Friday, July 23, 2010
Todai-ji – UNESCO World Heritage
With Akiko, we always had some interest for the cultural Unesco sites. Nara, city located near the famous Kyoto doesn’t get the interest level it deserves. It is however a must for any visitor to Japan.
Nara (Heijo-kyo) was, in 710 the first capital of the then Yamato state. Among the numerous touristic spots to see, our favorite is without doubt the Daibutsu, Great Buddha, hosted in the Todai-Ji temple.
This Todaïjï temple and the Daibutsu, great Buddha, are THE symbol of Nara. Built in 743 on the order of Emperor Shomu, this Buddha was finished in 752. Like all Japanese wooden temples, this structure burnt twice during the centuries, in 1180 and 1567. The current building protecting the great Buddha was built in 1709. This Daibutsu Vairochana statue is 16 meter tall and weights some 450 tons. The wooden structure hosting the Daibutsu is 47 meter high, 57 meter long and 50 meter wide – it is the largest wooden structure in the world!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Japan Nostalgia
It’s been four years since we left Japan to return to France. From time to time, I check out my old pictures taken in Japan et I must admit feeling some kind of nostalgia. The fact that we have not returned to Japan this year makes all this more sensitive.
The two villages, Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, containing numerous Gassho-zukuri style houses were added to the Unesco World Heritage list in 1995. Located in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, these villages with their Gassho-style houses subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. The large houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs are the only examples of their kind in Japan.
The main characteristic of these wooden houses is their high, peaked roofs. These are meant against the heavy snow fall that are frequent in this mountainous area. These large houses can be 18 m long and 10 m wide. There are up to four floors where the whole family lives. The upper floor, under the roof is traditionally reserved for the rearing of silkworms.
We visited this place twice, at different season. In August, the rice paddies are green and the scenery is quiet.
In winter, the place is quite different. First of all, the green of the rice paddies has been replaced by the white the snow. And it is cold. Very cold.
One can quickly understand the purpose of these steeply pitched thatched roofs.
Nowadays, one of the main activity of the place is Tourism. I’ve heard that some 1.5 million visitors come every year !
The view of the various night lighting is wonderful and helps to forget about the freezing cold.
