Day 19: am I getting lazy?




Today I took the train from Central Susaki to Kubokawa, to avoid busy roads and car tunnels (Kenjis advise). Thus I did not walked a lot: just 10 km (total: 381 km) by exploring the two towns a little.

I also spend more time at the temple (Shoryuji T36) than usual. The temple has a good atmosphere and therefore it was nice to stay there for a while. All of a sudden Mr. Rothman from Australia (on the picture of day 2) and Raimond from Canada, with whom I walked the last two days appeared again. While every o-Henro walker has different walking plans and walking speeds, there is a good likelihood that you meet people again.

The ryokan today (Maruka) is not as nice as the one from yesterday. But if the place is clean and I have a chair to sit on, everything is fine for me.

I have not written about the “temple stamp book” (for the non Japanese) yet. This is what I want to do today. At each temple a pilgrim may purchase a „stamp“ (actually everyone does) comprising of a handwritten calligraphy and three read stamps and one blue stamp. They are placed in a book on one page and a painted image of the temple can be looked at on the corresponding opposite page. For this you pay 300 yen (about 2 Euro) which helps to finance temple maintenance.

o-Henro stamp book: temple picture, stamps and calligraphy (inside)

o-Henro stamp book (outside)

The stamp is from temple T36, from which  I shared yesterday the picture of the steep stairs. You see them here illustrated as well.

For the non Japanese: The binding of the book on the right side is correct. You would open the book this way.

I asked for permission before I took these photos at two different temple offices:

Calligraphy painted into the book

Calligraphy and stamps are inserted into the pilgrim book

When the booklet is filled with 88 stamps, my Henro walking pilgrimage will be over. I will take home many memories and the stamp book will remind me on the temples I have visited.

This morning I visited temple B5 Daizenji where you have a great view over Susaki bay.

B5 Daizenji

View over Suzaki bay

Mr. Rothman and Raimond at Shoryuji Temple (T36)

Shoryuji Temple

Shoryuji Temple site


My sleeping room tonight at Maruka ryokan



Comments

  1. DieterOctober 15, 2023 at 4:40 AM

    Es ist sehr interessant zu lesen wie du dich plagst, was du für Strapazen auf dich nimmst. Auf mich wirkt es zumindest sehr strapaziös. Aber zumindest genauso neugierig bin ich auf die Gedanken, die du dir auf einer Tagestour machst. Freut man sich nur aufs Essen und auf das Ende? Aber das wird es nicht sein. Warum diese Tour, warum so lang? Welche spirituellen Intentionen haben dich dazu gebracht, diese Tour zu machen? Über dein Verhältnis zu den Tempeln und die Bedeutung für dich hast du noch nicht wirklich viel mitgeteilt. Würde mich natürlich sehr interessieren ohne indiskret sein zu wollen? Bin mal gespannt.

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