See you this Friday, April 9 for a timeless exhibition!
Back on the “Friendly Island” after a stay full of emotions in the “Land of the Rising Sun”, Didier Rouxel, passionate about photography, wanted to share his passion through an exhibition of his most beautiful photos exhibited at the SM'ART FAXINFO ART GALLERY located in Bellevue.
Unfortunately, this long-awaited photo exhibition had to be "stopped in mid-flight" because of the confinement just a year ago.
Today, SM'ART FAXINFO ART GALLERY et Didier Rouxel are happy to invite you again this Friday, April 9 from 17 p.m. to 21 p.m. to this great timeless photo exhibition that will allow you to get to know more about rural Japan, little known compared to some megalopolises such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka .
A note that the photo exhibition will be open to the public until 30 April 2021.
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Japan
The pilgrimage of SHIKOKU
On the island of SHIKOKU, the pilgrimage of the 88 Buddhist temples is one of the most famous in the world, a kind of Japanese Way of Santiago accessible to all, for a unique spiritual adventure.
The SHIKOKU pilgrimage, called Ohenro in Japanese, consists of a circuit of between 1 km and 100 km (depending on the path chosen) through 1 temples. The goal: to follow in the footsteps of the monk Kûkai, also named Kôbô Daishi (400 - 88) founder of the Shingon school. Shikoku was his native island. As he walked through it from temple to temple, he practiced saadhana, a spiritual path.
Originally, the Shikoku pilgrimage was reserved for religious only. At the end of the war of the Sengoku period (mid-1th - late 603th century), with the stabilization of society, a large road was built. But the road to the island, on the other side of the inland sea, remained long and difficult and long remained legendary in the eyes of the rest of the country. It did not really become accessible to the whole population until the Edo period (1 - 868)
A ROUTE RADIO
There are no rules to follow. 88 temples are spread all around the island through the villages. Depending on your physical condition, choose your starting point, your route and the number of temples you want to visit.
Traditionally, we follow the path by the number of temples from 1 to 88. From 1 to 23 in the prefecture of TOKUSHIMA, called the path of awakening. From 24 to 39, the path of discipline in Kôchi, the temples of Asceticism. From 40 to 65, the path of enlightenment or ECHIME. From 66 to 88, the path of Nirvana or Kaguawa. At the end of the journey, the pilgrim goes to the mausoleum of Kukai, at Mount KOYA, to thank him for his protection.
Today, some people practice this path on foot (as I did) to be as close as possible to the philosophy of the master. Most of the 500 annual pilgrims choose another means: by bike, by car or by public transport.
THE CLOTHE TRADITIONNELLE
Byakue, the white kimono, is an outfit linked to death, because the first pilgrims of Shikoku made the path at the risk of their lives. Said like that, it's a little scary, but these are the ancient Japanese traditions.
Kongôzue: the stick is the incarnation of Kukai, as if we were walking with him. This staff must be purified at the end of the day and upon entering each temple.
Sugegasa: a flat and wide hat to protect against the sun and the rain.
Osamefuda: a card on which is written the name of the pilgrim, which is shown to the people who welcome you as well as each time you visit a temple.
Nôkyôchô: a special notebook, considered as the pilgrim's passport where the calligraphies appear.
A RITUAL CODIFIED
Arriving in each temple, you must do the greeting, the purification, ring the bell, deposit the osamefuda, light candles, burn incense, deposit an offering, recite a sutra and obtain the ink seal. red on the calligraphy in your nôkyôchô notebook. These very codified gestures must be respected by the pilgrim to obtain what he desires.
THE CHOICE ACCOMMODATION
Depending on your budget, there are different types of accommodation on the road, especially near the temples: the little hut for pilgrims (from € 250), the campsite, the youth hostel (€ 15,50 to € 31 ), the Minshuku (the family inn with half-board from (23 € to 54 €) the Shukubô with the monks (half-board from 38 € to 54 €).
The people of Shikoku live all year round with the pilgrims. The culture of "settai" (hospitality) is therefore strong in this region where the inhabitants are particularly welcoming. It is not uncommon to meet some who offer you drinks or food. In this case, we give them “osamefuda” to thank them. These solidarity and friendly gestures will give you the energy you need to continue your adventure.
The ideal seasons for making the pilgrimage are spring and autumn, summer and winter should be avoided due to extreme temperatures or snow.
THE GOAL
Each pilgrim has his own goal. A spiritual quest, a search for oneself, a personal challenge, a disease to be cured. Whatever the goal, the Shikoku pilgrimage is an adventure rich in encounters, teachings and memories that mark a life.
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