PixieKatten

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Tags: photohunt, wordless wednesday, china, kina, xian, terracotta warriors, resa, foto

I got 2 tattoos. First one I did couple of days after I turned 18. Then it took me 11 years to choose and decide on the next one. I drew it myself and got it made in October last year. Already I have plans on getting a third tattoo, this time on my forearm. But it will probably take me a few years to figure out what. So until then I sometimes just doodle or paint things on my arm myself. And on the contrary from the tattoos I got which both are just in black ink, these acrylic creations are always extremely colourful. As this is the way I usually work when I paint.

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Photo is from my Japan archieves. This was taken during the boat trip along Hozu Gawa - from Kameoka to Arashiyama. For more cloud themed pics visit:

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Tags: japan, photohunt, clouds, hozugawa, kameoka, arashiyama, resa, foto

Photos are taken at the Dong Yue Temple in Beijing. It was founded in 1319. It once housed more than 3,000 statues, today about 1,000 still stands in their very bizarre departments. Some of these are the Death and Life Department, the Department for Determining Individual Destiny, the Execution Department, the Department of Wandering Ghosts and the Department for Implementing Fifteen Kinds of Violent Death. Yes, death does seem to be the theme of the temple.

(If anyone ended up here from Shutterday - sorry I posted the pic on the wrong site. Too early in the morning and no coffee.. sorry guys!)

Jizo is the bodhisattva who plunges fearlessly into any place or situation to help those in need. (Bodhisattva is one who devotes his or her life to freeing others from suffering. Bodhisattvas are not worshipped, but are an inspiration to awaken to the qualities of an enlightened being that are inherent in everyone.) Jizo specializes in helping women, children, and those who travel, on both physical and spiritual paths. Jizo embodies the qualities of benevolence, determination, and unflagging optimism. In modern Japan, Jizo is popularly known as the guardian of unborn, aborted, miscarried, and stillborn babies (Mizuko Jizo). These roles were not assigned to Jizo in earlier Buddhist traditions from mainland Asia; they are instead modern adaptations unique to Japan. Jizo serves his customary and traditional roles as patron saint of expectant mothers, children, firemen, travelers and pilgrims. Many Jizo statues are often wearing tiny garments. Since Jizo is the guardian of dead children, sorrowing mothers bring the little garments of their lost ones and dress the Jizo statue in hopes the kindly god will specially protect their child. A little hat or bib is often seen as well, the gift of a rejoicing parent whose child has been cured of dangerous sickness thanks to Jizo's intervention.

At Hase Dera Temple in Kamakura Jizo plays the role of guardian for stillborn, miscarried, or aborted children. Hundreds of little Jizo statues can be found at this temple. According to legend children who died prematurely were sent to the underworld as punishment for causing great sorrow to their parents. They were sent to Sai no Kawara, the river of souls in purgatory, where they prayed for Buddha's compassion by building small stone towers, piling stone upon stone. But underworld demons soon arrived and scattered their stones and beat them with iron clubs. But Jizo came to the rescue. In one version of the story, Jizo hid the children in the sleeves of his robe.

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Tags: jizo, photohunter, japan, resa, foto, kamakura, travel, picture