Every spring the Buddhist temple in Takao, a mountain town close to Tokyo, holds a "fire-walking" ritual that's intended to burn away bad luck and misfortune. And a layer of skin if it's not done right. A massive pile of wood is piled into a square, with fresh pine branches loaded on top. The moist pine give off a magnificent plume of whitish, sweet-smelling smoke. Once it burns down, the monks rake a path through its middle and then walk briskly through in bare feet. Once they've done it, the public has its chance. There must have been about 500 to 800 people lined up for a try. My luck's been running fine, so I just watched.
2 Comments
Charlie
4/1/2012 07:03:11 pm
I would have gladly traded filthy feet for a clean soul had I known where to get in on the swap with. Asceticism sounded so fun that day.
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helen
7/21/2013 12:50:37 am
i like the blog name, very Chinese taste. i am interested in the picture on the main page, is it you? A little boy was standing among the chicken?
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