\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/hikyu-beast.html<\/a>
\nA composite beast of ancient origin, mostly forgotten in Japan, but still popular today in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The mythological dragon-headed, lion-bodied P\u00ecxi\u016b \u8c94\u8c85 (also spelled \u8c7c\u8c85) were traditionally depicted in China as a male-female pair. In ancient China, statues of the two guarded the entrance to the tomb, as they are thought to ward off evil and protect wealth. In one Chinese legend, the male beast somehow angered the Jade Emperor, who punished it by limiting its diet to gold and by sealing its rectum — thereby preventing the animal from defecating. The creature thus came to represent the acquisition and preservation of riches.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/onmarkproductions.com\/Buddha-Statues\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/hikyu-montage-feb-2011-blog.jpg\" "\\"Hikyu")
<\/a>Hiky\u016b \u8c94\u8c85 (Chn. = P\u00ecxi\u016b \u8c94\u8c85) Statuary from China<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00bb Suijin \u6c34\u795e, Water Kami (Deities) of Japan. \u00bb Eight Great Bodhisattva. Hachi Daibosatsu \u516b\u5927\u83e9\u85a9 or Hachi Bosatsu .<\/strong> \u00bb Special Year-End Clearance Sale Continues (33% to 70% Off). \u00bb Monk brings global view to Buddhism \u00bb Unkei — Medieval Esoteric Buddhism & the Kamakura Bakufu \u00bb Edo Period Paintings from\u00a0Gitter-Yelen Collection \u00bb Secrets of the Silk Road Exhibition \u00bb Nara National Museum \u00bb Kyoto National Museum \u00bb Tokyo National Museum<\/strong> \u00bb March 1 through 14, Omizutori Festival<\/strong> \u304a\u6c34\u53d6\u308a, at T\u014ddaiji Temple in Nara City. \u00bb March 3. Girl’s Festival or Doll Festival<\/strong>, Hina Matsuri \u96db\u796d\u308a or Momo no Sekku \u6843\u306e\u7bc0\u53e5 (Peach Festival). A major event, but not a national holiday. Geared towards girls, the first sekku (seasonal festival) after the birth of a baby girl, it is a day when dolls are set out for display and meant to symbolize the family\u2019s wish that their daughter will be healthy, free from calamity, and able to obtain a happy life with a good husband. Today called the Peach festival (Momo-no-Sekku \u6843\u306e\u7bc0\u53e5), as March is the season when peach flowers are in bloom. Many shrines hold special ceremonies on this day.<\/p>\n \u00bb March 3 and 4. Jindaiji Temple<\/strong> \u6df1\u5927\u5bfa in Tokyo \u00bb March 5 to 6, Oyama Tofu Festival. \u00bb March 12 and 13, Shonan Enoshima Spring Festival \u00bb March 13, Kasuga Matsuri<\/strong> \u6625\u65e5\u307e\u3064\u308a, Kasuga Taisha Shrine \u6625\u65e5\u5927\u793e, Nara City. \u00bb March 15, Tagata Jinja H\u014dnen Matsuri<\/strong> \u7530\u65b9\u795e\u793e\u8c4a\u5e74\u796d\u308a in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture. This is a Fertility Festival in which large wooden phalluses are paraded in the streets to pray for fertility, procreation, and the blessings of life. See photos here = http:\/\/f43.aaa.livedoor.jp\/~wasinton\/tagata.html<\/a><\/p>\n \u00bb March 17, Fujimori-no-Ta Asobi<\/strong> \u85e4\u68ee\u306e\u7530\u904a\u3073 at the \u014cihachimang\u016b Shrine \u5927\u4e95\u516b\u5e61\u5bae in Shizuoka. This is a Rice-Planting Festival to pray for a good harvest and bountiful rice crop. The festival features over 20 different dance performances and was reportedly first performed over 1000 years ago.