Chikara-nawa, strong rope, at Ponto-cho, in Kyoto

This is Chikara-nawa, strong rope, of Benkei. He was strong and known as a hero in Heian period, about 1000 years ago. This is decorated to wish to be healthy physically and mentally.

An old house with a garden, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

A small cottage for tea ceremony, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

The vague boundary between the outside and inside, at Nanzenji Temple, in Kyoto

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The scenery on the surface, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

small Buddhist statues at Atago-Nenbutsuji Temple, in Kyoto

Details of a gate at Nanzenji Temple, in Kyoto

Neon at Gion, in Kyoto

A man delivering newspapers at Gion, in Kyoto

Symphony of the buildings, at Toji Temple, in Kyoto

Sekimori-ishi, a small stone for making guests to keep away, at Katsura Imperial Villa, in Kyoto

A hotel in Kyoto

Zen garden, at Zuiho-in, Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

Shoji, thin paper on the window, at Koto-in Daitokuji Temple, in Kyoto

This is Shoji, thin paper tightened on the flame of the window in an old fashion. In those days we had no technique to make a big thin paper (or no money to afford to buy a large and expensive thin paper) to cover the whole frame, so some pieces of small papers covered the frames. The joints was usually just on the smaller frame inside not to be eye-catching. But this paper is tightened to show up the joints deliberately. The manner is, now, used only for the window of rooms for tea ceremony to add the certain modest rhythm to a tiny and tranquil space.

Joints make rhythm. The way of thinking goes well with modern architecture, such as the rhythmical facade of Couvent de la Tourette in France, designed by Le Corbusier and a talented Greek musician, Iannis Xenakis.

By the way, today's post is 600th on this blog! As I write before, I will stop this blog when the post reaches 1000. I would be very happy if the blog conveys the beauty of Kyoto to anyone who never go there.

Shimenawa, at a shrine near Kyoto Gosho, in Kyoto

Cherry blossoms at full bloom in Kyoto

Cherry blossoms against old buildings, at Gion Shirakawa, in Kyoto

Theme day, Water

This is called 'Chozu-ya', a stone basin with some wooden spoons to clean one's hands and mouths before we go to main buildings of shrines to pray. Deities of Shinto religion love the purity and cleaning one's hands and mouths also means cleaning one's hearts.

How to clean:
Clean hands first by the wooden spoon, and then put some water on one's palms to take water into one's mouth. Never set the wooden spoon to one's lips.

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Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

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