A Stroll Around the Remains of an Ancient Palace

Sweltering heat waves put an end to rainy season earlier than usual a week ago.

Somehow I brought up enough courage to go for a walk for a change.

I rambled on the north side of Nara Heijyo-kyo Palace remains. The remains and the surrounding area were designated as World Heritage Site in 1998.

The first Daigokuden (第一次大極殿), center building, was restored for the commemorative events of the 1,300^th anniversary of Nara Heijyo-kyo Capital three years ago.

 Imperial domicile corridors (trace of the pillars ) are shown by boxwood(柘植) in the back courtyard.

Leaving them on your right, you find this big pond called Mizukami Pond.

Too hot was that day to stroll but it gave me clear and calm and peaceful feeling, an occasional blowing wind made ripples on the water and blurred the clouds. Several grey ducks were seen to be coasting along. This place is known as a migratory birds’ paradise. Especially from fall to winter, various wild birds are seen to come here to pass the winter.

picture taken by Shozo Yona

Last winter, however, a pitiful shot taken by a local photographer appeared in the local newspaper and drew attention. He noticed a grey duck making a noise and struggling. It got its bill and head stuck in a plastic ring. 

What surprised him more was that he saw other ducks and swans approaching it and especially a mute swan seemingly trying to help it get rid of the ring, though it didn't seem to be  successful. 

It was the first time, he said, to see a wild bird try to help different species in a difficult situation. It blew a whistle against human’s carelessness and thoughtlessness. (related article is here)

This area is a part of “history road” established by Nara prefecture around forty years ago. You can move around by bicycle too. Just near the pond, there lies the imperial tomb attributed to Iwanohime-no-mikoto(磐之媛命)

She was a consort of Emperor Nintoku(仁徳天皇) who was the 16^th emperor of Japan in the late 4^th to early 5^th century.　Burial Mound in Sakai, Osaka which is attributed to him is the biggest key-hole shaped mausoleum of 486m long. I wondered why his empress has lain so far away from his.

According to the old chronicles(Kojiki and Nihonshoki), she was described as a deeply jealous personality. She was constantly annoyed and restless by the amorous emperor. The news that he let the mistress in the palace while she was away to procure goods for the banquet, who she wouldn’t want him to love, was the last straw. In a fit of jealousy and anger, she threw away everything she got and never returned to his palace ever after. She must have been strong and a presence that he couldn’t ignore, so he showed his sincerity toward her by visiting her place for himself to ask for her return but in vain.

On the other hand, in Manyo-shu(万葉集), the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, she expressed her wavering love for her husband;

君が行き　日長くなりぬ　山たずね　迎へか行かむ　待ちにか待たむ

Long are days since you are gone　

Shall I go and see over mountain paths

Or keep waiting for you 

Anyway I am glad she had the freedom to get her own way. Hope the rest of her life was stress free and peaceful. 

In early summer, iris laevigata(かきつばた)　and water lilies filling the moat are in full bloom. 

I was in the hope to see them but irises were already gone and water lilies were taking a nap in that broad daylight.

  These shots were taken in June

　　　　　　　　　　　　　    It's hard to recognize but they are nuphar japonica (河骨）

  　
Take good care of yourself, friends. I hope you are having a nice summer season.

Autumn Tints in Tenkawa

The bright sunlight and cool air at night these days was giving me itchy feet and went out for autumn colors. First place in my mind was Mitarai gorge in Tenkawa.

However, it was not anywhere near enough to be aflame with red and yellow leaves and yet some of them were brown and dried. Severe lingering summer heat this year might've something to do with it , I wonder.

What caught my eyes among others was this cobalt blue stream down below the trail seen through trees.

   

I'm afraid these shots did not do it justice. Its blueness was breathtakingly beautiful with leaves floating on it.

On the way to the top of Kannonmine (観音峰）、these moss green velvets were gleaming.

ceaseless water trickling over the rock welling from the underground of temperate forest

susuki seeing off the plane drawing white line in the blue sky

As autumn is getting deeper, it will show us its best before entering its dormancy.

Alpine Meadow and Aqua Fairy

It would be a shame not to enjoy the blessing of nature to make an escape from heat waves we are now in.

