Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Wide Expanse of Sadness
Statues for children who passed before their parents.
At the Kongorinji Temple (金剛輪寺), Shiga Prefecture, Japan
One of the main points of interest at the Kongorinji Temple (金剛輪寺) are the many jizou (地 蔵) statues. I give a more-detailed introduction in “Deep Sorrow at the Kongourinji Temple’s Path of Jizou” from two years ago when I wrote about this path after my first visit, but in short: these statues were placed by parents who lost a child, as a form of prayer that the child will find an easy path to heaven.
Each statue is unique, and has a hand-sewn bib, a colorful pinwheel, and the engraved name of a child.
Before you get to the first jizou statue, you've already enjoyed some fine paths and foliage; turning a corner at an outlying temple building brings you to this sight:
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/2.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
First Glimpse
after having already traversed some amazingly-beautiful paths to get here
When I made my visit a week ago, the leaves had only barely started to turn, but one brilliant orange tree (seen in the background in the photo above) marked the start of what I call the “path of sorrow”...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/10, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Start of the Path
to the main temple building, lined with 1,000 jizou statues
The light was a bit richer a few hours later...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Sorrow Starts Here
Every statue along the path is engraved with a number. The two statues flanking the path outside the gate are numbered #999 and #1000...
The framing is poor in that shot because I was leaning way out over a stream, trying to get a shot blind by holding the camera as far out as I could.
My blind aim was off, but I somehow like the shot anyway. It seems more interesting than this more traditional framing made from the other side of the stream...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
#999
and in the background at left, #1,000
The path rises up the mountain at a fairly brisk pace, but the lower part is at least relatively even...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waiting for Me
Damien on his first visit to this temple
Damien Douxchamps had shown me some excellent temples in Kyoto a couple of days prior (the photos from which I haven't really had the chance to look yet), so this time I was introducing him to one.
Damien's excellent photos from this visit are already online, here.
I was forever making Damien wait, such as to pause for a reverse-angle shot like this:
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just Inside
the start of the path, looking back
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Typical Section of the Path
fairly rough and rugged, befitting the mountain setting
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Road Narrows”
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
End of the Path
with the main temple complex beyond the top of the stairs
The top of the stairs in the far background is where I was standing when I took “Photographing Nothing” on yesterday's post, of Damien photographing some super tiny flowers.
I neglected to look for statue #1, but I'm sure it was at the base of the stairs.
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Slight Headache
Statue #59
The thousand statues lining the path are impressive (and sorrowful) enough, but that's just the beginning. Flanking the path on either side are large expanses of unnumbered jizou...
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/125 sec, f/2.5, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Three Little Standouts
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 9000 — map & image data — nearby photos
From Behind
bibs tied neatly
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Perhaps Slightly Overwhelmed
I know I was, and I had been here before
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5600 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Dedicated Aug 1984”
with three names listed
To be continued...
This made me think about my two brothers who died premature deaths, who should have a monument there. My feelings are “all over the road”. Yet, after looking at your magnificent post – and having had it conjure up many different kinds of feelings, I wanted you to know that I’m glad that you decided to post it.
It made me “remember” and helped me to feel. Thank you.
Dull, overcast 3 degrees C, Burlington Ontario Canada 2012 11 13 11:16 Eastern Standard Time:
Looking at the statues almost makes me think there should be also an urn of cremated fremains of the deceased under each statue. A most unusual rembrance.