Daitokuji Tour 大徳寺

Trusting the path
The stones laid before me
Turn over in my wake

道を信用する
前に石が横たわった
後に回っている

There's nothing quite like a giant sign to point the way to history! When I'm traveling I enjoy being in those places where there are no tour guides. A pamphlet or two never hurts but even with these I usually only look at them after I've left. I wonder what exploration and adventure lay ahead of me on my coming trip to Japan. There's always a struggle between revisiting the familiar or breaking into new ground. Hopefully I can do both! (Hopefully, I'll only get on the wrong train a few times... and never when it matters!)

Here are a few more photographs from my walk through Daitokuji. Definitely an impressionable location. To take the walking tour, click here.

Make sure you look at the rest of my posts on Daitokuji, tagged with similar labels.


All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Kansai Ben 2 関西べん

Here's some important things to know about Kansai speech. For those who aren't aware; the Osaka area has its own Dialect that is different from the Tokyo way of speaking. Why is this interesting? Well most (if not all) Japanese courses are in Tokyo dialect. So when you travel to Osaka, Japanese sounds totally different.

This post is really intended for those with some Japanese proficiency....
Okay here goes. Japanese sentence endings effect the entire meaning of the sentence. Similar to Spanish, where verb endings dictate meaning. (But then again, not even close to Spanish...)

Tokyo Style (Kanto-ben) Becomes ~> Kansai ben　　　Example
です　　desu 　　　　　　　 ~> yanen やねん　　　　　易しいやねん
だ da ~> ya や　　　　　　　　　　静かや
～ます　masu ~> Dict verb + nen ねん　行くねん
ね？　　ne? (question) ~> na? かわいな？
でも　demo (but) ~> demo na でもな
あの。。。（ummm） ~> ano na あのな
それで (and then) ~> hon de ほんで

Ta form Past tense.
Verb Ending Kanto 　　　　　　　Kansai
行く　　　　　　　　った　　　　　　　　　ってん　　　
く　　　　　　　　　いた　　　　　　　　　いでん
ぐ　　　　　　　　　いだ　　　　　　　　　いでん
う、つ、る　　　　　った　　　　　　　　　ってん
ね、む、ぶ　　　　んだ　　　　　　　　　んでん
する、来る　　　　した・きた　　　　　　してん・きてん

There is no difference in te form verbs

So that was a big piece of information for me to chew on after a conversation with my speech partner... I hope it helps you out. Many thanks to Tomoe!

-This photo is of Kobe Tower. Kobe is one of my favorite cities. It has a big downtown, but within a 5 minute bus ride you can get right to hiking in the mountains. It is pretty cool. Kobe has many famous attractions such as sanomiya shopping center and Kitano (North Kobe). Kitano is a famous Dutch settlement. It has some neat attractions and older European style homes. (we bought some great European Doll house furniture here for our girls!) Another must see is Nankin-machi (China Town). You should go visit some time!!!



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Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Going to Japan, 日本へ行くぞ！

On adventure's brink
I happily lay my plans
daydreaming carelessly


Well, I've been looking forward to this post for a long time. Its a little spur of the moment!!! It all boils down to cost and opportunity! That and a nice wife to boot! Osaka here I come! I'll be in the big city of Osaka from April 21st to April 27th (Japan time). All the while having a great time.

Things I would like to do -
-See a WWII airplane museum (probably won't happen)
-Get a photo of a sunrise over the Pacific (probably won't happen)
-Eat nothing but Japanese Food! (Definitely)
-Help cook Japanese food (Definitely)
-See some friends (Definitely)
-Practice Japanese (ummm yup)
-Visit area shrines and temples (Check)
-Go hiking (Maybe yes)
-See Sumo (Probably no)
-KARAOKE (YES!)
-Izakaya (Maybe yes!)
-Visit places in Osaka tourists usual don't go.
-Get some more photo's and inspiration for the blog
-Scout out some plans for a big family trip to Hiroshima!
-See Mt. Fuji (Last time I went through Tokyo it was raining)
-See a baseball game!!!

Got any ideas? leave a comment, or e-mail me! Many thanks to all my friends -and family- who are making this possible! If I get to a computer I'll try some remote posting!


-Welcome to all my new readers, lately I've been getting a lot of new traffic from all over the world. Which makes me happy! We're glad to have you one board. Set up an RSS feed to keep up to date here!



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Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Karesansui - 6 Daitokuji's Ryogintei 大徳寺

Pausing on the beach
Maidens lower their parasols
For the dazzling wave

浜で待つ
乙女は傘を下げる
波のために

I was surprised to discover that this is still referred to as a Karesansui. In my mind Karesansui were always creations of stone. Little did I know that a little moss would do the trick. This garden, Ryogintei, was first created during the Muromachi period around some time before 1525. Some posts put its creation in the 1200s. However, the creator, Soami was not alive until the late 1400s dying in 1525. The more likely creation date is 1502 or 1504. Moss gardens were the first adaptations from their Chinese predecessors to find a home in Japan.

