Monday, March 23, 2015

(769) Pickles and swords


Most Japanese when they hear the word “takuan” (沢庵) think of a particular pickle made of the big daikon radish; very few know that the pickle’s name comes from its inventor, Zen Buddhism priest Takuan Soho (沢庵 宗彭, 1573-1645), spiritual teacher to some of the most famous swordsmen of the early Edo period. Pictured is his grave in the Tokaiji Temple in Tokyo’s Shinagawa. 

(For a bigger version of this picture both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr)

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