The Dragon Ball. No, you won’t see Goku or Piccolo or the like lurking around here. Just a perfect onyx orb engraved with golden lines depicting a fierce dragon. It is inspired by the incredible painting of a dragon at nearby Tenryuji Temple. But did you know that unlike their Western counterparts, Oriental dragons are benevolent beings? They fly through the skies and bring the rain that nourishes crops and puts out fires. That second bit is very important if you happen to be a monk in charge of a wooden temple. Hence the dragon-themed art you’ll see at Buddhist temples.
ドラゴンボールです。違います。そのドラゴンボールじゃない。これは「龍の愛宕池」。この写真で着物の柱の綺麗な模様が見えるようにカメラ設定を暗めにしたから玉のデザインは見にくいけど、それは金の龍。祈ると希望が叶う。手を水に入れると、幸せになる。ほんま？まあ、あるホームページにそいうことが書いているけど。それはどうでもいい。とりあえず、綺麗で素敵な場所です！
©︎Alexander Farrell