"Time is that quality of nature which keeps events from happening all at once. Lately it doesn't seem to be working." - Anonymous

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Japan trip
Day 10 - 15th June - Kongobuji; Koyasan (Part 2)

Signs asked us not to take pictures of or sketch the sliding doors. The first I can understand, but the second was silly.

Given how remote this temple is, I'm surprised that it can be the HQ of such a major sect of Japanese Buddhism. Presumably in the past not much central direction was needed.


Various items of theirs (you should see 5 pictures)


Zen garden

Banryutei Rock Garden

"This rock garden was completed in 1984 to commemorate the 1150th memorial anniversary of Kobo Daishi's ascent into eternal meditation. With an area of 2,340 square meters, this is the largest rock garden in Japan. The design of this garden is of a pair of dragons emerging from a sea of clouds to protect the Okuden. The dragons are made of 140 granite rocks from the island of Shikoku, the birthplace of Kobo Daishi. The white sand is from Kyoto, another place that was significant in Kobo Daishi's life."


Fan dance by old women. I suspect it's not meant to be done by old women, but they have no one else both willing and able to do it.






These were probably pictures of places Shingon Buddhism had penetrated


More stuff


"千字文"

Wikipedia: "The Thousand Character Classic (千字文) is a Chinese poem used as a primer for teaching Chinese characters to children. It contains exactly one thousand unique characters. It is said that Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty (r. 502-549) made Zhou Xingsi (周興嗣) compose this poem for his prince to practice calligraphy. The original title of the poem was 《次韻王羲之書千字》 and it is sung in the same way in which children learning Latin alphabet writing do with the "alphabet song"."


Monks praying


Rock garden again. The rocks are supposed to look like monks listening to a sermon.

There was also a tea service:


Instead of learning how to dance with fans the young women serve tea. I don't blame them, really. Or the management - you need to allocate scarce resources to their best uses.


Tea service


Zen garden and walkway




The mausoleum of Bishop Shinzen


Monks falling in. One of them is REALLY tall.


Drain/canal