These days visiting local temples to me is like going to Disney World. I get all giddy and can't sleep the night before. I guess that's pretty lame when you think about it. Shows my age.
So here are some pictures from our last visit. Interesting temple things.
My husband freaked out when I took this picture. It's called a munenbotoke. I'd never seen one before. Basically, they are graves that have no one to look after them for one reason or another. Restless spirits, all that stuff.
Here are J and M sticking incense into some sand, lighting it and directing the smoke all over their bodies.
And here's a giant shoe. I've never seen a giant shoe at Disney before. I'm guessing this belonged to one of the monster-sized mountain goblins from the post below. There was only one shoe, so I'm also guessing he'll be wanting this back sometime soon. Wish I could be there to see that.
This little guy is a jizo. He's what I'm carving on Saturdays. Except MY ojizo has a ginormous head. HUGE! Everyone in my class made comments about how big my jizo's head was. I said I liked his big head, so there. Then they moved away and talked about his head amongst themselves.
I found a picture of the jizo I'm carving. Mind you, he's not done yet. Teacher says I have to take some of his head off.
Speaking of big heads, this statue had the biggest head on a statue I'd ever seen in my life. Bigger than my jizo even. Impressive.
Oh, and I loved this one because whoever sewed this cap also embroidered a little bee on it. What a sweet thing to do.
And finally, this was quite freaky. You know how people fold 1,000 cranes and string them up to wish for good health? Well, in the middle of this one ancient temple someone threaded a thousand cicada skins.
Macabre. I'm not saying Walt is turning over in his grave but...
19 comments:
Very cool.. but nobody liked your jizo? I guess just like with Disney.. I'ts a small world after all.
I liked it though. :) Great post.
How did you make out with the typhoon..we were POUNDED...
I loved the Jizo! What's with big head hatred?
I'm reading "Robe" and loving it! Thought I'd check you out and follow you. :)
Hilary, April Marie, I actually left this for an entire night so I could thing of something witty to write. You guys got me! Hilarious.
Victoria, it is so amazingly sweet of you to look me up and comment here. And thanks for buying A Robe. If you'd like I'd love to send a signed bookplate, one of those hanga things I made, etc.
LOL. Cool. We love Asian stuff. My sister-in-law lives in Japan, (Fukuoka)but we've only been able to visit once. I'll send you a private message with the address.
I think your ojizo looks wonderful in its primitiveness as it is. It would probably sell for mega $$$ over here - very cute!
BTW, you would really like Scotland. We're maybe going back next year. Wanna go if we do?
Victoria, you can e-mail me at: madderblue(at)yahoo.com if you'd like. That would be cool and I'll get you some stuff in the mail. I've never been to Fukuoka but would love to go one day. I've heard such great things about it. You'll have to visit your s-i-l while she's there.
Pat, thank you for the kind words about my jizo. We appreciate it. After I joined the class I realized that if I ever went back to the States how on earth would I bring these creations home with me?! Ugh.
Oh, we can meet up! Okay, okay, not entirely confident in me saving money and being able to get away from the family for any length of time. But it will be my little dream and I will squirrel away my money, just in case!
I think your jizo looks just fine. The toque is a nice touch. :)
Over from Hilary's Post of the Week .. nice to meet you .. I think the jizo is fine!
I like big head Jizo. Definetely fine work
the strewn together Cicada skins are another story. . .
Dropping by from Hilarys
Wonderful blog you have
Lovely! Also dropping by from Hilary's.
I so hope to see all of this in person one day. Isn't it wonderful how blogs let us feel we've had a little taste of other people's countries?
Fascinating stuff. I know nothing of temples or ojizos--but yours looks fine to me. Really enjoyed this.
And yes, I also came over from Hilary's...but I think I'll be back. Thank you!
Little jizo looks fine for me! he is cute!
Wow - those cicada skins! Yuk!
As for your ojizo - it's your carving so you tell them to leave him be! looks fine to me!
Over by way of Hilary - congratulations on the POTW mention.
Frank *sniff*sniff* the one with the cool hat isn't mine. Mine probably can't find a hat to fit him. *sniff*sniff*
Daryl, thank you sooo much. I'm going to bring him home soon and stick him in my garden.
Gary, thank you. And yeah, what's up with cicada skins? eck.
TSannie, yes, my favorite thing about reading blogs is how world traveled I feel afterwards.
ds, cool! I'll stop by your blog (and everyone else's), too.
Inty, he's a heavy little bugger though!
Thumbelina, thanks, and now I have enough confidence to tell those other guys my little jizo is just fine.
What a neat post!! I love the photos - especially the giant shoe!! I came over from Hilary's blog - Congrats on the Post of the Week Award!!
what a neat visit. thanks for ahring the wondrful pics. yours seems to be coming along well. congrats on the POTW.
Chefflie-Mom and Brian, thanks so much for stopping by. I'll visit you two as well.
I have to say that I'd be like a kid going to Disney if I was going to visit a mountain temple. I'm still quite young too...perhaps I'm just weird for my age :P
Now if only I could find the money to travel to Japan...what a dream that would be!
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