Rons Visit to Japan

October 20th

My husband Ron's Last day in Japan aboard the Michigan Boat. It was a beautiful breezy day. We spent the last few hours riding on the Michigan paddle boat enjoying the view of the mountains and the Lake Biwa Fountains.

OUR VISIT TO NARA

A water fountain statue depicting a deer is placed at the entry of the temple grounds by Deer park. As in all temples you are to wash your hands before entering. Or as these girls were doing getting something cool to drink after a long hike through the park

Before you reach the temples in Nara you walk through Deer Park. It is a sacred ground where the deer are allowed to roam free unharmed. Legend has it that over a 1,000 years ago one of the Gods rode in on a White Stag to the temple grounds, since then the property is the deers, we are just visitors. Of course they sell food and of course I had to feed them. Unfortunatley one of the Bucks did not like the fact that I was feeding a fawn. He rammed me with his horns OUCH. I still have the scar on my hand and back. Just so you know I did NOT give him any food. I just ran! There are over 1,000 deer that wander around this park and temple grounds which is about 3 miles around. Can you see the fawn on the left he was so cute. Just sunning himself and guarding Buddha.

Above is the Kohfukji temple Nara Japan. It houses a Buddha deity that brings you good luck with fishing. It was awesome inside. A huge golden Buddha and 6 fire gods guarding it-each standing about 8 feet tall. Bummer- We were not allowed to take pictures. Cool fact- It is open only once a year to visitors and that was the day we were there Ron's B-day. October 17th.

TODAI-JI Temple Originally built in 724 but after various fires it was rebuilt 1568-1615. The temple standing is said to be a third of its original size but it is still the biggest wooden structure in the world. It houses one of the biggest statues of Buddha (pictured below). He was originally constructed in 752. He is made of iron and bronze. They made a special chemical to put on the statue to make him appear black and gold. Unfortunately the solution was so poisonous that it met death for many of the crafters of this masterpiece. The hand of this statue can hold 19 people standing one on top of each other It is breath taking and hard to believe that it was all hand constructed.

Ron's First Day In Japan

Ron's first day in Japan, Matsumoto San and the Stacks took us to a Mountain Village in Northern Japan. I forgot the name. I will add it later. All the houses were built out of wood and have thatched roofs. The day we arrived it was their harvest festival. We felt like we were in Greenfield Village-Japanese Style

Ron and I sitting in the living area of one of the homes in the village. We are getting ready to feast on rice and grasshoppers. Just Kidding we didn't eat any grasshoppers. However, they actually do cook and eat them. Sometimes they make candy out of them.

The village is said to be over 1,000 years old. People still reside in the village. The picture below is the bridge you cross to enter .

Below is one of the Buddha Images in a small temple in the village. Isn't amazing that in a small village miles from no where they found the resources to build golden images of their Buddha.

The picture below is the drummer who begins the festival parade. He is on a cart that is pulled by 10 or ll men throughout the village to announce the festival.

Strange but beautiful. While we were wandering around the village we came across this carving of Kwan-Yin.This is a hollowed out tree and someone hundreds of years ago carved a head of Kwan-Yin or Kannon in the middle of the tree. It was amazing to see.

Westerners Learning Eastern Culture

Oh such artists! Part of the the Japan experience for the Students from LCC is to learn traditional art forms. Pictured here are the future Origami artists. Throughout the evening they learned how to make hats ( pictured) boats, figurines all out various forms of paper. Of course you do not see a picture of me. There was no way I would share by lack of artistic ability

To the right and below are 6 LCC students Gettin Their Groove On! Seriously as part of the curriculum both the men and women students must learn traditional Japanese Dance. They have a few more weeks and then they will preform the dances during their Graduation from the Japan Experience Program.

From left to right Kat, Laura and Rai. The most convincing U.S. Japanese dancers the states will ever see. They are telling us a story of a lost love

From left to right Alex, Chris and Rodney-Aren't they most graceful bunch of guys you have ever seen in a Kimono!! They are telling us all about their castle that has been destroyed.

Weeks 6-7 of My Journey

October 7th I spent the day with the Stack Family at the Otsu Matsuri Festival.They are my next door neighbors.They have become good friends during my stay in Otsu, Japan

Kai -Wow! He is an amazing five year old. He never runs out of energy. He has such a love for life. He is only 5 and speaks and reads Japanese and English.










