Erwin Miyasaka: Visual Shanghai

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Erwin Miyasaka: Nadebotoke Binzuru statue at Todai-ji

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An old belief in Japan says that if you rub the body part of some religious statues, the corresponding part of your body will be cured of any illness. The belief applies to both Buddhist and Shinto statues, such as the cows representing Ushi-san at Tenman-gū Shinto shrines. Photographed here is a Buddhist statue at Todai-ji, Nara , called nadebotoke , which literally means “rubbing Buddha statue". It represents Binzuru (Pindola Bharadraja in Sanskrit), one of the Sixteen Arhats, disciples of the historical Buddha. Click on photo for higher resolution: Todai-ji Temple, Nara If you want to license my photos for commercial use, please contact me EXIF Info: Nikon Df Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8G Focal Length: 35mm Aperture: F/7.1 Shutter Speed: 1/1250s ISO Sensitivity: ISO 800 Yesterday’s Japan Photo: The 400 years old legendary Ginkgo tree of Nishi Hongan-ji Ver fuente
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Erwin Miyasaka: Replica swords of Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro

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The replicas of the swords owned by Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, opponents in the most famous samurai duel in the history of Japan, are displayed in the Kokura castle . The long one, with the red scabbard, is the famous nodachi of Sasaki Kojiro, nickname Monohoshizao “Laundry-Drying Pole". The blade is 90 cm long, about 20 cm longer that a regular katana . The sword with the black scabbard was the one owned by Miyamoto Musashi, and is is good to know that the original still exists, being displayed at the Shimada Museum of Arts in Kumamoto. However, Musashi hasn’t used it in the duel with Sasaki Kojiro - he was armed with a wakizashi and a very long, probably 110 cm bokken (wooden sword). Click on photo for higher resolution: Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu If you want to license my photos for commercial use, please contact me EXIF Info: Nikon Df Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8G Focal Length: 24mm Aperture: F/5 Shutter Speed: 1/60s ISO Se...
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Erwin Miyasaka: Did Chinese women go to opium dens?

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Since someone asked me if Qing women went to opium dens, I thought I would answer and put up some of my evidence. Short answer – I don’t think so, at least as customers. Certainly in the Republic, when they started registering opium “addicts” only a very small number of women registered (although their seem to have been women registered everywhere) In Qing pictures, like the ones below, opium smoking places seem to be male spaces, although we do get a picture of a wife showing up at one looking for her husband. There seem to be female attendants/possible prostitutes smoking with men in the classier place. I also include the picture of Mr. Conspicuous Consumption, which students always like. These are all from Dianshizhai huabao. Sorry they are reversed. I think I took these from the transparencies I used to use before Powerpoint   Ver fuente
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