Sunday, July 19, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Friday, July 3, 2015
Enoshima Island: cats and legends
This small island off the southern coast of Honshu, near Tokyo, is famous for a dragon of old and many cats who make their homes there today.
The five headed dragon terrorized the local populous by causing floods, droughts, fires, and devouring local children. The goddess Benaizen was troubled by this behavior. She caused the island of Enoshima to rise, then she descended there. Enraptured, the dragon proposed to Benaizen, who summarily dismissed him for his evil deeds. Some versions hold that the dragon mended his ways and Benaizen accepted his marriage offer. Others say that the dragon repented of his evil deeds and turned himself into a hill, now known as Dragon's Mouth Hill.
Fences laden with locks surround Enoshima's "Love Bell." Inspired by the tale of Benaizen and the dragon, couples ring the bell and leave signed locks on the fences to symbolize their undying devotion.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
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