Ancient Japanese Temple In Hawaii? ハワイーでは古いお寺かな？

The cry of the heart
Stirs with the Shakuhachi
Walking past the dead

How well do you know your temples?

Here are two photographs of Byodo-in Temple. The topmost photo is Byodo-in in Uji. The second is Byodo-in in O'ahu Hawaii. It is located at the feet of Mt. Ko'olau in the Valley of Temples.




Hawaii's Byodo-in was built in the 1960's in commemoration of the first Japanese immigrants who worked in Hawaii's cane fields. It is a functional Buddhist Temple where one can partake in Buddhist Ceremonies. Weddings and other ceremonies are held on the Temple grounds.

There is a large 30 ton brass bell on site. It is a replica of the bell at Byodo-in in Uji. It is customarily rung before you enter the temple as a means of purification. The original bell is featured in my previous post on Temple Bells. The bell in Hawaii is called, the 'Peace Bell.'

Interestingly enough this area is known by two names, Valley of the Temples and Memorial Park. The park houses the cemeteries of Buddhist, Shinto, and Catholic dead. Hawaii's Byodo-in houses Catholic Statues, Crypts, along with the Stations of the Cross and Virgin Mary Statues. (Nice to see the Japanese way of intermingling 'religions' has spread across the ocean.)

On the Big Screen

I'm not a 'Lost' fan, but apparently the character Sun's father's home is filmed here at Hawaii's Byodo-in. You may also recognize the area from the movie, "Pearl Harbor" (The most recent version.) There is a brief scene showing Japanese women walking in front of the temple while the Doolittle raid flies over Japan.

For more information on Byodo-in in Hawaii and the Valley of Temples, (Including directions) try these links.

About.com's well researched link
Wikipedia's Valley of the Temples Memorial Park page.

Something NEW at the Pool of Zen

-Here is the photograph of Hawaii's Byodo-in. It has been altered to enhance some of the colors and crispness of the photo. I've noticed that many other sites have altered photographs on their pages. Occasionally I am going to post my own alterations just to give another perspective.

Personally I like the dark shadings and perspective on the photo of the Uji Byodo-in best. I especially like how the ropes are hanging from the eves of the building I am standing in.

For another look at the ancient Byodo-in, Click Here

Which one's your favorite? Do you prefer the original photos or the doctored images?


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 Temple Bells 釣り鐘

Oceans made of stone,
Waves that echo gracefully,
Thundering together




What are they?

Japanese temple bells are know by the terms Tsurigane 釣り鐘　(Hanging Bell) or Bonshou 梵鐘　(Temple bell)。　These bells are almost always found at Buddhist Temples throughout Japan and China. The design was one of many imports from China into Japan with Buddhism. Like many Chinese customs, the Japanese ritualized their creation and refined their use.

Japanese bronze and copper bells hang from ornate frames. On the bell is a strike plate that sits in the lower third of the bell. Hanging from large chains or rope is a 'Mallet' that is swung into the bell.

Many of the original Japanese bells were melted down and their materials used for the war effort during WWII. The bell at Chion-in Temple Kyoto, is the second largest ringing bell in the world, weighing in at a mere 74 tons.


What are they for?

Oddly enough, the post on bells falls in line with several other recent posts on the PoZ. Ringing of the temple bell can be used as another form of ritual purification of the Temple. Ringing of the bells can also be used in the performance of a religious ceremony. In simply pragmatic terms, the ringing of the bells could easily be used to raise the alarm of fire or other public emergency.

At New Year bells around the country are rung 108 times. To read more about this practice, read Muza-Chan's post here.


Is it okay to ring them?

Well, not usually... no. I've come across about 30 or so temple bells and I've only found one of them that was okay to ring. The vast majority are either roped off, or have a number of signs in several languages warning against ringing the bells!

Here's a video from Engyoji Temple in Himeji where it was okay to ring the bell. Engyoji as you may remember was featured in 'The Last Samurai." It is located on mountain in Himeji, and will be the focus of another post. Ringing this bell... was AWESOME!





More information on temple bells?

Bells of the Orient
Japanese Temple Bells
Muza-Chan's Gateway to Japan, New Year Bell Ringing

The top photo is of the temple bell attached to Byodo-in in Uji.
Center photo is the temple bell at Ichijo-ji Kyoto.