<\/p>\n \u00bb March 18, Dragon Dance Festival<\/strong> (Kinry\u016b-no-Mai \u91d1\u9f8d\u306e\u821e) at Sens\u014dji Temple \u6d45\u8349\u5bfa in Tokyo. See photos here = Click here for Google images.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00bb March, a Saturday or Sunday in the middle of the month<\/strong>, Zodiac Sagich\u014d Festival \u5de6\u7fa9\u9577\u796d\u308a at Himure Hachimang\u016b Shrine \u65e5\u725f\u79ae\u516b\u5e61\u5bae in Shiga Prefecture. During this festival, young men dress up as women and carry portable shrines (floats) that depict the Zodiac animal of the year (this year is the year of the rabbit). See photos here = http:\/\/www.omi8.com\/maturi\/sagicho.htm<\/a><\/p>\n \u00bb March 20 or 21. Vernal Equinox Day<\/strong>, Shunbun no Hi \u6625\u5206\u306e\u65e5. Around March 20 or 21. National Holiday. Established in 1948, but in former times a very important day for the imperial family and court.<\/p>\n \u00bb March 21. Memorial Service for Pets<\/strong> at K\u014dsokuji Temple \u5149\u5247\u5bfa (in Hase, western Kamakura). Pet-lovers join a service granting eternal rest to their pets.<\/p>\n \u00bb April 8. Buddha’s Birthday Ceremony<\/strong> (Kanbutsu-e \u6f45\u4ecf\u4f1a). Every year on April 8th in Japan, a ceremony called Kanbutsu-e \u6f45\u4ecf\u4f1a is held to commemorate the Historical Buddha’s birthday. A small statue of the Buddha is typically sprinkled with hydrangea tea or with scented water called Goshiki Sui \u4e94\u8272\u6c34 (lit. Five-Colored Water). The ceremony recreates a legend, in which the newly born Buddha was sprinkled with perfume by the dragon god (ry\u016b-\u014d \u7adc\u738b). A small shrine, known as the Hanamid\u014d \u82b1\u5fa1\u5802 is set up and decorated with flowers. A small image of the Buddha, in the form of a child as he appeared at birth (Tanj\u014dbutsu \u8a95\u751f\u4ecf), is placed on a wide, shallow metal bowl, known as the Kanbutsu-ban \u6f45\u4ecf\u76e4. The statue of Buddha has the right hand held up, and the left hand pointing down, depicting the moment when Buddha took seven steps forward and pronounced the words “Tenj\u014d tenga yuiga dokuson \u5929\u4e0a\u5929\u4e0b\u552f\u6211\u72ec\u5c0a” (I alone am honored in heaven and on earth). Visitors to the temple where the ceremony is performed use a small ladle to sprinkle scented water over the top of the statue. The kanbutsu-e ceremony was brought to Japan from China, and the first recorded celebration in Japan was at Gank\u014dji \u5143\u8208\u5bfa in Nara in 606. It spread to become a regular part of Buddhist tradition in other temples, the court, and among ordinary citizens. A famous Kanbutsu-ban decorated with hunting scenes is preserved in Nara’s T\u014ddaiji \u6771\u5927\u5bfa. It dates from the Nara Period and shows outstanding metal craftsmanship. <Source JAANUS><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/suijin.html<\/a>
\nThe term Suijin (literally water kami or water deity) refers to the many heavenly and earthly manifestations of the benevolent Shint\u014d divinity of water. But it also refers to a wide variety of mythological and magical creatures found in lakes, ponds, springs and wells, including serpents (snakes and dragons), eels, fish, turtles, and the flesh-eating\u00a0Kappa<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.onmarkproductions.com\/html\/mandala-deities.html#8GreatBodhisattva<\/a>
\nThese eight are described in various sutra, wherein their names and attributes differ.
