What's In A Name?

[shakkai]

My name is Shannan, and I chose Shakkai for two reasons. Shakkai was the name of the first cat I had when I got my first apartment on my own. The name is based on shakkei, a Japanese (though probably a Chinese first) idea that encompasses the ideas of 'borrowing views' from the surroundings in garden design, and teaches an appreciation for 'beauty without order' and a way to see imperfections as a necessary, essential part of the whole.

I changed the spelling for my cats name because Shakkei would be pronounced (Shock-kay-ee) and Shakkai is pronounced (Shok-eye, rhyming with eye or high).

More info can be found at: Borrowed scenery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The essence of Japanese gardens