Karesansui 10 Negorodera 根来寺の 枯れ山水

Surfacing a bit
Behind a weeping sapling
Then back to the deep


今夜、私は新しいポスットを約束してん。　　でも、僕はトテモ眠い！　　最近、私はマジ忙しすぎる。　でも、皆友達も忙しいと思います。　　大変だ。　　本当に私は新しいポスットを書くしかない！　　お久しぶりな?　ごめんなさい。　　

この写真は根来寺です。　　わかやまけん。　僕の友達もろ元と言う人は私達を連れていてん。　　楽しかった！　　この場所はきれいけど少しちさいと思います。　　その場所は私の一番好きな枯山水です。　　きれいやねん。　　

千百三十年に根来寺の尾もともとビルを建てた。　　根来寺の僧侶は強者です。　　その総量な寺は強くなったときねごろでらのあたりで一万人の士卒にいました。　　その士卒はねごろしゅというひとでした。　　でも、ねごろしゅととこがわいえやす様と一勝に友達になったから、とよとみ　ひでよしの敵になった。　　千五百八十五年ひでよしさまはねごろでらを打ち勝った。　　彼は根来寺を焦げて、ねごろしゅを殺した。　　ねごろしゅと言う人の専門は鉄砲です。　　トテモ危ない人かもしれませんでした。

千百五十五年このぱごだ、たほとというぱごだは建てた。　　根来寺の景色をみてください。　　安心です。

じゃまた。　また、もともと根来寺のポスットを見て下さい。　

Well, I'm sorry to have been so slow to post another addition to the pool of zen. It's been a hectic few weeks as summer winds down. But, I'm not the only busy one out there. I think all my friends are equally busy, if not more.

In 2008 we visited Wakayama prefecture with some good friends. We saw a few sights, one of them being Negoro temple. Negoro Temple had some fascinating Karesansui. Unfortunately because it is such a small area, it was hard to get a lot of great photographs that captured the essence. It is my favorite Karesansui because of its simplicity.

Negoro Temple was founded in 1130 and built in 1228. The temple was built by Shingi Shingon sect of Buddhism. The Monks who lived at the temple were known and Negoroshu. (my Japanese spelling above may be wrong... it could be ねごろしゅう). The monks were renowned warriors and at their strongest had over 10,000 soldiers.

Oda Nobunaga during his rise to power made enemies with many sects of buddhism, totally annihilating a few sects. Hideyoshi Toyotomi was crucial in these battles and continued the legacy of purging warrior monk sects from their territory. Many of the sects caused insurgencies and led blatant uprisings against them. The Negoroshuu were allied with Ieyasu Togugawa who was a rival of Hideyoshi. In 1585 Hideyoshi attacked, defeated, and burned down the temple complex. The pagoda, also known as Taho-to (photographed) dates back to 1515.

If you would like to see my original Karesansui post on Negoro-dera click on this link.


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 Qoutes / Proverbs 2 日本語の諺

Dragon flies pass by
Before a sun soaked stone
No, now perched upon

僕の日本人の友達のためにこのポスットで日本語を使っている。　　京都のぎおんで湖の写真を写してん。　　都をどり間写真を撮ってん。　

今日のポスットは日本語の諺です。　　僕の作る本はめっちゃふういやから、　僕の諺も古いと思います!　　でも、　一生懸命にできる。　　僕の作る本はDaniel Buchanan, ｛Japanese Proverbs and Sayings」, University of Oklahoma Press, 1965.　

日本の諺とアメリカの諺はトテモ違うと思います。　　日本の諺とアメリカとどちらが元面白いかな。　時々英語の翻訳をちょっと変．　でも　強くできました。　　作る本の作家は翻訳をしてん。　　でも、今、彼の翻訳はちょっと可笑しいやねん。　楽しんでください。　

So for today's post I am revisiting some Japanese Proverbs. My wife purchased a great book for me while in her home town. (Which is totally inaka 田舎). So I was surprised to find this book, which I have never seen in any other book stores. The book, "Japanese Proverbs and Sayings", covers
a ton of Japanese Proverbs. Something I had been looking for for a long time.

Some of the author's translations and 'English equivalents' are a bit dated. Without changing the original intent too much I will attempt to modernize the translations.

This photo was taken in Gion during the spring Cherry Blossom Festival. The pink latterns and signs are all advertising the Miyako odori. Literally Capital Dances. These are the Geisha and Maiko dances of Gion.

Please enjoy the proverbs, and I promise more coming. Of course, I want to make sure Daniel Buchanan, ｛Japanese Proverbs and Sayings」, University of Oklahoma Press, 1965.　gets all the deserving credit, (page numbers included.)

-Koi no ikusa wa shudan wo erabasu ー　こいのいくさはしゅだんをえらばず

All's fair in love and war.(13)

This one is very famous;

-Kiyomizu no butai kara tobi-orareta ya　－　清水寺のぶたいからとびおったよ。

The saying describes taking a big risk. It is the opposite of "look before you leap". Kiyomizu is built on a hillside. There is a large stage built on an impressive scaffolding. Imagine leaping into thin air 4 or five stories up without bothering to look and you get the picture. Look for a post on Kiyomizu in the future. (86)

-Bara ni toge ari ー　薔薇に棘あり

Every rose has it:s thorn (37)

-Korobanu saki no tsue ー　ころばぬさきのつえ

Be prepared. (literally before you fall use a staff) (39)

-Kaze fuke domo yama wa ugokasu ー　風邪ふけども山は動かす
　
This one is right out of Mulan.... No matter how much the wind howls the mountain will not bow to it.

-Kuchi wa toji, me wa ake ー 口は閉じ、目は開け

This is one I didn't learn until it was too late! Mouth shut, eyes open.

-Atatte kudakero ーあたってくだけろ

This one is interesting, it literally means, to dash against it and be smashed. A battle cry against immeasurable odds. (50)

-Taorete nochi yamu ー　倒れて後止む

I like this one. Literally it means, "stop after falling". But it would translate to, "fight to the bitter end" or "Never give up". I like it!(51)

So check out the book. It is easy to browse and find very interesting quotes / proverbs. One of my favorite things is seeing how similar English and Japanese proverbs are. -Of course there are plenty that are quite 'out there' as it were.

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.