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Tuesday, October 27, 2015

~FOR MY LOVE OF THE HUMMINGBIRD2015~

~For My Love of the Hummingbird~






To me Hummingbirds are are Gift
These tiny jewels of the skies, forests, 
mountains and valleys around the world give 
joy and hope to all that look upon them.
I love to just sit on my porch & listen to their 
amazing sounds. Watch their amazing 
Arielle movements in the skies and
the beauty of the colors that brighten the
feathers with the sunlight in flight.
In the Summer-Spring-Fall and Winter, 
they come to visit me in my Garden.
Especially one Anna Hummingbird that
has been living on my porch for the last 7+ years.
This tiny hummingbird has given me joy
during some of the rough times and 
happiness times in my
 life here.

YOURWENDY

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Kwaidan-Jiki Ninki-Man Eating Goblin

Kwaidan~Jiki Ninki~Man-Eating Goblin---
Jiki Ninki
Man eating Goblin
behind the sheet
In the Japanese Culture, they have quite an interesting and full tales of legends in their past.
So I thought I would give you a few since some are a bit on the scary side and Halloween is just around the corner. I have done a few tales of the legends/Myths of the Japanese Culture before and some have been even a bit too scary for me. However, since it is just a week till O's Halloween Eve I thought I would do a few stories as well as the movies that I have put on my blog for you my dears...
This tale is a rather creepy tale involving entrenched folk superstition, with Buddhist theology and Karmic principles of retribution for evil deeds that were done. As I have found in all Japanese legends there is always a lesson or retribution to some that has been wrong.... In this case, the Notion of a Jiki Ninki or Flesh-eating Goblin appears in several forms within the Japanese folk tales. As for the tale, it is very old and as for the original tale it is said to conjure up folks skin to tingles at the thought of encountering this dilapidated shrine hermitages along a darkened mountainous passages.
Here's is why...
The Tale started in 1904 When Muso Kokushi a priest of the Zen was sent journeying alone through the province of Mino while the priest lost his way through a mountain range district where there was nobody to direct him which way to go. For a very long time, the priest Muso Kokushi just wandered about helplessly and he was beginning to have despair in his thoughts about finding shelter for the night when he perceived on the top of a hill that were lighted by the last rays of the sun, one of those little hermitages, called anjitsu which were built for solitary priests. As the priest Muso Kokushi can to the old solitary building it was a bit ruinous in its condition, however, the priest Kokushi was eagerly and happy to have found a shelter.  He did find that it was already inhabited by a very old aged priest, but that didn't stop him from begging the favor of lodging from the cold of night. However, the old age priest that inhabited the anjitsu harshly refused Mouso Kokushi; but he directed Muso to a certain hamlet in the valley adjoining where lodging and food would be obtained. After making his way down the mountain, Muso found his way to the hamlet, which consisted of less than a dozen farm cottages and he was kindly received at the dwelling of the headmaster of the village.  When he was kindly received at the dwelling of the head of the hamlet village, forty to fifty people were assembled in the area when Muso's arrived. But he was shown into a tiny small separate room, where he was promptly supplied with food and bedding. Odd yet being very tired, he lay down to rest at an early hour; but a little before midnight he was roused from his sleep by a sound of loud weeping in the next room. This is what happened next! the sliding screens were gently pushed apart from his room and a young man carrying a lighted lantern entered Muso's room, respectfully saluted him and said, 'Reverend Sir, it is my painful duty to tell you that I am not the responsible head of this house. Yesterday I was only the eldest son, but when you came here, tired as you were, we did not wish that you should feel embarrassed in anyway. Therefore, we didn't tell you that father had died only a few hours before you arrived. You see the people had all assembled their last respects to the dead and are now going to another village that is three miles off, for it is our custom. No one is to remain in the village during the night after a death has taken place. We make the proper offering & prayers then the whole village leaves the corpse for the night. This is done because odd things have always happened over the centuries to our dead thus we leave; so we think it better for you to come away with us. We can find you good lodging with us in the village that we are going to. However, as you are a priest, you might not have no fear of demons or evil spirits as our town does. You are very welcome to use this poor house to stay if you aren't afraid, but I must tell you that nobody dares to remain here tonight'!
