Byodo-in 平等院

Cool water flowing still
Kiss of wind refreshes skin
Leaves dance on a limb

寒い水静寂に流れて
風邪のキスで肌を新たにする
枝の上葉が踊り

-This is Byodo-in from across the pond. This was my second trip to Uji and Byodoin. I'll be posting another longer tour of the temple in the future. I thought this would be a good photo to go with this haiku. I was here in the early spring then again during the rainy season. Luckily it didn't rain! But it was a lot greener on my second trip.

This year Uji is celebrating the 1000th year of 'The Tale of Genji'. An epic romance novel. It also holds the honor as the first Modern Novel. Murasaki Shikibu, the author, based the novel on her observations of Kyoto court life. Prince Hikaru Genji was a romeo and the book follows his romantic exploits and the consequences that befall him. Genji was son of an Emperor but fell outside the line of ascension.

Genji is not a particularly easy read, and is usually abridged so us mere mortals can follow along.
There are about 50 major characters in the book with a total of over 400 characters.

For More information read Hiragana Times 08/08 issue or visit Wikipedia. Another, more time consuming alternative is to read it.... good luck! I only lasted through about 2/3rds of my abridged version.

You may see more on Genji and Uji in the future!


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