March 29, 2020
March 11, 2020
Spring garden: Tokei-ji
In the spring garden flooded with the bright sunlight, trees and plants are silently competing with each other to grow lively here.
The pleasant fragrances of the living things just woken from their winter sleep are floating gently in the air to make me feel the joy of spring.
The pale pink flowers of Ume are surrounding the bronze statue of Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha) and are shining softly like the radiant light of great compassion which is emitted by this sacred image.
Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers: Tokei-ji
Before any other flower, Ume flowers begin blooming in the cold of February to silently announce the incoming of long-expected spring.
Under the wintry sky, these flowers come into bloom dignifiedly on the dried and bare branches and emit their faint but fragrant scent into the chilly air.
In East Asia, it is said that a precious flower of Ume symbolizes the image of an innocent and pure young lady because of its virtue of noble blooming.
Byakusin (Juniperus) flowers: Engaku-ji
In the front yard of the Hojo (main hall), an old Byakusin (Chinese juniper) tree is standing still in solitude for hundreds of years like a Zen monk who keeps meditating everlastingly.
Every spring, this aged tree bears a great number of humble yellow flowers as if to be grateful for the return of the beautiful season of regrowth.
According to the style of architecture of the Zen temples introduced by Sung of China, evergreen Byakusin trees are planted in the frontcourt of Butsu-den (Buddha hall) as the symbol of the state of perfect enlightenment.
February 24, 2020
Mejiro (Zosterops japonicus) bird: Engaku-ji
The light magenta flowers of Kawazu-zakura have just come into full bloom to notify us of the arrival of long-awaited spring. In the warm sunlight from the bright blue sky, wintry gloom and chill cannot be felt any longer.
A Mejiro (silvereye) bird is absorbedly flying from flower to flower to suck the sweet nectar of these fresh flowers and to fully enjoy its precious share of this spring glory.
According to the ceaseless revolution of our planet earth around the sun, the seasons continue to rotate and everything keeps changing without any break.
Kawazu-zakura (Cerasus lannesiana Carrière, 1872 ‘Kawazu-zakura’) flowers: Engaku-ji
Thanks to the air temperature and sunshine duration which increase day by day, various spring flowers start blooming hurriedly one after another.
The subtle and sweet fragrance emitted by these flowers stealthily spreads into the air to awake living things from their long winter sleep gently.
Soon an enormous number of new green leaves will emerge in unison and be sure to fill the world with their bright and lively colors of life.
Suisen (Narcissus) flowers: Kaizo-ji
The dead autumn leaves, which had flaming colors before, are gradually decomposed into dust by microorganisms on the ground and provide rich nutrients for the new birth of lives in springtime.
On the moss-covered slope, by the side of the decayed stumps, the vivid yellow flowers of Narcissus are blooming innocently like little children.
In the cycle of the seasons, the wheel of life is turning endlessly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)