Muso Answer to the Headmaster;
'Thankyou for your kind intentions and your generous hospitality. I am deeply grateful for your concern.' Muso went on to say that he was sorry about his father death and even though he was tried he should have told him because he could have done his duty as a priest. Had he told him he would have performed the servie before their departure. Muso told the elder son that he would stay with the body till moring after perform the service when all have left. He isn't afraid or doesn't understand what he means about the danger of staying alone. So the young mand was rejoinced and assured to lead the village away for the night. So at midnight the reverend Muso was alone where the dead father layed. There were the usual offering that had been set beside the body and a small Buddhist lamp tomyo was burning too. Muso recited the service and performed the funeral cermoneis after which he entered into a meditation. Muso remained through several hours of silent meditation as was tradition in those anciet days in the silent village.
However, when the hush of the nigh was at its deepest---
Kwaidan-Jiki Ninki-
Man Eating Goblin
There was a noiselessly shape entering the small room. It was Vast and Dark and for a moment Muso found himself without the power to move or even speak. What Muso saw was beyond what a priest ever would see! The Shape lifted the corpse, as with hands and devour it more quicky tha a cat devours a mouse or rat --- beginning at the head and eating everying --- the hair and bones and even the shroud. After eating the Dead body the Dark Shape turned to the offerings and ate then as well. Then it went away as mysteriously as ith had come.  The villagers all returned and found the priest awaiting them at the door. They all saluted and entered the room. Yet weren't surprised at the disapperance of the dead body. For it is law and if it is not followed great misforture has come to the village.
Jiki Ninki
Man eating
Goblin
Although Muso had a few questions; he told of a awful dark shape that devour the dead body. Yet the Son of the dead father said it has be a matter of ancient times! So Muso inquired - He asked if the priest on the hill that he ran into first perform the funeral services for their dead? The young man said 'What Priest?' Muso continued to tell the young man his story about the priest who directed him to this village. How it was his anjitsu on the hill yonder, he had refused me lodging but told him the way here. After listening to Muso they all in astonishment said, ' Reverend Sir there is no priest and no anjitsu on the hill. They also said that there has been no resident priest for many generations. Muso said nothing more to the good people and deluded that there was some kinda goblin that comes to their village. He bidden them farewell and was determined to again go up to the hermitage on the hill to see what this was all about. He found the anjitsu without any difficulty. This time its aged occupant invited him to enter this time. When he had done so, the hermit humbly bowed down before him exclaiming 'Ah--- I am ashamed---I am very much ashamed. Muso had said to the hermit that he need not be ashamed for you have not refused me shelter and you directed me to the village yonder where I was very kindly treated. The hermit continued to say that he could no man shelter and that he was ashamed only that you have seen his true form---for it was I who devorued the corpse and the offerings last night before your eyes. He said to the reverend Muso that he is a Jikininki -- an Eater of Human Flesh. He then asked Muso to have pity on him and asked him to listen to his confession of how he became to his condition.
This is his Tale---
"A long, long time ago, I was a priest in this desolate region. There was no other priest for many leagues around. So, in that time, the bodies of the mountain-folk who died used to be brought here,-- sometimes from great distances,-- in order that I might repeat over them the holy service. But I repeated the service and performed the rites only as a matter of business; -- I thought only of the food and the clothes that my sacred profession enabled me to gain. And because of this selfish impiety I was reborn, immediately after my death, into the state of a jikininki. Since then I have been obliged to feed upon the corpses of the people who die in this district: every one of them I must devour in the way that you saw last night... Now, reverend Sir, let me beseech you to perform a Segaki-service for me: help me by your prayers, I entreat you, so that I may be soon able to escape from this horrible state of existence"...
No sooner had the hermit uttered this petition than he disappeared; and the hermitage also disappeared at the same instant. And Muso Kokushi found himself kneeling alone in the high grass, beside an ancient and moss-grown tomb of the form called go-rin-is, which seemed to be the tomb of a 
priest.
Well I hope you Enjoy this interesting tell
of the Jiki Ninki-Goblin Japanese Tale
YOURWENDY

