 Image search results - "hanamatsuri" |
Established in 1617, Tsukiji Hongwanji temple is the Tokyo headquarters of the Nishi Hongwanji Jodo Shinshu sect. The present temple, based on Indian architecture, was built in the 1930s.The temple is the only one in Japan which is under the direct control of the sect. Its head priest is the Monshu Abbot himself. April 8 is observed as Buddha's birthday, called Hana Matsuri ("Flower Festival) in Japan.
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Tsukiji Hongwanji temple gate with wisteria crest.The emblem is a wisteria flower and symbol of the Jodo Shinshu sect.
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Temple gate and flag
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Play room for kids on Hanamatsuri
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Hanamatsuri altar
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Pouring sweet tea over the BuddhaWhen the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden in Nepal, sweet rain is said to have fallen. Thus, sweet tea is poured over the baby Buddha statue in the Hanamatsuri altar.
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Hanamatsuri celebrates the Buddha's birthday on April 8. This is Tsukiji Honganji in Tokyo.The flowers symbolize Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal.
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Baby Buddha statueLadles are provided for pouring the sweet tea over the Buddha. Sweet tea is also provided to worshippers. It symbolizes the sweet rain that fell when the Buddha was born.
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Children dressed for the chigo parade, Tsukiji Hongwanji, TokyoIt took a long time before they could get all the kids to settle down for the picture and to get all the mothers out of the picture.
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Children dressed for the chigo parade (photo session), Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo
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Going to the chigo parade's starting point
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White elephant to anchor the parade. Notice the Buddha altar riding on the top. Before she gave birth to the Buddha, Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant.
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Start of the Hanamatsuri parade which also promotes traffic safety.The starting point was a nearby park.
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Parade starts...
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Baton-twirling club from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Junior/Senior High School followed by the elephant千代田女学院
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Chigo children
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On the road in front of the temple
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Baton-twirling club, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo 千代田女学院 バトン部千代田女学院
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Female schoolmates of the baton twirlers block the cameras of unrelated photographers when the baton twirlers passed. カメラ小僧を妨害するバトン部の先輩たち。This was the first time for me in Japan to see people blocking photographers from taking pictures at a festival. They did it to me as well. If they don't want to be photographed, why do they appear in this public festival??
妨害しても無駄だと思いますが。撮られるのがいやでしたら、まつりに出ない方がいいですよ。
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Band from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Girls Junior/Senior High SchoolNo problem photographing them.
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The elephant follows the band.
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Entering the temple gate
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Final performance
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The parade was over after 30 min. (11:30 - 12 pm).
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Chigo kids enter the temple
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Hanamatsuri service inside the templeNotice the Hanamatsuri altar at the center.
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Hanamatsuri service inside the Tsukiji Hongwanji temple
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Hanami-do housing a statue of the baby Buddha on which sweet tea is poured. When the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden, flowers bloomed.
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Praying to the Hanamatsuri altar
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Pipe organs
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Outdoor food court
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Statue of St. Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu sect.
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Statue of St. Shinran (1173-1263), founder of the Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist Sect.
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Cherry blossoms and the temple
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Playroom for kids
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Temple hall exterior
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The white elephant
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Taiko drum performance by Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. 大江戸助六太鼓Their Web site: http://www.oedosukerokutaiko.com/
大江戸助六太鼓
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe大江戸助六太鼓
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. They were all girls and super good!大江戸助六太鼓
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe大江戸助六太鼓
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Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe
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Beating backward: Oedo Sukeroku Taiko drummers大江戸助六太鼓
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Hanamatsuri in the old days (lot more children and people). 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 子供の数が大多かった。
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Many little kids held a long rope to pull the white elephant. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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Chigo children. They have two black dots on the forehead and a white stripe on the nose. They don't paint the white stripe today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 鼻に白い線が塗っている。今は、塗らない。
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Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 日大のバトン部か
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A very long hanamatsuri parade leaves the temple. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 集合は別院内、これは出発。
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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Look at all those Cub Scouts. They don't participate today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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The chigo parade of bygone days was much longer with a lot more kids. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: かなり長い行列でした。
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Buddhist flag. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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Nihon University college band was part of the parade. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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昔の築地本願寺の花まつり
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大堂（祖師堂）
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Soshido Hall altar 大堂（祖師堂）
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Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday on April 8. A small statue of the baby Buddha is in a miniature temple called Hanami-do (花御堂). This is Ikegami Honmonji temple in Tokyo.
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Hanamatsuri, Buddha's birthday. When the Buddha was born, he walked seven steps and said, "I am my own Lord through Heaven and Earth," and pointed one hand to Heaven and the other to Earth.
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See the baby buddha's hands pointing to Heaven. Sweet tea is poured over a statue of a baby buddha. According to legend, sweet rain (or perfumed water) fell when the Buddha was born.
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People line up to pour sweet tea over the baby buddha. 大堂
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Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.
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Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.
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Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.
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Hanamatsuri Parade on April 8, Buddha's birthday.
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White elephant is usually present during Hanamatsuri. On the day before the Buddha's mother Queen Maya gave birth, she dreamed that a white elephant entered her womb.
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White elephant for Hanamatsuri
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Car for Hanamatsuri
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Hanamatsuri parade
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I visited on April 8, 2012. April 8 is Hana-matsuri or Buddha's birthday at Tennoji temple in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo.
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Altar for Hana-matsuri or Buddha's birthday at Tennoji temple in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo.
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Pour sweet tea over the statue of a baby Buddha at Tennoji temple in Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo.
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