I was back in Japan in a beautiful spring time. I really appreciate Japanese old and traditional designs and I want to share the good karma I got.
Traditionally, we display koi fish(koinobori) for a boy’s day on 5th May, wishing they will grow brave and strong. So, why koi fish? Apparently, in old days, we believed that the strong koi fish will turn into a waterdragon after they climb up the waterfall. [singlepic id=127 w=320 h=320 float=][singlepic id=130 w=320 h=320 float=]The shrine is scattered around in Japan and we visit them to get some good spirits and to make a wish at least onc e a year. I love visiting shrines as I always feel serene around it. [singlepic id=131 w=320 h=320 float=][singlepic id=135 w=320 h=320 float=]We don’t have a god like Jesus Christ, there are shrines such as shrine for warding off evil, shrine for bringing lucks and even for fertility and easy baby delivery. We also believe that the good spirits lives in the nature. The picture below shows there is a god lives in the old tree. [singlepic id=128 w=320 h=320 float=] I was simply surprised to found out this shrine in my neighbourhood, Matsudaira in Mikawa area, is belong to Shogun Tokugawa’s ancestors and related to Nikko toshogu. Here is a history catch up -Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Wikipedia Matsudaira toshogu is known to be important because of this historical holly well. When the shogun Tokugawa was born, the spirits told his mother to use the water from this well to bring him up to be a ruler. Well, it certainly worked! He ruled the last samurai era. [singlepic id=129 w=320 h=320 float=][singlepic id=132 w=320 h=320 float=] Finally, my usual fun spot. Osu Antique market in the Osu Temple in Nagoya. Antiques in Japan are very precious as most of them have been damaged by the numerous natural disasters and wars. [singlepic id=133 w=320 h=320 float=][singlepic id=137 w=320 h=320 float=]
Follow
