akujunkan: (Default)
akujunkan ([personal profile] akujunkan) wrote2009-02-01 05:57 pm
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Today's Picture: 006...

...was not posted yesterday because I got home at 4:20 in the morning. Also, the server was down, so I couldn't have uploaded it anyway. So I'm uploading it today. It is of:


the Jizo of Yatadera, a Pure Land Buddhist temple in Teramachi. Some background: "tera" means temple and "machi" means "town;" as you can imagine, there are a lot of temples in this district. Most were moved there by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as he toyed around with the city's urban planning. (Incidentally, not a few of said temples were moved to Teramachi from my neighborhood.) The "dera" in Yatadera also means temple; "ya" means "arrow" and "da" means "rice paddy field."

Jizo is a Boddhisattva who has vowed to remain in the hell realms until all sentient beings reach enlightenment. He's also considered a guardian of children (born, unborn, or aborted, which is why he's often dressed in red bib by worshippers) and travellers, which is why I have a soft spot in my heart for him. The writing on the red lanterns are simply the names of the businesses and individuals who've donated to the temple.

Anyway, this is one of my favorite little overlooked temples in the city.

That will be all.
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[identity profile] bloody-american.livejournal.com 2009-02-01 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
He wears a bib because he's a guardian of children. I love that. Little details like that make it all the more interesting. :)

[identity profile] akujunkan.livejournal.com 2009-02-02 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
What's even sweeter is that in many temples, parents leave toys and letters at his feet for him to take to their deceased children. It's really touching.

My boys

[identity profile] wombatdeamor.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
You should leave something for my boys for me: like a flower or something. They can use all the help they can get.