🙏BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY🎂
anointing the heads
of children too...
Buddha's birthday tea
子どもらも天窓に浴る甘茶哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1818.
Trans. David Lanoue.
On April 8th Buddha's Birthday, known as 'Kanbutsu-e' (灌仏会) or 'Hana-matsuri' (花祭り 'Flower Festival'), is celebrated at many temples.
#Nara #Japan #BuddhasBirthday #灌仏会 #花祭り#HanaMatsuri #奈良 #FlowerFestival #Kanbutsue #deer
Although not a national holiday, most temples hold celebrations for Kanbutsu-e.
It's customary to pour 'ama-cha' (甘茶), a herbal tea made from the fermented leaves of a type of hydrangea, over small Buddha statues decorated with flowers...as if bathing a newborn baby.
#Japan #Buddha #BuddhasBirthday #HanaMatsuri #FlowerFestival #甘茶 #amacha #Kanbutsue #灌仏会
Thanks to the many sweet hydrangeas that bloom in its gardens, Reigen-in (霊源院) is commonly known as the 'Amacha Temple' (甘茶の寺).
The Kennin-ji sub-temple was founded between 1394-1428 by Ichian Ichirin (一庵一麟). First named 'Reisen-in' (霊泉院), a few years later Kennin-ji's abbot, Zaisen Kijō (在先希譲), renamed it Reigen-in.
#BuddhasBirthday #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #Kenninji #建仁寺 #Reigenin #霊源院
Camellia Tea Ceremony