Martins daughter Marina. One of the most innovative, intelligent 11 year old I have ever met. She speaks, reads and writes in Japanese and English. She writes her own fictional adventures. So much fun to be with!


Martin's wife Maki is a wonderfully kind and patient woman..She reminds me of my daughter Cathie.She is such an awesome Mother.She works magic with her children.













Below is Martin and Me. Thank the Stars for Martin!! He has been my interpreter,my guide and mentor. I would not have known what I was doing without the Awesome Martin Sensei!!














The Floats below are pulled by 20 men while on top of the float 13 musicians play music on flutes and cymbals. No women are allowed to play or pull the floats. There are a total of 13 floats each one tells a story. Each float has marionette's that are worked by a puppeteer below. The floats were all hand made in the year 612. They are pulled throughout the streets of Otsu for hours.Stopping at various locations to play the music,work the puppets and throw gifts to the the crowds.














Week 3-5 of My Journey

Tea Room on Ishiyamadera Temple Grounds.


The last 2 weeks have been quiet and and a bit lonely. So I decided get off my duff and enjoy the beauty and history that surrounds me. I decided to visit 2 more temples. The weather was perfect both days. It was 8o-85 sunny and breezy.What a great way to minimize the boredom and loneliness. The first visit was the Ishiyamadera Temple. Headquarters of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism, It is also where the Tale of the Genji. was written in August 1004, By Lady Murasaki. Hey ladies isn't that awesome. The first novel ever written was by a A WOMAN--YES!! The second temple I visited was Miideria Onji-Ji. The principal temple of the Tendai Jimon Sect of Buddhism. I actually traveled on my own.--Didn't get lost.:) You can see I love temples, Buddhas and Bodhisattva's. Both of the temples are not far from Otsu.They are both in the mountains overlooking Lake Biwa. I am in two of the pictures to show you that Yes I was there:) Thank goodness for camera time delay. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed the experience.

The gate leading into Ishiyamadera Temple

The Walkway into the Temple Grounds




Above is a Small temple on the grounds of Ishiyamadera Temple. It is said that Lady Murasaki meditated here while writing the Tale of the Genji.

Below is a picture I purchased. The drawing was done by one of the Shingon Monks that reside at the temple. It is his rendering of Lady Murasaki.
i

Below is the shrine to 100 Buddhas. It is said they were handcrafted over 1200 years ago. The picture doesn't do it Justice



MIIDERA TEMPLE
Seen below are the images of the Miidera Temple. Visiting this temple and it's grounds was a very emotional and spiritual experience for me. It hosts many statues of Kannon, Kuan Yin or Kwan Yin- Goddess Of Compassion.She is one of my favorite Buddhist spiritual guides.

The Water Lily fountain. Built in 660. It is custom that you wash your hands in the fountain before entering the temples or shrines.

The view of Otsu from the top of Miidera Temple. The view was beautiful. Only 228 steps up a mountain side. YES I counted!! The building below is the Kannon-Do shrine built in 1072

Statue of Kannon(I call her Kwan-Yin) & Me. I can't believe I am actually touching a 1,000 year old sacred statue. It is overwhelming.

Two of the many statues of Kannon or Kwan-Yin found on the Miidera grounds. To the Japanese she is the same as Mary is to many Christians. I look to her for patience, understanding and compassion-Everyday!

Below is the Issaiko-Zo. This was a sight to behold. All of the Buddhist scriptures for this temple are housed in this wheel. Written over 1,ooo years ago. Each compartment contains holy writings. What is amazing is the wheel is surround by wooden fence that is all. The Buddhist belief is the readings are for anyone who wishes to view them unhindered by guards or security. It is understood by all Japanese they are relics (cultural property) and should not be touched. The trust and respect the Japanese people have for their treasures amazes me.

Benkei-No-Hikizurigane (Benkei's dragging bell) This bell is known as the bell which was dragged up Mt Heiei by a famous priest Benkei, during the Heian Period. Story has it Benkei try to steal it from Miidera and drag it to another temple. But at night the bell was heard crying "I want to go back to Miidera Temple". Benkei got angry and rolled it back down a mountainside. But later it was found and brought back to Miidera. It is HUGE !

There are two more bells on the grounds but in different buildings. They are about the same size. Wow!! When you ring them (Yes I did) they can be heard throughout the complex. Yes it is embarrassing when you walk out of the building. Everyone knows it was YOU who rang the bell AGAIN. I am such a tourist.

The small temple of 100 golden buddhas-Ishiyamadera Temple