Micro-temples
We've had minitrucks, and now, in the second installment of the miniaturization series, here are some micro-temples.
Religion is very pervasive in Japanese life, and it seems alomst every city block has a tiny little temple-like structure. Ohta-san tells me that these usually contain Jizo statues. Jizo being Buddhist deities whose particular specialty is looking after children. Here are some images of these micro-temples. Do not be alarmed. Japan is not full of neo-nazis. The swastika is an ancient Buddhist symbol with Indian origins.
And here's a rooftop nano-shrine:
It's coming up on Obon time here in Japan, so the locals' thoughts turn to travel, temples, and departed relatives. And I am off with a friend to see some "real" temples in Shikoku.
Religion is very pervasive in Japanese life, and it seems alomst every city block has a tiny little temple-like structure. Ohta-san tells me that these usually contain Jizo statues. Jizo being Buddhist deities whose particular specialty is looking after children. Here are some images of these micro-temples. Do not be alarmed. Japan is not full of neo-nazis. The swastika is an ancient Buddhist symbol with Indian origins.
And here's a rooftop nano-shrine:
It's coming up on Obon time here in Japan, so the locals' thoughts turn to travel, temples, and departed relatives. And I am off with a friend to see some "real" temples in Shikoku.
posted by Marcin at Sunday, August 06, 2006
2 Comments:
Hmmm, the Buddhist swastika in your photo looks reflected in the Y-axis vs. the German ones I've seen. Unless your photo was flipped...? Wonder if the orientation is generally random or fixed?
>Hmmm, the Buddhist swastika in your photo
>looks reflected in the Y-axis vs. the German
>ones I've seen.
>Unless your photo was flipped...?
>Wonder if the orientation is generally random or
>fixed?
Yes, the orientation of the symbol is fixed. No flip in the photo.
In Kyoto (and areas close to Kyoto), we have 'Jizo bon' around 20th Aug.
This is a small festival for children held by each small block of town.
Sawicki-san may take some pictures of them!?
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