| |
|
Words-and-Pictures: The Okunoin on Mount Koya
(as seen on October
13th, 2001, on the Yamato stage of the
Aki Meguri)
|
| Note:
This
is the Okunoin ("Back Temple") of Mt Koya, home of Japan's Shingon Buddhism. Located
in Honshu's Wakayama Prefecture, Koyasan is the proper start and end
point for the 88 Temple Pilgrimage on the Island of Shikoku
You can read more about my visit to the Okunoin in my Logbook,
and go to the Shikoku
homepage to read about the pilgrimage. You may also choose to
go all the way to the beginning of my Aki Meguri
and start reading there. |
|
|
|
As I said in the Logbook, one could spend days shooting here.
These are just a few representative shots.
|
|
|
The primary
attraction here for many is that the cemetery stands in a
pristine cedar forest. Old trees and old stones. |
| These are gorinto, gravestones
with an esoteric meaning. Each one is made of five
distinct geometric shapes, which correspond to one
of the five elements of Chinese "science." These
are also the names of the days of the week in Japan (except for
Sunday and Monday, named for the Sun and Moon respectively).
These are Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth. |
|
|
|
Now, after all this talk of esoteric
Buddhism--and in the headquarters of Kobo Daishi's sect--notice
that Shinto torii gates seem perfectly at home. |
| Some are buried in little houses of
their own... |
|
|
|
...others under monumental
statuary... |
| ...others under something kind of
cute... |
|
|
|
...and still others under something
downright goofy looking. Jizo the Jester. |
|
|
HISTORY
