Aloha & Welcome Back to Hawaii
It is time again for the ancient Japanese ritual,
Chinowa,
in which people pass through a ring
of chigaya grass
to receive a blessing of good health.
Dating from Nara period (710-749 CE)
the blessing initiates a process of renewal & revitalization, invoking increased flow
of Universal Life Energy,
strengthening us for the second half of the year
(New Year is the prime time for blessings!)
A Shinto Shrine grew in old Honolulu,
outside the city herself:
Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Hawaii Dazaifu Tenmangu.
In time, a modern city grew up around her.
A major highway passes very near.
As with everything else here in Hawaii,
we have put our own spin on Chinowa.
Here, it is an occasion to bless our
companion animals,
and lucky Ti leaves
are used in place of chigaya.
"The nature of God is a circle
of which the center is everywhere
and the circumference is
nowhere. "
Empedocles
We can judge the heart of a man
by his treatment of animals."
Immanual Kant
“Men are slower
to recognize blessings
than evils.”
Titus Livy
“Prayers go up
and blessings come down”
Yiddish Proverb
"If having a soul means
being able to feel love and loyalty
and gratitude,
then animals are better off
than a lot of humans"
James Herriot
And yes,
I got my
blessing!
Here's sharing it
with YOU- warmly, cloudia
Lovely serie Cloudia, especially picture one is so nice.
ReplyDeletegreetings, Joop
Good to learn about Chinowa.Thanks for all the beautiful pictures.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures and your customs are always fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat an enlightening post.. joyful writings...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous post, darling!
ReplyDeleteLove the quotes!
xoxox,
CC
some humans are not nearly as humane as we would hope.
ReplyDeletesometimes I believe my list of animal friends out weighs my human friends...really....and if you ever need a friend or someone to count on...always they are there to greet you happily...even those animal creatures that aren't even mine.....we need a ring like that over here....what a lovely tradition that is..but then it is in one of the most lovely spots ever! Thanks for sharing this story with us, I so enjoy learning about such things !
ReplyDeleteCloudia -- isn't that a sunset in your first pic? Okay -- the ring looks like a giant lei -- much the same purpose, it seems. Would Pirate Kitty go the the blessing? I think the doggies might have spooked him. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteA lovely thing - Chinowa. How lovely.
ReplyDeleteI love the blessing of the animals!
ReplyDeleteGood for you and kitty!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely custom and post! As always, great quotes and pics! Have a happy week, cher!
ReplyDeleteYou haven't lived completely, if you've walked this earth w/o a pet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your blessing and your pictures. Wish I'd been there. I so love animals. I think they bless us constantly.
ReplyDeleteAmazing wise tradition! And great photos, as usual.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much Asian culture in Honolulu, where, as you say, people put their own spin on things. I did not know about Chinowa, either.
ReplyDeleteA very quaint custom indeed :-).
ReplyDeleteAnother great set of quotes. I enjoyed reading this post and the previous three.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Again.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and informative. I love blogs where I learn new things and Chinowa is new to me. I also love your photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment on my blog. What does the comment ><}}(°> mean? See, I am learning something else from you!
Regards, Mari
Excellent post Cloudia, and perfect end with the James Herriott quote. Have a lovely day in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI love this. What a beautiful ceremony. I agree with Mr. Herriot!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful ritual, Cloudia, and beautiful photos, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting to read all about your beautiful Hawaii!!
ReplyDeleteI love this:
We can judge the heart of a man
by his treatment of animals."
Immanual Kant
Have a nice day...
ReplyDeletePierre
Wonderful shots and interesting ritual.
ReplyDeleteI always say that dogs are the best thing humans have ever done.
ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, with very good frames. My favorite is the first with a beautiful light in the sky. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteI keep telling my dogs they live a great comfortable life but they always seem to want even more. Have you ever tried to carry like a baby a 50 pound mutt? I tried to saddle her so she could carry me but she wasn't having any part of that.
ReplyDeletelovely series of photos!
ReplyDeletebetty
These comments make my heart brim over!
ReplyDeletethank YOU very much
Been a long traditional chigaya grass blessings dated back to 710-749 CE. Great info. tQ.
ReplyDeleteI remember "Kamehahameha" in the dragonball series and movies but did not know what it means ...
ReplyDeleteInteresting Kamehameha day as I read from Wiki ... an a public holiday celebrated from 1871. Amazing ! Thanks !
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