A land without squirrels (II)

We did see plenty of images of animals - no shortages there. I don't know anything about Buddhism, but it would appear that animals figure strongly, as we saw animal statues and carvings all throughout the shrines we visited.

This one's famous -- you recognize these three monkeys! They were at Tosho-gu Shrine at Nikko. Interestingly enough, they were part of the Sacred Stable, which happened to be inhabited by a white horse, a gift of the Mauri people of New Zealand. The many school kids there were charmed by the horse, not that much interested in these little monkeys.
These statues are both parts of the fountains in front of every shrine. Before one enters a shrine one should wash off the hands and rinse out the mouth. The water was quite a relief because it was really really... well, you know. These two were at two different temples in Kyoto.


This is a panel in a chest we saw at Daisho-in on Miyajima. The chest was covered in carvings.
Not only did we see images of animals in the temples, but they were also strongly part of advertising. This was for carrier service, like UPS. There was a competitor that also used an animal carrying its young, I think a bear on its back. (Baker)
Advertising, signage, seemed to be gently humorous. Or maybe it was inadvertently humorous? (Baker)
The hiking path up to Mt. Misen was being repaired after one too many typhoons. This is I guess a variation of "pardon our dust," but I love the bowing in apology!

This other sign about the ropeway (cable car) we never did figure out (Baker)

















Alan spent some time looking for this sign. The big train stations have lockers of varying sizes, including ones big enough to hold our gigantic bags. I guess sometimes people put in other things besides luggage. (Baker)
The temple on Miyajima that we spent a lot of time at, Daisho-in, was the most light-hearted one we visited. This statue is actually of a popular cartoon character named An Pan Man, which means red bean paste bread man. I think like those dimsum dumplings you get in Chinatown. Anyway, he's everywhere! Although I think even Alan was shocked to see him here. (Baker)
Also at Daisho-in.
If there was a theme at Daisho-in, it was miniatures, and lots of them. This site contains 500 Rakan statues - statues of 500 of Shaka Nyorai's disciples, each with a unique facial expression. Shaka Nyorai is Shaka Buddha, the image of which is of a Buddha lying down (entering Nirvana), pictured elsewhere.
Here are some of the 1,000 Fudo myo-o, or Immovable King, images that were donated by worshippers.





















This was inside the Henjyokutsu Cave, with the principal Buddhists icons of the 88 temples of the pilgramage route on Shikoku -- I haven't the slightest idea of where Shikoku is. It was lighted with hundreds of lanterns hung from the ceiling. Along the walls were the mini-Buddhas wearing necklaces and other trinkets for luck.
Even the Dalai Lama came here! Or at least some of his guys. This is one of those mandalas made using colored sand. This one is of Kannon Bosatu, the symbol of mercy. (Baker)
Okay, I don't know what the deal is with pineapple at Daisho-in, but it was all over the place, as offerings. This is I believe is Kobo Daishi, who founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism. (Baker)
Finally, at the top of Mt. Misen, above Daisho-in. While I sat in the AC, looking at the sad monkeys, Alan climbed up further, and saw even more shrines, and drank hot tea (hot!) made from water boiled in a pot under which a fire has been burning for 600 hundred years! This same fire was used to light the Flame of Peach at Hiroshima, which will keep burning until all nuclear weapons are banished. Let's hope that's not for another 600 years. (Baker)
And here Alan is himself, up on Mt. Misen,taken by a fellow tourist.