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Chapel of the Ruins of Palacio Monserrate

The Chapel Ruins of Palacio Monserrate of Sintra~ 
Palacio of Monserrate
as now organically taken over
in the 19th century 
 Good Afternoon my dear friends & followers I found another most interesting legend which I hope that you all will find interesting as I my friends hugsss---
The Sintra National Palace or as the people call it the Palacio Nacional de Sintra is located in the heart of the romantic town of Sintra close to the far west of the coastline of central Portugal.  This Palacio life began in the early fifteenth century and grew organically until the late nineteenth century, providing an eclectic mix of architecture that fits perfectly with the diverse and slightly magical architectural styles that populate this beguiling town. Now for a bit of the Steeped History and Legends of the Palace's origins which date back to Islamic times when Sintra was dominated by two Castles --- The Castelo dos Mouros which is now a protected ruin presiding over one of the highest peaks in Sintra Mountain ranges & the present day National  Palace.  The Palace was taken into the possession of the Portugal Royal
The Palace in the heart of Sintra Pena
In it's Days of Glory!
Family in the twelfth century and they then embarked on a programme of the construction over several centuries creating a beguiling mix of Gothic, Manueline and Moorish architectural styles to match the already diverse and interesting landscape of the town in the 12-centry. These days the earliest surviving sections date back to the fourteenth century - The Royal Chapel, however, its strong heritage will forever live on!  The Palace has been inhabited more or less continuously since it was first constructed and it was here that King Afonso the VI was forced into exile from 1676 until his demise in the year 1683 after being deposed by his own brother Pedro due to his alleged mental instability. During the great
The Grand Palace Monserrate after
Queen Maria, I set many
renovations
on the Palance including the
 older wings
Lisbon earthquake of 1755 the main tower over the Arab Room was lost and several other areas of the Grand palace sustained major damage from this huge earthquake of 1755. However, Queen Maria I set about some major renovations on the palace including repairing some of the older wings of the grand Palacio Monserrate. With The Palace Monserrate of Sintra rebirth by Queen Maria I - It was now a favourite summer retreat among the Portugal's royals and European aristocracies too. Since the Palace of Monserrate in Sintra became such a favourite summer retreat and brought the people of  Portugal more income to their country. Queen Amelia decided to start even more renovations and additions after Queen Maria I.
The Palace that Queen Amelia continued
to restore till 1910 when the earth took the Palace
This was in particularly because Queen Amelia had a great fondness for the Sintra National Palace. It seems after the Republic was founded in 1910 the place returned to the state and has become a popular tourist attraction ever since.  During the Queen Amelia rain, there were a series of interconnecting courtyards, stairs, corridors and galleries joined to the palace. She continued to renovate the Palace till her passing. The individual sections of the palace were a  cohesive whole and you could wander through these maze of styles and historical features today in the nineteenth century which is one of the most exciting activities that can be done for any visitor to Sintra.
Whilst Palacio Nacional de Sintra is now officially Portugal's most visited palace, its sheer size and majesty ensures that it is not just worth the visit, but also that it never becomes too crowded to enjoy the Palacio.
Part of the Romantic Grounds
 and Overgrowth
of the Pena Palace
It is said that the Pena Palace in Portugal is perhaps one of the most iconic and best-known for the images of its enthralling countryside! Perched high on a hilltop above the romantic town of Sintra, the Pena Palace can be seen from as far away as Portugal's capital, Lisbon, on a clear day, which is some thirty kilometres to the east of the Palace.  The Pena Palace is a protected national monument and is considered to be one of the world's best examples of nineteenth-century Romantic architecture. Even though the Pena Palace has been constructed some thirty plus years before the Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, it is not only the best but, was also the first of its kind. Since 2007, it has been recognised as one of the SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD OF PORTUGAL - HAS WON A DESIGNATION AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE TOO!  This is a must see! in my BOOK!
The Palacio da Pena dates back to the Middle ages when it took the form of a chapel perched high on the hill overlooking Sintra. It was adopted as something of a pilgrimage site destination and sanctuary by the Portuguese rulers in the fifteenth century, but first by King John II and then later by King Manuel I, who had a monastery constructed on the site though it was sadly all but ruined in the earthquake of 1755.
Palace of Pena Park 
Now, days you can lose yourself in the lush greenery that has taken over the palace de Pena. Once you enter the walls and grounds you can delight in walking through the beauty of the landscaped greenery, which is a maze of bridges, grottoes, pergolas and fountains punctuated by the heady sight and scents of thousands of flowering plants & flowers. There is also the amazing Ivy that has taken over the landscape of the Pena Park.
Another bit of history I discover was that of Sir Frederick Cooke who inherited the Monserrate after the death of his father. Sir Frederick did make more improvements and opened the Palace to the public at the time in 1928. It's rumoured that Sir Frederick might have put the Palace up of sale. However, the council had to intervene to ensure that a new owner would not close public access, but, in fact, no buyers were forthcoming for the palace itself even though the adjoining quintas were sold off 'for a low price'.  From what I could find out the Monserrate and its extensive grounds remained unsold until the year 1949 when a Portuguese financier bought it and eventually delivered it to the state of Portugal in 1968. Then in 1994 the Park was closed and major work was done to make it look pristine condition but once again. Now it is keep-up and with decorative helpful signs to tell visitors what things are. It is a beauty of the world.
For all to enjoy for centuries to come. However, the Portugal government 
does keep a watchful eye on the grounds and the




























palace too. I hope that you
 enjoyed the post 
YOURWENDY


HAPPY HALLOWEEN 
MY DEARS 
YOURWENDY

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