At the top of Mt. Ibuki (1337m), the alpine meadow is now the best season for various wild flowers.　（ related post is here)

クガイソウ（kugaisō）　

メタカラコウ（metakarakō）

ミヤマコアザミ（miyamakoazami)  シシウド（shishiudo)

イブキトラノオ　（ibukitoranoo）

If you are lucky enough, you can see the whole Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan, below from the western slope of the mountain. When I went there, it was a poor visibilty but several photographers were waiting patiently for the fog to disperse.

メタカラコウ（metakarakō）

                                    　　　　　　　　　　　　キバナカワラマツバ、オオバギボウシ

The alpine meadow here has been known as a depository of medicinal herbs since early times. Back to the time of 織田信長（Oda Nobunaga, 1534~1582）, he ordered Portuguese missionary to bring medicinal herbs from Europe and transplant them in the field of Mt. Ibuki. . I happened to see  キバナノレンリソウ　(kibana-no-renriso, meadow vetchling）,which is thought to have come along at that time and to have become native to this place.

The temperature is 8 to 10 degrees lower here. Besides, occasional  mists rising from the bottom is a natural air conditioner.

On the way home from it, I stopped by 醒井(Samegai), where it used to flourish as the 61^st inn town of 中山道 (Nakasendo): one of the two routes that connected Edo, the present Tokyo, and Kyoto in Edo period (1603~1867). There still have old houses and streets that remind you of those days, however, what attracts visitors here now is 梅花藻（baika-mo; water weed which have tiny little flowers like Japanese apricot flower）. They only grow in a crystal clear stream so you can see them at only limited places in Japan.

ｍingled with reflection of potted flowers on the bridge

I was not able to capture the detailed
 　　　　picture of the flowers under water,
 so this image is from here

地蔵川（Jizo River）where they grow is not a big river and local people use it to cool water melons, tomatoes, or ラムネ（bottled lemonade） for sale. There are some small bridges over the stream and I found several Sunday painters and photographers enjoying spending their own times leisurely on the bridges. I felt I was in a different time and place in that special district.

                                A dog, while taking a walk,  can't resist playing in the river.

居醒の清水（Isame-no-shimizu) is a water-spring where Jizo River flows from. A legend says it was where 日本武尊 （Yamato Takeru） recovered his health by cooling off in the water after wounded in fighting against the god of Mt. Ibuki. He was said to name the place Isame-no-shimizu.



地蔵川の梅花藻
(baika-mo at Jizo River)

伊吹山の花畑
(alpine meadow at Mt. Ibuki)

Mount Kōya for Women

Murōji Temple in Nara lies on the mountainside of Mount.Murō whose conic figure is likened to a bud of lotus flowers. Different from many other temples of that time, women were admitted to it so this temple is  known as 女人高野　（nyonin- Kōya); Mount Kōya for Women. While passing down a various cultural heritage, it also has been showing quiet beauty in harmony with nature in every season.

Especially shakunage (Rhododendron) featuring the precincts at this time of the year has attracted visitors.

                
        You can see the drum bridge leading to the gate on the left. 

shibazakura;moss phlox, on the bank on the way to the gate








According to the extant record kept by the temple, a successful ritual praying to Rūjin ( dragon deity, deity of water), who was supposed to live deep in the mountain stream, for Prince Yamabe ( later to become Emperor Kammu) to cure the disease made a monk of  Kōfukuji temple build a temple on this site as the imperial court order.  

It’s quite understandable people believed and revered some mystic power in the place like this surrounded with a deep mountain and clear stream. They have also done a ritual for rain here.

                                       Kondo ( national treasure, early Heian Period )




Five storied pagoda (national treasure), the smallest kind standing in the open air, remains from 9^th century, the second oldest to that of Hōryūji Temple.

Hanazuo　(Chinese redbud )

Its finial form is rare; there’s a pot-like Hobyo instead of Suien and a canopy like an umbrella over it. The right side picture from wikipedia shows the usual style of finial.

The extant record says Rūjin was kept in Hobyo by the monk who was in charge of building the temple.

Passing by the pagoda, you are into the pass leading to 奥の院( Okunoin), 御影堂(Mieido), dedicated to Kūkai and stilted building called 位牌堂(Ihaido).

You have to climb up around 400 stone steps to reach there.

Ihaido

You have to be more careful in stepping down the stairs.

Hondo ( national treasure)

red gate

I was lucky enough to visit here this time; to see the flowers in their prime time and what’s more, I was given an unexpected free gift as the 500^th visitor during the event, however I don’t know what event and since when, considering the relatively small number. Anyway I was happy to get a delicacy made of fresh local product.