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| Shinnyo-do temple - Tanuki (racoon dog) |
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| Joya no Kane |
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| Shinnyo-do Temple bonsho |
We arrived in Kyoto not quite 24 hrs ago, about three hours delayed and knees rather worse for wear. Otherwise everything went well. The New Year's holiday is three days in Japan, a time for being with family, bidding farewell to the old year at the temples on New Year's eve, and welcoming the New Year at the shrines for the next three days. On New Year's eve, the large bell of the temple (bonsho) is struck 108 times to free people of the 108 Buddhist defilements (from abuse to wrath, with hard heartedness and high-handedness somewhere in the middle of the list). Then there is the celebration of new year, with people lighting cords of dried plants at the fires in the shrines to carry home (not on buses or trains) to light the cooking fire for the first soup of the new year.
Since all the shops were closed today, and in respect for New Years and Win's birthday, we made a trip to the near by Shinnyo-do Temple, a lovely and peaceful spot with much to enjoy including dry landscape gardens (Nehan no niwa - Nehan meaning nirvana or the state of a flame being blown out). This sort of garden often incorporates the background scenery and is called "shakkei" (literally borrowed scenery - in this case Mt Hiei). Even though the leaves are all down now, it was very pleasing. The large bell was silent, and the quaint little Tanuki stood watch in the grounds, for reasons unknown to me. Ususally you see male Tanuki outside of restaurants and other commercial establishments. (The photo of the monks is borrowed.)
Out to dinner at a local restaurant where the owner made us feel very welcome. We were lucky to find it open since we had no chance to buy food today.
We were so happy to be home for Christmas and miss everyone we saw or thought of.
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