World under water

I came back from Tokyo. While staying with my son in Tokyo, I could scarcely use PC because of malfunction of my son's computer. I will catch up!

At night in Kyoto,  many autumn leave viewing spots were lit up. But winter brought cold strong winds and the autumn leaves started to fall. The other day I visited Kodai-ji Temple in Kyoto. People flocked here as the temple is famous for the beauty of the autumn leaves in its grounds. Especially reflections of myriad of autumn colours on the pond is breathtaking at night !

Reflections on "Lying Dragon Pond (臥龍池）

People are wondering  if it is a mysterious reflection
or there is another world under water.

They are bewitched and sigh with admiration.

Autumn leaves please the eye in many ways. The reflection is one of them.

It is hard to say which is reflection and which is real.

These reflections remind me of Tale of Heike which is the story about the glory and ruin of the Heike Clan based on the historical battles between the Heike and Genji clans fought in the 12th century.  But finally  Heike Clan were defeated by Genji Clan off-shore Dan-no-ura. Many of Heikes committed suicide by throwing themselves into to the water. Holding a six-year-old Emperor, Nun Nii said to him "There is another world under waves, so let go with me." Remembering this wistfulness of the story and seeing these reflections,   the transience of life is reminded deeply.

Kodai-ji Temple which was founded by Nene in 1606. Nene was a wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who built Osaka Castle and almost  came to the pinnacle of  power to govern Japan  even though he came from a poor farming family. 

The temple has  beautiful bamboo groves.When I looked up the bamboos,

 I felt as if I had been on the bottom of the sea.

In the temple, there are many pieces of white paper  tied to ropes. They  are divine fortune papers. If you find your fortune not good, you tie your fortune paper to a tree branch or a rope. Your bad fortune will be driven away. If it is good, you keep it with you. 

People are climbing down the lovely stone steps of the temple.

They are not real Maiko. They are enjoying to disguise themselves as Maiko.
Maikos never take photos during their working time.

 In Kyoto there are a lot of stores where tourists can rent Maiko costumes or Kimono

One of charms of Kyoto is that there are many lovely stone-paved alleys everywhere

 like this. Soft light comes through  lattice windows and casts  warm shadows.

  

An alley in front of Yasaka Pagoda.

Weekend  Reflections

1200 Year Old Pride of Kyoto People, Gion Festival

Rehearsal in a narrow street.

The parade of 32 floats are held on July 17th on the main roads.

The climax of Gion Festival is the parade of 32 floats held on July 17th. Before the festival, people in a community is rehearsing the parade.  The float is being pulled through such a narrow street where the buildings, houses and even electric poles with the  heavy electric wires  are lined with on both sides . The tall poll on the top of the float swings slowly from right to left, left to right. Often it almost touches the wall of a building or electric wires.

A yellow net covering a transformer is to protect a float.

 Each float is carefully preserved and maintained  by each local community. To have a float and join Gion Festival is the greatest honor for the Kyoto people.

Gion Festival is the 1200 year old  pride of Kyoto People. Every year on July 17th , 32 floats  are paraded through Gion Area in Kyoto. 32 floats are  decorated with gorgeously embroidered tapestries or carpets, exquisite paintings and more. Some of them are from foreign countries, such as China, Korea, India, Persia and  Belgium.  No wonder, they are nicknamed  "Moving Art Museum". This paraded is only part of Gion Festival. The festival continues one month long from July 1st through 31st.

At night floats displayed on a main street are illuminated by paper lanterns.

The origin of the festival dating back to the 9th century when a bad plague prevailed Kyoto and tormented people. This time of  year in those days, the outbreak of the plague occurred often. Because heavy rain caused floods and the severe summer heat rotted water. The rotten water caused the plague and tormented people.  At that time, they believed that natural disasters and diseases were caused by evil spirit. To appease or drive away evil spirit,  66 pikes were hoisted in the holy garden of Imperial Palace to pray to the deity for help. Some of the floats have well kept the legacy of these 66 pikes. But, why 66?? Because in those days, there were 66 provinces in Japan. Still now Japan is the country which has suffered from terrible natural disasters. The great earthquake which hit Tohoku area on March 11th is too vivid in our memory. Now, we do badly need Gion Festival.



                                                       

Reflection, Which One Do You Like?

This is the sunset that  I viewed  in Osaka. Every second, the town  was changing its face. Which one do you like the best?

                                                        

Everything is Bathed in Green Breeze, Isui-en Garden

This is my favorite Japanese garden in Nara, Isui-en Garden.