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 Graveside Visit （Hakamairi) 墓参り

Only the silent
Wind, rolling among the trees
Stone bound forest

How I got there

This is a graveyard on Mt. Roko, a short drive out of Tondabaya City, Osaka. Apparently this area is well known in Kansai, as I showed a photo of the mountain to a friend and she knew exactly where it was. I came here with friends during a meinichi 命日(Death Anniversary) for the family patriarch. Following a Buddhist ceremony at the family shrine, 仏壇　（ｂｕｔｓｕｄａｎ）, we drove to the graveyard, 墓地　（ｈａｋａｃｈｉ）．

The graveside ceremony

First we removed the old offerings from the grave. This included flowers, incense, and food containers. Then we washed the gravestone. This was very interesting. At the front of the graveyard were small buckets and ladles along with spigots. As we entered the cemetery we picked up a few buckets, ladles, and filled the buckets with water. Ladling water from the bucket we ceremoniously poured water over the gravestone cleaning off dirt, dust, and flower pedals.

After washing off the grave we made a new offering which included flowers, incense, and shochu. Apparently my friend's father enjoyed the specific type of Japanese Shochu (alcohol) that we offered to him that day.

After cleaning off the 'gravestone' 墓、（ｈａｋａ), my friend's mother recited a Buddhist prayer, お経　（Ｏｋｙｏｕ），　while kneeling at the grave. She recited the sutra while counting the stanzas using her Buddhist prayer beads, 数珠　（Ｊｕｚｕ）．　　The two or three minute hypnotizing prayer was made even more impressive because it was recited from memory. (I'll attach the sutra to this post once I find it!)
-A photo of the cleansing utensils as you enter the graveyard.
The Japanese Gravestone

The Japanese Graveyard is very different from Western style cemeteries. The first impression you get is how crowded the cemetery is. The next thing you notice is the design of the 'tombstones' which are completely different. Japanese tombstones are usually inter an entire family not just a single individual.

Another difference you may notice is that the tombstone has writing in black ink and red ink. There will be a long string of Kanji that includes the family name as well as the family patriarchs name. Around this one can see smaller names written on the gravestone. These names are the other members of the family. Black names are those names of people who are deceased and entombed at the grave site. Names in red are the names of those still living.

Daughter's names are not included on the family gravestone. It is expected that they will be added to the gravestone of the family they marry into.

During O-bon festival, Families will travel to their ancestor's graves to pay respects.

The Japanese are far more 'in-tune' with their families past as well as honoring the family members who came before them. I can think of only once that I visited my family's grave site in Pittsburgh. I think that because Americans are so transient in nature and set on living not only in the 'now' but so much looking ahead, that we set little time aside for reflecting on how we arrived at our present location.



The graveyard at Daitokuji



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.

Incense at Temples and Shrines 寺や神社の香炉

Across the Way
Slowly a mourning in song
Drawn from a flute

向こうで
哀哭でゆっくり歌
笛から汲む

Above is a photo from Taiyuji-Tera (Temple) in Osaka just outside of Umeda. (It's a short walk unless you are lost...) I'll Return to Taiyuji-Tera another day. Today I wanted to address another form of purification in Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines.

Kouro 香炉　- (Incense Braziers).

Many, but not all Buddhist Temples in Japan are equipped with Kouro. Kouro are deep basins often covered with a small roof. Inside the basin is a large pile of ash. This ash is used to support the long sticks of incense that can be purchased at the gate or inside the temple itself.

Buddhist Temples in China and Tibet will often use coils of incense hanging from rafters or also inside of basins. Japanese temples are somewhat unique in using the straight sticks of incense, however it isn't unheard of to see it in China, Korea, etc.

What is the purpose of the Kouro?

In Shinto shrines the patrons will purify their person in order to entice the deity to come and be present for the ceremony or prayer. In Buddhist temples the incense is likely being used to purify the location.

However.... It is not unusual to see people wafting the smoke from the Kouro over themselves and inhaling (Incense is carcinogenic by the way!). This is obviously a method of self purification to prepare to be in the presence of the Bodhisattva.

It is important to understand that Buddhist and Shinto religions and religious sites are often intermingled in Japan. And trappings of both are often found in each others temples and shrines.

An incense basin in Shanghai, China. (Temple name unknown.)



You can see the large basins full of incense. The amount of smoke and number of basins indicates to be that the incense is being used to purify the location.

Doug at Japan: Life and Religion discusses the differences between Buddhism before and after it came to the Japans. He mentions that Buddhism did not normally have the same purification beliefs that Shinto did. Instead certain behaviors like bowing or circling the Buddha were practiced out of respect and obeisance.

-If you are fond of Japanese or Chinese culture, it pays to visit both and see the differences and the level of refinement (or just change) that the Japanese have taken with Chinese ideas. One big difference is the disdain for photography at Chinese Temples. Photographer BEWARE!


-Reference the Japanse translation.... Yes, yes, I know the verb Kumu (To ladle/draw water) doesn't work with a flute....


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.

