Last summer Nao-san planned to enjoy 'nodate' (野点 'outdoor tea ceremony') in each of the 4 seasons, and finally that dream came to pass🙌
#nodate #outdoorteaceremony #teaceremony #野点 #matcha #抹茶 #Kyoto #京都 #cherryblossoms #sakura #桜
🌸ANCIENT SPLENDOUR✨
Nao-san finds a quiet spot (-not an easy task-) along the Tenjingawa (天神川) to enjoy tea beneath the blossoms🍵🙌🥹
falling, falling
all over the food...
cherry blossoms
はらはらの飯にまぶれる桜哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶).
Trans. David G. Lanoue.
Nao-san (and a number of cats) enjoyed an outdoor tea ceremony beside the blossom-festooned Philosopher's Path (哲学の道).
blown to the big river
floating away...
cherry blossoms
大川へ吹なぐられし桜哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1804.
Trans. David Lanoue.
It was a little wet for an outdoor tea ceremony, but blossoms are so fleeting you have to enjoy them while you can.
On a grey day the pink blossoms really sing🥰
#Kyoto #Japan #outdoorteaceremony #matcha #ume #blossoms #京都 #野点 #抹茶 #梅
🙏BRIDGE OF ASCETICS🌉
Not too far from Chion-in (知恩院), Gyōja-bashi (行者橋 'Bridge of Ascetics') straddles the Shirakawa River (白川).
Monks participating in the 'Kaihōgyō' (回峰行) cross the narrow bridge on their 75th day, en route to Yasaka-jinja (八坂神社).
During the 'Kaihōgyō' (回峰行) Tendai monks descend from Enryaku-ji (延暦寺) on Mt. Hiei and complete various prayer routes that take them into the city and back to their home temple.
This ascetic practice is undertaken for 1000 days (over 7 years)!
Last rebuilt in 1907, the 11.7m granite bridge is barely 60cm wide.
Bubbling up on Hiei-zan, the Shirakawa (白川) eventually flows through Gion. Fine sand would flow down from the mountain, settling on the bed. In the sun it would shine white, giving 'White River' its name.
Camellia Tea Ceremony
T E A .
Seasiders2