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Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bonking The Biggest Mokugyou in the World
two years ago at the Youkouji Temple, Kyoto Japan
when Anthony was 5½ years old

A mokugyou (literally “Wooden Fish”) is a hollow musical instrument carved out of a single piece of wood. They can range in size from fairly small walnuts, to the size seen in the photo above, the largest mokugyou in the world. The sound is appreciably deep.

A mokugyou is often used in Buddhist rites, such as seen in this photo from one of the funeral rites of Fumie's grandmother, two and a half years ago. The photos on this page are at the Youkouji Temple (永興寺), taken after the follow-on funeral rite seen in Kotsuiri — “Placing of the Bones”, when her bones were interred at the temple's graveyard.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 22 mm — ¹/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos

It's been on my mind to post this ever since. I recall that they told me all kinds of stuff about it (how old it is, etc.), but now I don't recall. I stop by every so often to tend to the grave marker, so I really should ask them for the particulars on the thing.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — ¹/25 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Outside Detail

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 20 mm — ¹/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Wider View
The big mokugyou is behind the red tassels on the right,
while a smaller one for day-to-day use is right behind Anthony

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — ¹/180 sec, f/4, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Temple Passageways

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 32 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Outside Art
partially submerged dragon, I think