Nara Old Temple (3) 故都奈良的寺院

Although this is a replica of the Kitora tumulus's burial chamber constructed in 8th c., we can see the wall and ceiling stones were finished finely, connected tightly each other. Just after another tumulus decorated with paintings had been investigated, residents near here informed the village office that there were a similar one. This was the clue of the amazing discovery. 

Kitora 古坟的旁边有一个保存设施。

The ceiling of the preservation centre shows a celestial map drawn on the tumulus's  ceiling. Each star was originally shown with a circle-cut gold leaf. Constellations are in the Chinese style, the centre is the polestar.

在石室天花板上画着一个中国式星象图。设施为参观人用电灯复原。

闲云潭影日悠悠 物换星移几度秋

This is Ishibutai, the stone chamber of a tumulus, too. Some people say that in old days all the surface soil was  removed gradually by farmers to make their fields.

"I pace upon the battlements and stare

On the foundations of a house, or where

Tree, like a sooty finger, starts from the earth;

And send imagination forth

Under the day's declining beam, and call

Images and memories

From ruin or from ancient trees,

For I would ask a question of them all."

W. B. Yeats

这个古迹叫石舞台。原来是坟墓的石室。石头这么巨大。

The inside is very wide. I cannot imagine what instruments engineers used to complete this large-scale project.

"All was lost save memory..."

"Mixing memory and desire..."

Memory cannot keep its shape eternally after having lost connection with reverence or utility.

This stone Sakafune-ishi is put on a small hill. It has been said that this was used to make liquor, medicine or to flow water into a garden. No one knows what it is for. If you had a similar stone near your house, I wish you would inform the village office here so as to make their further investigation easier. lol ：-）

酒船石用处到今天还不明白。

Asuka-dera temple has restored and preserved the oldest Buddha statue in Japan casted in 609, damaged in fires afterwards. 
飞鸟寺有日本最古的佛像。

A myth says Mt. Kaguyama came down from the sky. She has been watching changes and non-changes by human deeds. I feel as if she was asking us a question: "What's in Nara?"
有一个传说香具山是从天空下降来。

Nara Old Temple (2) 故都奈良的寺院

This is Kohuku-ji Temple.  Before entering inside, many tourists including those from Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea held the long red rope and softly hit the flat circular bell hung on upper center of the front wall . I did it, too. Some statues inside were made in 8th century, having been preserved in good condition. 古代大寺院兴福寺，位于现代城市内。

 This wooden tower is very big and tall. The combination of timbers is amazing. 140 years ago, a series of extreme religion policies by the new central government terribly damaged this temple. All of priests left here then. A lot of precious and historic buildings, statues and books were lost.

《维摩经》

于诸众生若起爱见大悲，即应舍离。所以着何。菩萨断除客尘烦恼而起大悲。爱见悲者，则于生死有疲厌心。

如佛所说，若自有缚，能解彼缚，无有是处。若自无缚，能解彼缚，斯有是处。

 

This temple is Akishino-dera. Statues inside are also in 8th century. The design of the lattice doors is very wonderful. White paper is pasted on the back of the door and I was able to see all statues inside with the morning sunshine coming through it.

秋筱寺，环境非常安静。你要在此多少，就能留多少。

 This is a stone lantern.

 Rafters in 13th century have been playing a role of supporting the large roof.

I found this eclair-shaped stone in a garden. I asked a young watchman what it is. He said this was Kaminari-ishi, a thunder stone. Long ago, the excellent chief priest successfully shut the attack of thunder into the ground and put a stone on it. Oh, the stone may still keeps its electricity. I was very lucky not to have sit on this without thinking anything. 这叫雷霆石。

Many buildings have been lost through wars and fires and some sites are now silently covered with thick moss. It seems that moss can remain beautiful throughout the year in Kyoto Nara and other regions of the  western Japan fully favoured with warmer and moister weathers. 
青苔寂寂，令人感到枯荣。

Nara Old Temple (1) 故都奈良的寺院

 When you visit Nara near to Kyoto, you will be impressed with its long history. You will often see well preserved buildings and statues.

This is the wooden front gate of Todai-ji temple. Summer in Japan is hot and humid. I heard architects have used excellent cypress to withstand the hard weather conditions.

很多中外游客都到故都奈良来参观寺庙。这寺院称东大寺。他们都看到这样巨大的木造建筑物大吃一惊。

 This is the second gate painted red. The wall surfaces are plaster finished.

 The giant wooden building have contained a giant copper made Buddha. 

这是大佛殿。里面有一座巨大的卢遮那佛。

《金光明最胜王经》

爾时，多闻天王、持国天王、增长天王、广目天王、俱从座起，偏袒右肩，右膝着地，合掌向佛。

世尊，是金光明最胜王经能为如是安稳利乐饶益我等，惟愿世尊于大众中广为宣说。

世尊，以是经故，我等四王皆共一心护是人王及国民，令离灾患，常得安稳。

In the next morning of my visit, a beautiful mist lay over the city.

This tower has watched a rising sun for five hundred years. The tower is like a floating ship on the stream of time.

"I have spread my dreams under your feet: 

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams"

  W. B. Yeats

I heard this dome shaped mountain in the centre is a natural symbol of this ancient capital.