Writing Haiku 俳句を書き方

The cherry blossoms,
A unique repetition
Springing into fall

桜だ
得意繰り返し
秋に弾んで

I've wanted to write down a list of rules for Haiku. So I thought tonight would be a good night to put them down. Here's a brief list. (My favorite part of this list is how contradictory they are!)

1-Seventeen Syllables in three lines divided into 5-7-5.
2-Write what can be said in one breath
3-Use a seasonal work or reference
4-Never have all three lines make a run on sentence
5-Have two images that are only comparative when illuminated by the third image
6-Have two images that are only associated when connected by a third image
7-Have two images that are contrasted by a third image.
8-Always write in present tense.
9-Study the order in which the images are presented, Distant, Close, micro.
10-Avoid Rhymes
11-Rhyme
12-Use word sounds to echo feeling
13-Avoid to many, or all verbs
14-Don't use more than one modifier per noun.
15-Write down each Haiku that comes to you.
16-Make the first line the most catching
17-Make the last line the punch line
18-Write about ordinary things
19-Study any religion or philosophy and let this echo in your verse.
20-Use only concrete images
21-Attempt to have have many layers of meaning
22-Use words that evoke simple images
23-Use images that evoke classical elegant separateness
24-Use images that evoke nostalgic romantic images
25-Use images that evoke a mysterious alone-ness
26-Use puns and word plays.
27-Tell it like it is.
28-Use only images from Nature
29-Avoid all reference to yourself
30-Use no punctuation
31-Use normal punctuation
32-use more or less syllables than 5-7-5.
33-make each sentence a complete thought.
34- Make the first two lines a separate thought from the first.
35-Let the Haiku come from a moment of inspiration.

I think the best thing is how many time the rules contradict themselves.
Obviously try to keep the seasonal reference in your haiku,.

Why are some of the rules contradictory?
-So you can make up your own haiku. Haiku are about capturing a moment, not the rules on how to do it.

-The photo is taken in Koko-en Garden adjacent to Himeji Castle.

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 New Year, Osechi Ryouri お正月、 お節料理

Say its true.. its true
Though I want to be with you
I will begin again

これは正しいと言って
貴方へいきたい、のに
また始まります

Osechi Ryouri

New Year's foods of great significance to the Japanese. I would venture to compare them to the Japanese Equivalent of Thanksgiving dinner. The Turkey. potatoes and gravy of the American celebration are very similar in significance to the Soba, black beans, and fish paste of Japanese new year's cuisine....Sort of..... The American turkey has no symbolism or esoteric qualities... The Turkey simply means you were able to find one at the store..... In Japanese Osechi Ryouri each food has a symbolic quality to it.

The Components of the meal.

Osechi Ryouri is made up of many many small dishes prepared prior to new years. Each has a special significance.　　There are many different types of foods not all listed here...

Black Beans - Healthy living

Herring Roe - Prosperity of your descendants

Shrimp - Longevity

Bitter Orange (Daidai) - A wish for children in the new year.

Fish Paste (Kamaboko) - the pink and white of the dish symbolizes the rising sun and festivities.

Kelp (Konbu) - Joy

Sardines (Tai) - Abundant Harvest , sardines were often used to fertilize the rice fields

Soba Noodles (Tochi Koshi) - These are often home made noodles, symbolic of crossing into the new year

Osechi Ryouri Historically

As with many Japanese traditions Osechi Ryouri and the new year's celebration may have originated in China. New Year's was one of five festivals celebrated by the imperial house. During the first three days of the new years is was 'taboo' to cook using a hearth. Therefore, Osechi Ryouri is comprised of dishes that will keep from spoiling in when stored cool for several days.

Osechi Ryouri are supposed to be completed by New Year's Eve. I've also heard that it is bad luck to cut your finger on the new year. This is one reason why there is no cooking on New Year's Day.

Osechi Ryouri Today

These days Osechi Ryouri are commonly home-made. However, Japanese families can buy them from anywhere between 7-11 and the specialty stores. Prices for Osechi Ryouri vary between $100 and $10,000..... Can you imagine? It is usually served in Jubako, which are lacquered bento boxes stacked upon each other.

Here's a photo of our Osechi Ryouri..... (No neither my wife nor I are Japanese... but we enjoy the little facets of Japanese culture...) And heck... We'll take all the good luck we can get!

ーへザさんの御節料理はめっちゃ美味しかった!

As far as my own New Year's Traditions...
-Mimosa, (Champagne and Orange Juice)
-Eggs for Breakfast, sometimes sausage and pastries.

-And most importantly.
Listening to U2's 'New Year's Day"!

Happy New Year
akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
明けましておめでとうございます!

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.