As those glasses were made in Meiji(1868-1912) or Taisho(1912-1926) eras, they are not flat or smooth but slightly uneven. So the reflections on them look dim and distorted a little.  I love these subtle images.

The garden is a stroll-through and also borrowed landscape garden. Three mountains and the magnificent roof of Great South Gate of Todai-ji Temple are incorporated to the beauty of the garden. The reflections on the glass sliding doors above is this scenery.

May is the month when we can enjoy the most gorgeous green of young leaves. The leaves show myriad shades of green and twinkle against fresh sunlight of May. The leaves are soft, gentle and fragile. The shining  leaves are reflected on the glass sliding doors. It seems as if they are condensed and frozen inside a house.

                                          
                                              

Reflection, Center of Ancient Japan

 A gentle sunset reflects on the rails of the ancient Imperial Audience Hall.
 Once upon a time Nara had been  the capital of Japan for a short period、from 710 to 784. Imperial Audience Hall was the center of the capital. Here the emperors reigned over Japan. The hall  was rebuilt in 2010.

The Capital was called "Heijo-kyo" whose Palace Site is designated as World Heritage Site. This place is my favorite and  especially I love viewing a sunset from here.

          

Reflection, Running Man is Back In Osaka!!

This is a gigantic neon of Ezaki Glico Co along Dotonbori River lined with restaurants or theaters - the livest heart of southern Osaka City.  Ezaki Glico Co, Japanese confectionery company in Osaka , was  founded in 1922. This big neon sign has been a popular landmark of Osaka.  On March 12h, one day after the deadly catastrophe hit the northern Japan, the lights had been turned out to express the deepest condolences for the victims as well as to save energy . 

This iconic neon "Running Man" came back on April 4th with an added banner saying "We want to send a smile to everyone". Yes,we do believe that  there will be more smiling faces tomorrow!

Look at the sky. The color of the sky is changing form blue, orange, red to black with stars.

 The banner says "We want to send a smile to everyone."

 A sightseeing boat is coming.

The boat is gone.

Did you see American action film "Black Rain" starring Michael Douglas, released in 1989? This neon appeared in the film.

                                                           

Reflections・・・ Huge Roof in Tiny Puddle

(This time, I wondered to post or not.　While time goes by, the situations seem to go worse. Fortunately Nara where I live is far from epicenter.  But , I thought also if Ididn't post, someone might think I were in terrible trouble.　So I decided to keep doing  things as usual . We are Ok. Thank you for your concern.)

Can you guess what a pair of golden ornaments??

In the early sunset, everything is bathed in golden tint!

The pair of golden ornaments are called "Shibi" which are placed on the roof ridge of  Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple in Nara and serve as charms against fire.  It is said they are in the shape of imaginary fishtails or birdtails.  I think they must be the fishtails. I'll tell you why. The fishtails are on the roof , so where the bodies of fish are?  Yes, the bodies are under the roof, it means Great Buddha Hall is under water as fish live in water.  How securely the hall is protected against fire!

Even though  the original Great Buddha Hall was 1.5 times bigger,  still the present one  is the largest wooden building in the world. When I found this reflection, I smiled "What a lovely reflection it is!.  "Shibi"s  and the huge roof are in such a tiny puddle!" Oh, now I am a puddle sucker.

The puddle is on this stone.

On a snowy day or rainy day, the subtle reflection of "Shibi"s appear on the  approach
to Great Buddha Hall  like mirage. 

Which reflection do you like the best?


For your reference:

 The Great Buddha Hall was burnt down  and rebuilt twice.

The original hall was built in the  8th century.

The second one was rebuilt in the 12th  century.

The present one was rebuilt in 1709 and is designated as a World Heritage Site. 

The hall is 57 meters wide, 50 meters deep and 49 metre's tall.

Since 1709 "Shibi"s have perfectly protected the hall without fail!!

                                                   

Reflections・・・Who Are You?

Who are you?

I'm a beautiful woman from the 10th century. 

 Who are you?

I'm a handsome man from the 10th century. 

 Who are you?

I'm their servant from the 10th century. 

Who are you?

We are their furniture from the 10th century.

Who are you?

I'm Snowwhite's  mobile phone in the 21st century.

While I was displaying the miniature furniture, household goods and  folding screens of my Hina dolls, I found the interesting reflections of the screens on the miniature mirror stand. Drawings on the screens depict  noble people in the 10th century celebrating  New Year's Day. And I was playing with them for a while.

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Without Hina Dolls