life. Consider the ancient Roman bridges, symbols of imperial power and connectivity, and how they echo in this delicate, arched form. Here, the bridge is not just a physical structure but a pathway through life’s challenges and transformations. The act of crossing implies a transition, a leaving behind of the old self to embrace the new, and the subconscious draws us to it. The bridge embodies the cyclical nature of existence, continually adapting to its environment. It represents resilience, the ability to bend without breaking. Like the ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, this bridge signifies the eternal return, the persistent renewal inherent in the human experience.