The Japanese way of living and their culture is fascinating. Today is my last day in Tokyo before I head for Hanoi, Vietnam. Next to the hotel I was staying at is a replica of the Eiffel Tower, except painted in red. At night, it glows like the original Eiffel Tower in Paris. This one, however, looked like a toy version with its red color.
As I walked back to the Hotel from my viewing of the Tokyo Tower, I found a temple adjacent to my hotel street. Little baby statues, in rows lined the perimeter of the temple. There were hundreds of them, wearing little red knitted hats with a little red scarfs.
In my walk along the rows of baby statues, I found one dressed distinctly from the other. This one had a white winter hat and a dark blue ski jacket. So cute! As you can see in the picture (if not to be uploaded soon) above, these mini statues are adorable. Each standing up right with hands pressed together in a praying stance, eyes shut with the look of peace and serenity. With chipmunk cheeks, each little one stands on a bed in the shaped of a large lotus flower.
In my conversations with a reporter and camera man on site, the reporter told me that these mini statues are scattered across Tokyo in the temples. Each one representing a protector of children who have passed on before their parents. Each mini statue is owned by a family and the statue is passed down from generations to generations.
I wanted to pray for all these little ones and so I bought a little wooden plaque, wrote my prayer and wishes for them, then hung my plaque up along with mini slippers I bought from the temple.
I am very grateful to have stumbled upon this temple on my last day in Japan.
No comments:
Post a Comment