History is something Japan is steeped in, and Kyushu is no different. Hundreds of years of history can be found around any corner, carved into a stone or painted on a piece of wood.
Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture is home to Shonenji, a temple run by my friend and her husband. His family has been Buddhist priests at the temple for generations, and will hopefully continue to be for generations. When Victoria married into the family, she also became a priest, with a beautiful chanting voice.
Their temple is a country temple, with parishioners from the local villages. Some 100 years ago, the ceiling in the hondo, or main temple building, was adorned with folk paintings to raise money for the upkeep of the temple. Worshipers would purchase a ceiling tile in their name, much like people purchase bricks at community spots in America. These were then painted with a motif, sometimes flowers or nature, others characters from myth.
As this was done over 100 years ago, the paintings had begun to fade. A few years ago, I undertook photographing over 200+ different ceiling tiles, in a way of preserving them. They have recently been restored in honor of their eldest son becoming a priest. I hope to get there soon to document them with their fresh coats of paint.
Another friend suggested that we put them together into a book, and have locals write what they know of the people who commissioned them, or about the motifs and why they were chosen, or just memories in general, before they fade from the population. I think this is a great idea, and am working on putting it together soon.
You can view the album of images on flickr.
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