Soami is also famous for his `Landscape in Four Seasons` painted on six screens. One can see the significant Chinese influence in his work. Visit this site for some information on him and his work.

In the background is a building you may see again, named Kaisodo. Besides its name I haven't been able to find much more information on it.

On a utilitarian note. The gravel moat between the garden and deck is used to collect water run off from the roof. Therefore cutting back on any erosion.

All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Japanese Quotes / Proverbs 日本語の諺

Tempered and cool
Heavy burden on the heart
I have no swords

強くて涼しい
心で重い重荷
刀がありません

A few of my favorite Japanese Quotes.

"One Realm, under one sword."
Tenka fubu
天下をふぶ
Oda Nobunaga's public slogan

"Only I know that I'm okay with what I've got."
Waretade shiru taru
われたで知るたる
OdaNobunaga's personal motto

And my personal favorite... and motto.. (even though Oda's is pretty good.)

"The nail that stands up gets hammered down."
でる　くい　は　うたれる
出る杭は打たれる
Japanese Proverb


-Photo of an unknown Samurai in Kyoto, near the Shirokawa.

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Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Karesansui - 5 Daitokuji's Ishidan 大徳寺

Inhale Deeply
Turning on a stony path
Finally I can breathe

深い吸い込む
やっと、息をするできる
石てき道に回る


I don't remember exactly how one comes upon this karesansui. My photo gives the impression that the expanse opens up before you as you emerge from a hallway. Karesansui in temples are rarely viewed from the ground level. In fact I don't remember ever seeing one that you stood on the same level as the garden. All the garden's I can remember are viewed from a walkway or deck. It gives the impression to walking on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Spokane is not the most tropical of climates. It rarely rains in the summer, and when it does it is a thunderous downpour. A short flight or 4 hour drive drops you into another world along the Pacific Ocean. A popular travel destination is the Oregon Coast. Near Cannon Beach OR, the mountains tower over the ocean then roll into the sea. Standing over a Karesansui always reminds me of hiking in Oregon overlooking the ocean.

So take a little hike in Oregon, add a little Karesansui, with a little inspiration from the latest U2 album and there's today's Haiku. Enjoy.

This photo is of Ishidan in Daitokuji. It is built in the Houraisan style 蓬莱山. This style of Zen garden is made with an inspiration from Mt. Penglai, a legendary mountain of China. 山 (Yama) in Japanese usually denotes a mountain. Mt. Penglai is one of three mystical legendary mountains where the immortals were said to live. Several ancient Japanese Emperors sent expeditions to the island mountains in search of immortality.

There is an excellent web-page that discusses Muromachi style rock gardens such as Ishidan, you can visit it here. From reading the article, it appears as though this garden was created in the Edo period (1603-1867). Another interesting web-page on this style of garden is here.



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Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Daitokuji Graveyard、 大徳寺の墓地

Under the blue sky
Marveling at a cold stone
Unbroken silence

青い空の下
涼しい石を驚く
静か静か

I've always had a bit of a fascination with cemeteries. The innate macabre, the history, and the mystery of the lives of those buried. They speak to something deep rooted that makes us human.

私は墓地がずっと驚きます。　墓地の死と歴史とミステリはおもろいと思う。　墓地は深い何かに話します。　　　　

This modern looking tomb lays in Daitokuji attached to Obai-in Temple. The cemetery also houses soldiers who died during a 100 year period of conflict starting in 1467.

この墓場は現代的みたいだ。　　大徳寺のおばいいんのそばにあります。　　千四百六十七からこの墓地の中に百人の侍の墓場があります。　　

While I don't remember where I got the information, I believe Takuan Soho a famed Zen monk is buried here. Takuan Soho was the head abbot of Daitokuji. He also had close ties to the Yagyu clan and the Tokugawa Shogunate. He was influential in the bonding between Samurai and Zen Buddhism.

その正確さが忘れる間、この有名な人そほ・たくあんというはここに埋めたと思います。　　そほ・たくあん様は大徳寺の長でした。　　とうがわとやぎゅうのかぞくに近い絆がありました。　　侍とゼンの絆は影響を与えた。

You can read one of his books, "The Unfettered Mind".

彼の本を読むことできる。


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Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Daitokuji stone, 大徳寺の石

A lone sentry
Unyielding to the protest
Of a warm day's breeze

一人の歩哨
暖かい日の風邪で
抗議は屈服しない

I can't say I stayed and gazed at this for too long as I passed by this spot walking through Daitokuji. I do remember wondering, "What is that?" My curiosity was piqued by the simplicity that the scene produced. It wasn't until later that I realized that this stone is a fairly common stop sign in Japanese Gardens. Even without fully understanding its meaning I remember having a feeling that it meant just that, "Don't pass."

