Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
October 24, 2011
N's Postcards - 84
September 19, 2011
N's Postcards - 79
November 14, 2008
916
A wonderful sunrise view in Japan. Also enoyable, the writer is in Toyota - the brand of car that we drive :D Thank you Satomi! JP-48428
September 17, 2008
818
Shaka Triad in Horyuji Temple. There is also a close up here: http://shaunnaf.blogspot.com/2008/09/810.html and you can learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SakyamuniThanks Noriko!
817
I'm told this is a statue of Basara daisho in Shin-yakushi-ji Temple. He looks vicious! Thanks Noriko!
813
This is Akasagarbha Bodhisattva - it's said his wisdom is as boundless as space itself. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akasagarbha Thanks Noriko!
September 16, 2008
812
The bottom says "the Great Image of Buddha". I'm told that it is the famous Daibutsu of Todaiji. (Is he the one kids could crawl in his nose?) His fingers are the size of a man, and when he was made it almost bankrupted Japan - it used all the bronze that could be found! But it still stands, well over 1000 years old - it was unveiled in 752. Wow! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Ddai-ji) Thanks Noriko!
811
One of the supporting posts in the Great Buddha Hall has a hole that has been bored through the base. Visitors try to pass through the hole which is said to be the same size as one of Daibutsu's nostrils. (Why???) Legend has it that those who pass through it will be blessed with enlightenment in their next life. Children usually have no trouble getting through but adults sometimes get stuck and need to be pulled out.The things some people do. Help! I'm stuck in a pillar! :) From what I see - I wouldn't fit at all. :) Thanks Noriko!
810
I believe this is part of the Shaka Triad, and that this part shows Sakyamuni, the Buddha in the centre. Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni (“sage of the Shakyas”), is the key figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules were said to have been summarized after his death and memorized by the sangha. (more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakyamuni) Thanks Noriko!
809
9 Faces of Kannon, statue in Horyu-ji Temple. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannon) Thanks Noriko!
808
A mural of Guan Yin (more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannon) in the Horyu-ji Temple. Thank you, Noriko!
807
Guan Yin (for more see 806) is the bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually female. For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannon . Thanks Noriko!
806
One Buddhist legend presents Guan Yin as vowing to never rest until she had freed all sentient beings from samsara, reincarnation. Despite strenuous effort, she realized that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, her head split into eleven pieces. Amitabha Buddha, seeing her plight, gave her eleven heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokitesvara attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that her two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha came to her aid and appointed her a thousand arms with which to aid the many. Many Himalayan versions of the tale include eight arms with which Avalokitesvara skillfully upholds the Dharma, each possessing its own particular implement, while more Chinese-specific versions give varying accounts of this number. (From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannon). Thank Noriko!805
Maitreya is a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya. Thank you Noriko!
January 3, 2008
September 14, 2007
587
Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto :) Isn't it pretty?? I love buildings like this :) Thank you Yukiko! JP-16898
February 20, 2007
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