Day 10
Sanjusangen-do Temple
Ginkaku-ji
Gion
Sanjusangen-do Temple

It was raining outside, but wonderfully magic inside. Alas, pictures not allowed. The sound of the rain. The long cool hall. A 1000 gold leaf Buddhas standing in serene waiting. 

Sanjusangen-do dates (whatever that means) from 1164 and is the longest wooden structure in the world. 

Plus, it was Buddha's birthday. So, they gave us sweet tea to drink as we sat on the (veranda?) and watched the rain.
Ginkaku-ji: 
the Silver Pavilion

Blue sky for the Golden Pavilion. Torrential rain for the Silver Pavilion that never got its silver coat. Even the Zen raked sand blurred and molded into sand castles.
Built by shogun Yoshimasa (1258-1408), the grounds are well known for their exquisite gardens. I'm told that the gardens are generally swarming with people, so photo's are impossible. I'm not really sure this was an improvement.
Built by shogun Yoshimasa (1258-1408), the grounds are well known for their exquisite gardens. I'm told that the gardens are generally swarming with people, so photo's are impossible. I'm not really sure this was an improvement.

That night, we went to see a show in the Gion. It included a demonstration of the tea ceremony, flower dressing, Koto music (Japanese harp).
Gagaku, formal court music, most popular in the Heian period (9th - 12th centuries).
Kyogen, comic play, basically a Lord's servants plot to drink his sake. Transpose a bit and you've got the Decameron. 
Kyomai, Kyoto style dancing, in beautiful clothes.
Look very carefully.
This is Bunraku (a Japanese puppet play) there are three men in the picture (two dressed in black) manipulating this puppet.
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