May 10, 2008
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Zen Temple at Dazaifu
Today we went to a museum in Dazaifu to see an exhibition of old picture scrolls. The two most memorable were about women who got involved with and were deserted by fellows who decided that the priesthood was a more noble calling. One of the ladies threw herself off a cliff into the ocean, became a dragon and helped the guy get where ever he was going in safety. The other lady threw herself into the ocean, became a dragon and bedeviled her former feller and eventually did him in.
Hub did not have the patience to brave the crowds to see the entire exhibition. I mean, people just do not move, but stand there glued to the spot where they are standing in front of the glass cases. I am a bit pushy, and keep moving, albiet slowly. It is amazing how a bit of gentle pressure from behind gets things going. After the museum, we walked through Hachimangu Shrine on our way to a Zen temple that hub had wanted to see.
Moss on the roof of a small shrine
The same shrine from the front, an important cultural property
Another small shrine
Entrance to Zen temple, front garden
Roof tiles piled up under a building. These are nothing spectacular, just inneresting.
A polished hallway inside the temple. Notice the size of the floorboards! They just don't make them like that anymore!
The rear garden. This is done in traditional "karesansui" style. (dry mountains and water.) It was raining today, so the karesansui is soggy.
Roots growing over the gutter
The garden seen from inside the temple
The local idler
Another shot of the garden
This is inside a small tea room. The indentation in the floor is for a charcoal heater and teapot to heat the water used in the tea ceremony.
Outside of the tea room. On the right there is a bench to sit on while awaitiong one's turn in the tearoom. To the left is a place to wash your hands and rinse your mouth before entering through the small wooden door on the left, which is closed.
Tea room view of the garden
Hey, I want a place like this!
