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🦋BUTTERFLIES🐛

Last August Sonyō-in (尊陽院), a sub-temple of Honpō-ji (本法寺), unveiled its stunning new ceiling.

not yet a butterfly
even as autumn passes
the caterpillar
秋を経て蝶もなめるや菊の露
-Matsuo Bashō (松尾芭蕉)
Trans. Reichhold.

#Japan #butterflies #蝶々 #Kyoto #京都 #Sonyoin #尊陽院 #Honpoji #本法寺

The chestnut tiger butterfly proved inspiration for the ceiling at Sonyo-in.
The central portion of Sonyo-in's painted ceiling.
The brightly painted ceiling within Sonyo-in temple. Butterflies feature heavily as a motif.
A close up of one of the paintings of the chestnut tiger butterflies. There are also circles of seasonal flowers, painted in a vivid and abstract way (far removed from traditional temple ceiling paintings).
#japan #butterflies #kyoto #京都 #蝶々 #sonyoin #尊陽院 #honpoji #本法寺
in reply to Camellia Tea Ceremony

Camellia Tea Ceremony
Camellia Tea Ceremony
• •

I need no excuse to once again share Kameya Yoshinaga's (亀屋良長) sumptuous strawberry and white chocolate flavoured 'hanayagu' (華やぐ 'to brighten up').

drinking tea alone-
every day the butterfly
stops by
一人茶や蝶は毎日来てくれる
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶).
Trans. David Lanoue.

#Kyoto #京都 #haiku #Japan #butterflies #蝶々 #wagashi #和菓子

A delicate pink kinton sweet is decorated with a tiny yellow butterfly and sakura blossom.
A bee hunts for pollen amongst the cherry blossoms.
A teatime sweet themed around butterflies and cherry blossoms.
A yellow butterfly was used as inspiration for Kameya Yoshinaga's 'hanayagu' sweet.
#japan #haiku #butterflies #kyoto #京都 #wagashi #和菓子 #蝶々
in reply to Camellia Tea Ceremony

Camellia Tea Ceremony
Camellia Tea Ceremony
• •

Sonyō-in's ceiling painting (祈りの天井画), a prayer rendered in vivid colours, was created by the artist 'mais' (マイス).

Chestnut tiger butterflies (アサギマダラ), thanks to their long migration, have become symbols of perseverance.
Here they silently protect worshippers.

#Sonyoin #butterflies #Buddhism #mais #autumn #chestnuttigerbutterflies #Kyoto #Japan

The tokonoma (alcove) at Sonyo-in.
Sonyo-in's ceiling, decorated with abstract flowers and butterflies.
Sonyo-in's ceiling, decorated with abstract flowers and butterflies.
Sonyo-in's ceiling, decorated with abstract flowers and butterflies.
#japan #autumn #buddhism #butterflies #kyoto #Mais #sonyoin #chestnuttigerbutterflies
in reply to Camellia Tea Ceremony

Camellia Tea Ceremony
Camellia Tea Ceremony
• •

The large 'chestnut tiger' (アサギマダラ), a striking butterfly with blue-green marbled wings, feed on fujibakama nectar (and other flowers from the milkweed family).

Depending on the weather the insects appear from April-November, and migrate up to 1000km to their feeding sites!

#butteflies #chestnuttigerbutterflies #蝶々 #Japan #Kyoto #京都

The large 'chestnut tiger', a striking butterfly with blue-green marbled wings.
The large 'chestnut tiger', a striking butterfly with blue-green marbled wings.
The large 'chestnut tiger', a striking butterfly with blue-green marbled wings.
The large 'chestnut tiger', a striking butterfly with blue-green marbled wings.
#japan #kyoto #京都 #蝶々 #chestnuttigerbutterflies #butteflies
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