We ate breakfast at our guesthouse, then cycled through the Nishijin District shopping complex that was just opening for the day. Mostly small shops under cover. Then we visited a series of temples and shrines, all beautiful, interesting, and melding into one another.
No one was injured. Kitchen with bathroom in the back.
Hand wash available with each flush.
Dogs of the Day
Small Street-side Display. The swastika (卐 or 卍) is a symbol used in various Eurasian religions and cultures, as well as a few African and American cultures. Seems both are swastikas.
If I have this correctly, a devotee sat for 7 years without falling over while losing all muscle control of his legs. So these bobble dolls have a round bottom and do not topple over. In addition, some are sold without eyes. A person seeking a goal paints in one eye when they start and paints in the other eye when they finish. Alex noted that one sees politicians symbolically painting in the second eye after winning an election.
How to wash hands before entering a temple.
Hand Washing Station
Commercial companies pay an annual fee to have their names listed on a column, fees used to maintain the temple.
Companies can also sponsor lanterns.
If one touches or rubs this bull, it imparts wisdom on the toucher. Nicola touched the bull and then bumped her head on an overhead sign. Message? Don't be so tall? Watch where you are going? Wear a bike helmet? (Like Eliete?)
Entry guards?
Individual wood statues of the 10 Great Disciples of Lord Buddha who had carried his teachings, dharma, and spread Buddhism. They are Sariputra, Moggallana, Mahakasyapa, Subhuti, Purna, Katyayana, Anuradha, Upali, Rahula and Ananda.
Lunch. All done by one person on 3 gas burners.
Udon with tofu. 800 yen or under $6.
Shakuzoji Temple, also known as Kuginuki Jizo (Nail-Pulling Jizo), is a Jodo sect Buddhist temple located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto. It was founded in 819 by Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi. The main deity is a stone statue of Jizo Bodhisattva, said to have been carved by Kukai himself.
The temple is widely known as “Kuginuki Jizo” (Nail-Pulling Jizo), and there’s an interesting story behind this name. According to legend, a merchant suffering from hand pain prayed to this Jizo Bodhisattva. In a dream, the Jizo appeared and removed nails representing karmic suffering from his previous life. From this event, it became known as “Kunuki Jizo” (Pain-Removing Jizo), which later evolved into “Kuginuki Jizo” (Nail-Pulling Jizo).
At the entrance of the temple, there’s a large statue of a nail puller. The outer walls of the main hall are covered with about 1,000 unique votive tablets. These tablets have nails and nail pullers attached to them, offered by people in gratitude after their sufferings were alleviated.
Riverside after a stop for ice cream. Yes, Seven Eleven!
There are five different all-you-can-eat courses available including pork, wagyu beef, chicken thighs, a vegetable buffet, udon noodles, rice, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
Toshi cooking, Scott supervising.
Mall Fish Pedicure. Spotted in a mall on the way back from dinner. Stores are open and the streets are packed at 9 pm.
Kyoto Tower at Night
No comments:
Post a Comment