This Rock Requires Further Investigation

 

 

Criminals Used to Hangout Here

 

 

Named Fere Rock, it's located in Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan.

Mr. Miyagi, from the Onna-son Museum, gave me a Onna History & Culture brochure.

The nice thing is, the manual has both English and Japanese writing in it.

That's how we located this historical site.

And, we would never have heard about the highway robbers, if we hadn't read the book.

Everybody Loves a Dumb Criminal Story

 

 

Way back in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom the mountainous road was well traveled.

This rock, standing tall alongside the highway was the scene of repeated crimes.

Fee-ree, according to my Okinawan Dictionary, means, holdup or, stick-up.

And, these bandits used it to their advantage.

People, going along this highway would have their belongings snatched.

The highway robbers would be perched on top of the rocks.

They took long poles with hooks at the end and grabbed traveler's valuables.

 

How Slick Was That ?

 

 

It got me thinking. They hadn't even invented the helicopter, yet.

Once they snatched someone's saddlebags, where the hell did they think they were gonna go ?

As the story goes, some gal from Itoman, chased them away with her wits.

And, another version says, a karate dude ran the crooks off using his sickle.

 

We Better Go Back and Climb That Rock

 

 

All bandits aren't as stupid as:  The 10 dumbest criminals in the world.

What if these guys had an escape route somewhere inside that rock ?

Mr. Miyagi, please, don't give away any more of those books, until I check it out !


Directions for those wishing to visit this historical site

Okinawan Folkltale: Legend of Hakugindo Shrine

Offerings on a Daily Basis

 

This shrine may not be on the top ten places to visit of any traveler's itinerary.

It is an important part of Okinawan culture, that shouldn't be missed.

The history of the shrine, attracts people, from all over Okinawa to visit, every day.

And, they make offerings for a good reason.

 Photos showing the exterior of Hakugindo Shrine were in a previous post.

Today, in this photo, you can look inside the cave over which the shrine was built.

The Story Began over 400 Years Ago

 

 

Prior to annexation by Japan, Okinawa was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom.

These events took place between a Ryukyu fisherman and a Japanese samurai.

 

A samurai loaned money to a poor fisherman, to buy a boat.

The samurai went back to Japan and expected the loan to be paid, upon his return.

Things didn't go well, for the Ryukyuan fisherman.

When the samurai warrior returned, there was no money waiting for him.

In anger, the samurai, drew his sword to end the fisherman's life.

The fisherman warned the warrior, "Never raise your sword in anger."

Stunned, the samurai, let the fisherman live and departed the Ryukyu Islands.

Upon Returning to Japan

The samurai discovered a pair of man's sandals outside his home.

Suspecting, someone was visiting his wife, while he was away, he became enraged.

He drew his sword and entered the house, ready to kill.

Then, he recalled the words of the Ryukyu fisherman and lowered the sword.

Taking a good look at the stranger in his house, he discovered, it was his mother.

She had worn a man's clothing to discourage any male visitors while her son was away.

A Year Later

 

 

On the warrior's next trip to the Ryukyu Islands he visited the fisherman.

Having had a very successful year, the fisherman was ready to repay the loan.

The samurai didn't want the money.

He gave the fisherman credit for saving the lives of his wife and mother.

The fisherman had taught him "Never raise your sword in anger."  

The fisherman insisted on repaying the loan but, the samurai refused to accept it.

As a compromise, they decided to bury the money, together.

They placed it in a cave and had Hakugindo Shrine constructed over it.

It would be a place to pray for the safety of the villagers and fisherman's lives.

The legend of Hakugindo Shrine teaches a valuable lesson, that money can't buy.

And, it is the reason you will see people visiting, making offerings and praying there, today.

SOURCE: JAPAN UPDATE AUG 2009

Holy Sumac: These Ryukyu Trees and Buddhism

Here is What Makes Them Special

 

Traditional Japanese candles are not made from paraffin, animal fat or, beeswax.

Western candles are made that way.  And some are even made from petroleum products.

Buddhist beliefs forbid intentional killing of animals.

So, the candles made in Japan are made from natural products.

The Ryukyu tree we call sumac, provides the ingredients for Japanese candle-making.

These trees with red and orange leaves are about the only fall foliage we see around here.

Back in November 2011, I found a sign on one of these sumac trees, in the middle of nowhere.

Thinking it may be something important, I shot a photo of the sign.

That always makes research easier.  Especially, when you get a scientific name out of it.

Rhus succedanea, helped me identify the tree.

Once I found out it was some sort of sumac, I recalled the scratching I did as a kid.

Poison sumac was real popular in my neck of the woods, back in those days.

So, I researched no more.

Along Came Alice Gordenker the Writer for Japan Times 

 

She wrote The Making of a Japanese Candle

Come to find out, the trees were brought to Japan from the Ryukyu Kingdom.

That's what led me to say "Holy Sumac".

What's so special about candles made from 100% vegetable material ?

They don't drip so much wax and make less smoke.

Japanese candles even stay lit better in the wind.  

Holy smokes.  I want some for next typhoon season !

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Travel Photo of the Week: New Year Ritual in Okinawa

Okinawan Priestesses Known as Noro

 

This photo was taken December 30, 2012 at Takushi in Okinawa, Japan.

The Noro, are the women in white robes, making offerings.

After they pray, water is drawn from Hiijaa, a well to their right.

The water is then taken to UNESCO Shuri Castle.

In a ritual which dates back to the days when Okinawa was the Ryukyu Kingdom,

water from this site, is mixed with water drawn from a well in Hedo, northern Okinawa.

The blessed mixture of water is presented to the royalty of the castle.

It signifies a desire for peace, prosperity and health within the kingdom.

The ceremony is timed to take place around the beginning of  the New Year.

Today's Feature Photo

Travel Photo of the Week: Camera Crowd in Hedo

This photo was taken in the Village of Hedo, Okinawa, Japan.

Sunday December 23, 2012 was a special day for the folks up there.

Busloads of culture and history enthusiasts showed up and plenty of cameramen came, too.

The attraction was the reenactment of a ritual from the old Ryukyu Kingdom.

Sometimes, when you are at these cultural events, there is plenty of free time.

Traveling a long distance and waiting for things to get started isn't a lot of fun.

So, what many of the photographers do, is start shooting each other.

That's what the camera crowd did in Hedo this past weekend.

And, I got pictures to prove it.

A UNESCO World Heritage Stone Gate in Okinawa: Travel Photos

This stone gate in Okinawa, Japan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000.

Built sometime during the 16th Century, it is an architectural example of Chinese influence on the Okinawa islands during the period when Okinawa was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The gate, known as Sonohyan-utaki Ishimon, guards the entranceway of a sacred grove.

It is located just across the street from Shuri Castle.

Many travelers, visiting Okinawa's UNESCO Sites pass right by this cultural asset on the way to the #1 tourist attraction on the island, without even noticing it.

The stone gate was only opened for the King of the Ryukyu Islands and royalty so they could enter the sacred grove before leaving the castle to embark upon a journey.

Here, they would pray to the gods for a safe return.

If you ever travel to Okinawa to see UNESCO World Heritage Sites don't miss this one.

This stone gate could insure you safe return.