Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ichibata Yakushi revisited

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I paid another visit to Ichibata Yakushi, the mountaintop temple to the buddha of healing Yakushi Nyorai, located between Lake Shinji and the Japan Sea up in Izumo.

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There are more than 8,000 of these little statues left by pilgrims who come here from all over Japan, mostly to pray for relief from eye problems.

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The bronze statues are 24 cms high and depict a Kenzoku, a guardian of Yakushi Nyorai.

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Each one costs 30,000 yen ( approx $300). Inside each one is a small piece of paper upon which is written the prayer of the pilgrim.

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6 comments:

  1. How did the leaves get into the statuary?

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  2. They have a roof, but no wall, so are open to the wind :)

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  3. The leaves make the photographs more 'interesting', if that's even a good word to use. I'm no wordsmith.

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  4. Thank you for the explanation. I understand better...
    Anne R.

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  5. Fotos incrĂ­veis!
    Adorei, muito bom!
    Parabéns!
    Gisele

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  6. Super shots and great subject matter, this is the Japan I love!

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