Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a hydrangea at
former Yasuda Garden in Tokyo. It was dying, but the pale purple color of the flower next to one of a pair of
komainu or lion-dogs, was still beautiful.
These lion dogs are called "
A-gyo" and "
Un-gyo" dogs and often seen at the entrance of shrines or temples in Japan. An "
A-gyo (
A-shaped)" dog has an open mouth while an "
Un-gyo (
Un-shaped)" dog's mouth closed. "
A-Un" means beginning and end and is also known as part of the sayings, such as "
A-Un breathing" or "
A-Un relationship," that is, an inherently harmonious relationship or non-verbal communication.
I thought that such non-verbal harmonious relationship existed between me and my husband until I saw him walking away, leaving me who was busy taking photos of the hydrangea and the Un-gyo dog. That's why the post has no picture of A-gyo dog...😂
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A hydrangea dying but still beautiful! 枯れていますが綺麗! |
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Side by side with an "Un-gyo" lion dog 吽形の横 |