\nThey appear often in the Japanese Womb World Mandala.<\/p>\nUpdates to Buddha Statue eStore<\/h2>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.buddhist-artwork.com\/html\/special-deals.html<\/a><\/p>\nIn The News,\u00a0& Current\/Upcoming Exhibitions<\/h2>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/search.japantimes.co.jp\/mail\/fl20110219a1.html<\/a>
\nAfter 18 years as head of a Zen monastery in U.S., Issho Fujita now provides help around the world.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Special Exhibition from Jan. 21 through March 6th at the Kanagawa Prefectural Kanazawa Bunko Museum \u795e\u5948\u5ddd\u770c\u7acb\u91d1\u6ca2\u6587\u5eab in Yokohama. If you live in Japan, don’t miss this exhibition,<\/em><\/strong> which features seven carvings by Unkei, one of Japan’s most lauded sculptors from the Kamakura-period (13th century). Learn much more about\u00a0Unkei at the A-to-Z Dictionary.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0See our January newsletter for more details and photos of this exhibition.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art. Runs until March 27.
\nhttp:\/\/search.japantimes.co.jp\/cgi-bin\/fa20110218a3.html<\/a>.
\nAlso make sure to see the Gitter-Yelen web site<\/a>, which features hundreds of images from Edo-period (1615\u20131868) works in the Zenga, Nanga, Rinpa, Maruyama-Shijo, Ukiyoe, and Eccentric styles with an increasing focus on 20th century paintings and ceramics.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/penn.museum\/china-secrets-of-the-silk-road.html<\/a>
\nFebruary 5 to June 5, 2011. Penn Museum (Philadelphia). Secrets of the Silk Road includes two mummies and the full burial trappings of a third, representative of three different periods of time. In addition to the mummies, the exhibition features more than 100 objects that offer insight into the long and diverse cultural heritage of Central Asia\u2014a crossroads of the Silk Road.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.narahaku.go.jp\/english\/exhibition\/special.html<\/a>
\nFebruary 5 to March 14, Treasures of T\u014ddaiji\u2019s Omizutori Ritual. The Omizutori \u304a\u6c34\u53d6\u308a ritual is famed for signaling the advent of spring, but the ceremony is actually called a Shuni-e, which is a ritual of repentance performed before the J\u016bichimen (11-Headed) Kannon. The Omizutori ritual was first performed by monk Jitch\u016b in 752 AD. Sculpture, paintings, calligraphy, works of applied art, and archaeological artifacts associated with the ritual will be on display.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.kyohaku.go.jp\/eng\/index_top.html<\/a>
\nMarch 26 to May 8, 2011.
\nHonen: The Life and Art of the Founder of the Pure Land Buddhist Sect<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.tnm.go.jp\/en\/servlet\/Con?pageId=X00&processId=02<\/a><\/p>\nWhat’s Happening in Japan in March 2011<\/h2>\n
\nhttp:\/\/gojapan.about.com\/od\/japanesefestivals\/a\/naraomizutori.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe temple\u00a0holds its annual Daruma Doll Fair<\/strong> (Daruma Ichi \u9054\u78e8\u5e02) in early March. Click here for photos of the fair. <\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp\/english\/hotnews\/201103.html<\/a>
\nLocation: Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. A festival celebrating Oyama\u2019s famous tofu. Oyama is a famous religious site near Tokyo.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp\/english\/hotnews\/201103.html<\/a>
\nThis festival held in Enoshima celebrates the beginning of spring in Shonan. Events include street performances, taiko drum performances, mini steam locomotive rides, \u201cvoice measurement\u201d at the Enoshima caverns, shellwork and pressed flower lessons, the display and sale of camellia products, and events at the Enoshima Aquarium.<\/p>\n
\nThis shrine, one of Japan’s oldest, is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as many stone lanterns that lead up to the shrine. The shrine is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the enchanting path to the shrine passes through Deer Park (where tame deer roam free). Over a thousand stone lanterns line the way. The festival features a horse ceremony call Hiki Uma \u5f15\u304d\u99ac and a dance performance called Yamato-mai \u548c\u821e. Both ceremonies originated many centuries ago, in the Nara and Heian periods. See photos here = http:\/\/www.kasugataisha.or.jp\/onmatsuri\/pop\/pop_yamatomai.html<\/a><\/p>\n