This was my first encounter with a stone wrapped in a rope setting on a pathway. I was very surprised at Negoro Tera that there were no stones blocking the paths into the karesansui.

I think, that if I were to take this photo again, I would do it from a lower angle. In this way I could capture more of the dimesion and impassible nature of the stone. Certainly were I to create a garden I would set at least one of these out for that simplifying effect. Though, there is a certain Indiana Jones' feel about it as well...."Don't pass....you don't know what your getting in to."




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Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Walkways of Daitokuji、大徳寺の道

These feet have touched
The polished woods of history
On paths at Daitokuji

この足は
大徳寺の道で
易しい板を触れた

I enjoy this photograph from Daitokuji. I'm not positive which temple this is, but it is likely Obai-in temple. The photograph really isn't anything particularly spectacular, but it brings back good memories. This was the first time I had really experience walking on the boards of an ancient building. Obai-in temple was building in the mid to late 1500's. It was originally built as a tea-house and then re-commissioned as a Zen Temple.

I'm not sure how old the wood planks are but as you walk on them you can literally feel the history. The wood has a very soft feel to it that is relaxing as you walk on it. Completely unlike hardwood flooring in a house. I think it is a feel that comes from the continuous polishing of feet.

Daitokuji had splendid wood pathways between the buildings. The architecture was stunning and the authentic historic feel is captivating.



All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Walking in Daitokuji 大徳寺で散歩をしています

Hear adventure call
Will it be answered today
Today is for rest

冒険の召集が聞く
今日、そのが答えるだろう。
さあ、休み

Daitokuji is similar to Hogoin Temple in Arashiyama. They are both large complexes with several buildings, gardens, and temples set together. The temples are on streets set out on a grid. Each building is separated by walls with their own individual gate. In Daitokuji there is about a $4 fee to enter each building.



All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Karesansui - 4: Daitokuji's Totekiko 大徳寺

Inside an Ocean
Sunlight playing in the eyes
Waves rolling by

中のいる海
目で日光が遊びます
波が揺さぶる

-This is the beginning to my brief run on Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto. Daitokuji is in the North-West section of the city. It is a complex of several zen temples. If you are walking, it is the first of three major attractions you can see after getting off the subway. A days walk between Daitokuji, Kinkakuji, and Ninnaji made for a nice afternoon. One can ride the bus, however, my memories are cemented with the neighborhoods we passed through, and cemetaries we passed by.

-This photograph is of Totekiko Garden. It is said to be the smallest Karesansui in Japan. I'm guessing that it the the smalles 'official' rock garden. I have another photo I will post at the end of the series of the roofline above. The roofs of three buildings come together allowing the light to spill into the garden. Totekiko is great... simply because one can photograph the entire garden at once!

More on Daitokuji to come. Enjoy the photographs.

All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Ryozen Kannon

-I decided to split my last post in two. Sorry no Haiku....maybe later.

Near Kodaiji is the 80 foot high Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon). I thought this was an interesting location to visit. Here is the link to Wikipedia on Ryozen Kannon. There isn't a terribly large amount of information but there is the link that explains what Avalokitesvara represents. Interestingly enough, Avalokitesvara is also known by the name, Guan Jin. Though they do are not necessarily the same entity. Maybe my contact at Japan Life and Religion will give us some insight.

Next to the Bodhisattva is a shrine for all the soldiers lost in WWII. What I found very interesting about it, was that it was not a shrine specifically for Japanese soldiers, but included Allied Personnel who died in territory controlled by the Japanese during WWII. I haven't seen any memorials in any other country for the war dead of the opposing side. I haven't even heard of anything remotely similar. I was impressed. Though it may be that I never looked.

I have attached a few pictures of the Bodhisavattva and memorial here, take a look.

-Many thanks to those of you who have an RSS feed or follow the blog getting instant updates on new posts!


All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.

Karesansui - 3 Kodaiji 高台寺の枯山水

Onward rush of Waves
Evening chill comes on with fog
Sea spray with each breath.

先に波が急ぎ
夜のすめたい霧
息で海霧が来た

-Another photo of the famous karesansui at Kodaiji in Kyoto. Kodaiji is on the walk back to Gion from Kiyomizu-dera. It is a busy neighborhood with many tourist sites within walking distance。

Kodaiji is one of those places that is easily missed. I enjoyed it because of the old buildings and the nice gardens. The cherry blossoms were very pretty and were first to bloom in the area. It makes for an easy walk from Kiyomizudera. One of my favorite sights there was the covered bridge, also featured in my Bridges post. At the time, having 2 semesters of Japanese under my belt I was unable to get anything more than a basic tourist impression of the location. I don't konw if I would get anything more on any subsequent visits, but I think I would like to try some day. Kodaiji wasn't as crowded as Ryoanji, nor as famous, but I enjoyed it as much if not more.

Read my previous post on Kodaiji. Including a history of the location and related links.

All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.