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Jun 08 2010 15 Comments

A thousand volcanic thoughts

The grey and sulphur smelling slopes of Tochigi Prefecture’s Chausudake volcano are slightly otherworldly to start with, an almost lunar-like landscape that the famous haiku poet, Basho, when describing the area around what’s known as the Killing Stone, declared that so many dead bees and moths were scattered about that the colour of the sand could not be determined.

And yet otherworldly quickly turns into wondrous when one sees the jumble of daintily-bonneted Jizo dotted amongst the debris.

Nasu Jizo

Figures that, whilst more often than not have a decidedly melancholy meaning, are here somehow transformed into a spectacle that is really rather soothing.

Nasu Jizo

A conversion that could well have something to do with the sheer number of them.

Nasu Jizo

Or maybe it’s because they look so serene.

Nasu Jizo

I simply don’t know.

Categorized: Culture, Photography, Religion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Durf says

    6/8/2010 at 11:50 am

    Nice shots. I used to live in Nasu and did a lot of walking in the hills. 殺生石 used to be the trailhead to the top of the peak before they put in the loop road and ropeway above there; walking with those Jizo as a start or end point to your hike is a nice way to do it.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      6/8/2010 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks Durf. I can imagine they were. We only came across them by accident (I happened to see them from the nearby shrine), but for me at least they were the highlight of the day.

      Reply
  2. Thomas Gantz says

    6/8/2010 at 12:28 pm

    Wow, great shots.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      6/8/2010 at 4:47 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Andy Yu says

    6/8/2010 at 4:21 pm

    Absolutely loving these! The red caps are a lovely contrast to the stone coloured bodies.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      6/8/2010 at 4:48 pm

      Cheers! Yeah, they really are something special, and an incredible splash of colour on a very grey landscape.

      Reply
      • Brett says

        6/8/2010 at 5:36 pm

        Yes, there really is nothing quite as wonderful as a colourful splash of Jizo (is that too much?).

        Really lovely photos though.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          6/8/2010 at 7:18 pm

          Thanks!

          And not at all, it made me laugh.

          Reply
  4. hzshitao says

    6/8/2010 at 11:54 pm

    Nice shots!

    Reply
  5. Lizzy says

    6/9/2010 at 12:45 am

    I’ll admit they do look serene . . . but I guess I’m the only one who’s a little creeped out by them?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      6/9/2010 at 5:19 pm

      I doubt it Lizzy, and I think they’d be a very different proposition once the sun goes down.

      Reply
  6. David LaSpina / JapanDave says

    6/9/2010 at 1:33 pm

    Amazing shots, Lee. Those are some nice Jizo. I’m going to have to visit that place.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      6/9/2010 at 5:21 pm

      Thanks David! Yes, they are pretty impressive. It’s a nice enough place as it is, but they really are something special.

      Reply
  7. shi tao says

    6/11/2010 at 12:59 am

    very special….

    Reply
  8. RokuSanNi says

    6/11/2010 at 1:30 am

    Awesome shots…the link to the Jizo meanings stirs up some great tattoo ideas…thanks!

    Reply

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