May 15, 2013

Sonkoji, or at least I think that is the name.

 This is a private home, but I do not know whether or not it is related to the temple, which I forgot to mention belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Sect, not the Zen Sect. Not that this matters particularly. The various sects get along with each other, often sharing physical facilities. The general idea is not that a sect is correct and the others wrong (with only a few exceptions), but that they are just different ways to get to the same place. I had it explained to me one time. It is like wanting to get from A to B and having a road map. There will be a large number of routes that get you there, some having some advantages and others having different advantages or disadvantages. No one route is right or wrong. Their value depends on other things, why you want to go and the conditions under which you are traveling.
 This seems to be some sort of meeting or meditation hall. I did not see a sign so I do not know, but it definitely looks like a religious site.
 Here are some koinobori, koi meaning carp and nobori rising, which are flown for boys during the period around Children's Day, May 5. The ones on the left represent the koi. The next picture shows a closeup of the banner on the right.
 The kanji in the white area is the given name of the boy. The picture at the bottom is a warrior on a horse.
 This gate was very artistic with the two old wagon wheels attached to it.
This is another banner that accompanied koinobori. The picture is a tiger. The pictures always represent the characteristics that the family want to exhibit as they grow up.

No comments: