Karesansui - 8 Shitennoji 四天王寺

In the blindness
Of a passing ocean's spray
Call out to the surf

So, this is Shitennoji temple. At the moment I don't have much information on Shitennoji. I know that it was originally built 1400 years ago and is the oldest temple in Osaka. It is located in the Southern portion of the city. I also know, that it is easiest to get there by using the Midosuji subway line than the City Loop Line... Why is it easier you ask.... Well, because if you happen to get on the wrong train instead of the City Loop Line... you end up heading off into the distant reaches of Eastern Osaka...

Actually it was a pretty easy fix, hop off one train, cross the tracks and get back on going the opposite direction. It was the only time during my last trip I got on the wrong train... But it set me back about 20 minutes. And when you are on a time schedule every second counts. It did set me up for a chance encounter with an Osaka Native who gave me an impromptu tour of Tennoji.

Tennoji is the neighborhood surrounding Shitennoji. We'll tackle Tennoji and more about Shitennoji on another day.

This Karesansui is in the Northern portion of the Temple grounds. I was very happy get the contrast of the shadow and sunlight to show up in the photo. Without the shadows the pattern in the rocks was almost imperceptible. Japanese Style is often a contrast between light and dark as well as empty and used space. An example of this is the tatami room often found in Japanese homes, (more on this in future posts as well).

-This was supposed to be in Japanese.... but I'm just too darn tired!

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No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.