Tanabata festival in Shitennoji Temple...

一昨日は七夕。昨今、急に七夕イベントが全国各地で増えてきた気がする。ここ大阪も例外ではない。天王寺にある四天王寺でも６日から七夕祭が行われていた。七夕の日は仕事なので、前日の夜に、自転車で四天王寺まで出かけた。１９時から照明が灯される時間帯に合わせて出かけたが、多くの人がいることに驚かされた。

寺門をくぐったわずか３０ｍほどのイルミネーションのトンネルに多くの人が列をなしている。並ぶのは苦手なので速攻あきらめる。

It was "Tanabata" the day before yesterday. There are more Tanabata events taking place throughout in Japan lately. In Osaka as well. Shitennoji temple also started their Tanabata festival from 6th of July. Since I had to work on Tanabata day on 7th, I went there by bicycle one day before at 7 o'clock in the evening on time for the illumination. I was so surprised to see many visitors already there.

I found many people making a queue to go through a 30m illuminated and decorated path by Tanabata ornaments. I don't like being in the queue, and so I gave it up right away. 

奥の境内でキャンドルに願い事を書き込み、用意されている水槽に浮かべることができた。１００円だし願い事を書いた。いざ、キャンドルを水槽に浮かべようとその場に行くと、そのスペースの規模の小ささに驚く。きっと、これほどの人の参拝を予想していなかったのかな？

本当は、ゆっくりキャンドルの撮影もしたかったが、水槽の周りには同じ考えの人たちがかなりいる。ここも速攻あきらめて、一、二枚写真を撮って撤収した。

In the temple, they were offering a candle wish service that we could float it in a water tank. It was only 100 yen. After writing down my wish, I brought it there to float it. However I was surprised that the tank was so small, and the candles were jam-packed in it. I guess that the event organizer were not expecting that many visitors in the event. 

I wanted to take photos taking more time, but I gave it up because there were also many people with the same idea. I took only one or two photos.  

七夕飾りも、キャンドルもまともに撮らずに、ひたすら撮っていたのが赤と青の仁王像。ライトアップされて、美しかった。どれだけ、腹筋がバキバキなんだというくらいの、割れ割れの感じ。顔の表情、手など、色々な角度から撮った。おっかない顔はしているが、優しさを感じる仁王様。赤と青。甲乙つけがたい。

子供の頃、仁王像はひらがなの「あ」から「ん」までのすべての事をお見通しだと説明を受けたことがある。神社にある、狛犬も、お稲荷さんも同じだ。だから、この像の前にして、自分のこれまでの人生のすべての「あ」から「ん」までの事をすべて知っているんだと、半ばあきらめの境地にというものが芽生えてくる。

I rarely took Tanabata ornaments and candles this time even if I went there for it. However I was fascinated by "Nio" guardians in Red and Blue. They were so beautiful in a spot light. Their abdominal muscles were amazingly designed with a bit of exaggeration. I took some photos of their facial figures and hands in a various angles. There both looked scary, but they were delivering a sense of mercy. I really can't tell which one is better. 

In my childhood, I was taught that they knew everything from A to Z in human's life. That's why One is opening his mouth, and the other one is closing his mouth which is expressing alphabetically the start and the end.  In shrines and temples, the statues of dog guardians and fox guardians are also the same. Every time I pass through between them, I always have an idea that they know everything...

今回は、この仁王様がメインになった。それはそれで良しとしよう。境内には露店がたくさん出ていた。ここで、夕ご飯を済ませて行っても良かったが、家に用意をしていたので食べなかった。

でも、折角だし岩手県の地酒が飲めるということで、辛口の「せきのいち」を試す。店員さん自ら注いでくれた。すきっ腹にはきついよなぁ、やっぱり・・・。

So is the reason why"Nio" guardians were my main photo objects this time. That's ok for me. I also enjoyed many food stands for this special event in the temple. I could've eaten dinner hopping one stand into another, but I didn't because I already prepared my dinner that night in advance at home. 

However I found a food stand specializing Tohoku Region and the local Japanese Sake. I tried one sake brand, "Sekinoichi" from Iwate Prefecture which was dry in taste. The staff poured it for me full in a plastic cup. Since my stomach was empty, I felt drunk a bit in this small portion. 

また、撮影した仁王像の写真をチェックして、ここにアップしようと思う。いつかは保証できないけど…

楽しい夜だったと思う。

I will check my "Nio" guardian's photos sometime soon, and will post it in this blog, but can't tell it when...

Anyway fun night.