a touch of color
龍/ryuu/dragon
Posted by e. (New York, NY, United States) on 30 April 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.
Last bit on Japanese prayer ritual. When you get to the shrine, clap twice before praying. The first clap is to summon the gods. The second clap is to summon your ancestors.
Xu Fu was a court sorcerer in China during the Qin Dynasty who was tasked with finding the elixir of immortality. Eventually, he left to find it, and never came back. It was eventually revealed that he traveled to Japan, where he supposedly found the elixir.
This dragon is from the well at the the Xu Fu shrine/tomb in Shingu.
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Photo taken in Shingu, Japan on December 23, 2007.
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein
Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. - Shawshank Redemption
Koushiro~光子郎 from Singapore, Singapore
Wow that looks so Kakoii! Love the lightings and the effects from the ripples
30 Apr 2008 5:09am
ManuelaR from Hainburg, Germany
WOnderful piece of art and love your composition!
30 Apr 2008 8:27am
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
A wonderful compositon e, I love the water drops from the dragons mouth and the ripples on the water it creates.
30 Apr 2008 9:31am
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
very interesting shot...liked the history bit too :)
30 Apr 2008 10:57am
Shrig from NorthEast, United States
That's an intersting light being cast on the dragon. The detail on it's face is great, then it dims as it goes back along the dragon, where the detail perhaps isn't as important. But these dragons are great! And I enjoy your history lesson to go with it. :)
30 Apr 2008 4:45pm
Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands
Wonderful dragon, you'd better clap, or else...
30 Apr 2008 5:25pm
Rob from Velveetaville, United States
Great compositions e. and your body of work reminds me to have fun when capturing images.
Thanks,
Rob
30 Apr 2008 5:33pm
tyan from Singapore, Singapore
the dragon looked like it was falling asleep while waiting for worshippers and started drooling!sorry no offence meant..i think this is very nicely done!:)
30 Apr 2008 5:59pm
@tyan: Hahaha I can definitely see that. :)
Rabbit from Richmond, United States
Great focus - i like the little ripples in the water.
30 Apr 2008 7:20pm
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
I love these dragons, and the link between water, earth and spirit that this shot conveys.
30 Apr 2008 8:17pm
Cheryl from Boerne, United States
thanks for the story, very interesting. This dragon looks quite powerful!
30 Apr 2008 10:40pm
standley from Brou-sur-Chantereine, France
Wonderful composition. Great lighting!
30 Apr 2008 11:02pm
Rags from Plano, United States
This is such a cool image. it is strange too. Thanks for sharing this culture with us.
1 May 2008 4:05am
Nikon D40X
1/500 second
F/5.6
ISO 450
82 mm (35mm equiv.)