#bonsho

[kairunatic]

Bonsho

(If Leonhart was a Crazy Emo Yandere Lmao)

[tanuki-kimono]

Hello!

Do you have any kimonos that contain bells or Maneki Neko? I love both and would love to see some :3

Hi! Bonshô (Buddhist temple bell) and dôtaku (Yayoi period bell) are rare on garments, but tiny bells are pretty common on kimono and obi are those are super auspicious objects (ring was thought to ward off evil away)! Look for for 鈴 suzu.

Maneki neko are more a cute novelty pattern but you can find items patterned with beckoning cat/other animals or auspicious calico cat, often associated with gold koban coins :3

[silentmagi]

Fanfic Title Summary: The Ringing of the Bonsho

Sero x Oni!Mina

So it might have taken Mina a few rings of the Bonsho to purify her thoughts, but eventually she was allowed into the Buddist Temple. Sero had to make a mental note to apologize to the monks.

The chaos compels.

If you want to write one of these, please just link me

[majesticflyingwalrus]

Alternate Version of Ch 11. "The Night We Met"

So, I had this alternate plan for the opening chapter, "The Night We Met." It goes something like this:

Instead of Itachi and Kisame finding Asaya at the abandoned bonsho (prayer bell) when she hides away from the diplomatic party that evening, Itachi infiltrates the party disguised as a guest or wait staff.

He identifies her as the target, then watches her throughout the evening, waiting for the right moment to approach.

Despite not wanting to be there and knowing that she is socially outclassed, she awkwardly tries her best to engage with other guests. After a frustrating or particularly embarrassing encounter with a snobbish guest, Asaya sneaks out to the empty veranda overlooking a garden/courtyard.

At this point, Itachi is distracted by something (another guest asks who he is, a waiter bumps into him), looses track of her, and has to find her again. He did not see her walk out of the main room.

It is now night time, and the garden veranda is illuminated only by the full moon. Asaya is alone, and she is mad that she has to be at this party she does not belong at and mad at herself for not being able to fit in. She keeps thinking she should get over herself and go back in, but she can't bring herself to do it.

"I found you." Itachi says, startling Asaya. "I wondered where you went. I've looked everywhere for you."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met." Why would anyone be looking for her?

"No, we haven't," Itachi confirms. "Your name is Kagami Tomoyo, I believe."

The name "Tomoyo" unnerves her, because that was her name before she was conscripted to Iwa and given a new one. No one would possibly know that. "My name isn't Tomoyo. It's Asaya."

What a bizarre name, Itachi thinks. "Pleased to meet you, Asaya. My name is Uchiha Itachi, and you will be leaving with me now."

Before Asaya can ask what he means by that, Itachi traps her in a genjutsu and she falls unconscious.

The line "I found you" is then repeated every time Itachi finds her after an escape attempt.

I went with the version I posted for a few reasons, but largely because I felt I could flesh it out more and I wanted to open with a cool fight scene. I still think this alternate version would have been fun, though.

[koshigurajumy]

Jumy-M Bonshō / 名もなき梵鐘

[majesticwolfsx]

I realize I don’t post much but I felt I haven’t updated anything in awhile so I felt like posting my recent drawing. Pictured here is a group of characters from a recent TTRPG game that just finished up tonight. Parodying the Team Seven pose. There’s the Bonsho, leader of the ninja syndicate in the Rain Village. Unagi, a travelling sell-sword with storm jutsu who’s always looking for bigger and badder challenges. Shokunin Mibu, a crazy drunken scientist of the Rain Village ninja syndicate with a giant metal pile bunker gauntlet who uses a combination of wind & radio jutsu, robots and his mech H.E.R.O Protocol to fight.( which was specifically designed to look like Heroman ). and Akahana, a lone tsundere ninja dog who is the last of her clan, forced to share a body with bijuu, uses a mixture of wood/earth/water jutsu, Genjutsu and the power of Matatabi to fight. 

[perennialgarden]

良いこと

[sanki-tiger]

Bonsho. Buddhist temple bells #bonsho #buddhism #indiaphotography #peace #bells #templebell #budha #religious #darjeeling #traveling #travelphotography #travellers #solotravel #indiatourism #flavoursofindia #photographer #photolovers #photosforlife #nikon #nikonindiaofficial #travelindia #instagram (at Darjeeling) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-eyM4MgomK/?igshid=1diwpy5trq489

[taktstockist]

#engakuji #bonsho made in #1301 #nationaltreasure (at Engaku-ji)

[dailyadventureprompts]

Dungeon: The Pillars if Pn’aar

“ Watch your step, for all their wisdom, the enlightened ancients that built this place didn’t seem to believe in handrails” 

Setup: Also known as “The Ageless Arches”, the antediluvian ruins of Pn’aar are one of the great places of mystery in the world, a whole mountain valley filled with crumbling or half built towers, rising out of the sub-alpine clouds like a forest in a dream. A holy tranquility seems to pervade this site, and for generations those seeking the god’s favor or simple removal from the world have made pilgrimage to the pillars, seeking the same serenity that inspired their construction so long ago. 

Recently however a Tremendous Roc has decided to make its home among these sacred monuments, scaring off the pilgrims and shaking the pillars to their foundations with the thunderous beats of its wings. More than just a simple beast, this almighty avian seems to possess a fragment of celestial grace and ( if rumors are to be believed) more than a passing resemblance to depictions of a half forgotten spirit named Nalaggi once worshiped by the people of the lowland plains. 

Adventure Hooks: 

The pillars are famous for imparting visions upon those that meditate within them, and sneaking past a giant bird-monster and the pillars’ other threats might be worth it if the party needs celestial guidance. Also a draw is the Bonsho of Sage Yitall, a bell the size of a small granary made of celestial bronze. Three strikes of this great bell is said to be able to summon aid from across the planes, or to banish any evil, but disrepair ( and the chaos caused by the appearance of a castle sized avian) have meant the bell has not run in decades. 

Traveling along one of the great rivers, a convoy of royal ships was attacked by Nalaggi while returning from a tribute mission to one of their client states. Having confused the procession for a pod of wales ( which a roc hunts the way another fish might pluck fish from a lake), the celestial raptor has made off with the largest and most gaudy of the vessels, taking it back to its lair among the pillars to feed. In addition to carrying a literal boatload of treasure, this ship also contained one of the royal heirs, who was traveling in disguise along with some of her tutors to observe the tributary mission.  With a the lives of a princess, her entourage, and a literal king’s ransom on the line, the chance presents itself for the adventurers to graduate from simple sells words into true heroes of the realm. 

Venturing out into the lowland savannah to learn about Nalaggi is a protected process in and of itself, and will require the party to hire guides and treat with the often suspicious clanspeople of the great plains. Having suffered repeated persecutions for their “Pagan” animist faiths, they are especially reluctant to share aspects of their mythos with outsiders, and discovering Nalaggi’s weaknesses will require the party to either win over a recalcitrant head priestess, or tresspass upon holy ground to discover for themselves. 

Challenges & Complications: 

The bones of wales, elephants, and other large animals lay scattered incongruously throughout the pillars, remnants of Nalaggi’s predatory appetite. Mountain scavengers have been drawn by the scent of the great-bird’s scraps, and pose as an extra layer of challenge for those who want to traverse the pillars. Most terrible of these are a flight of gargoyles that have begun to grow in number and revere the Celestial Roc as some kind of patron and provider. These stony savages will attempt to foil any attempt to hunt Nalaggi, and have no qualms about flying out on their own to prey upon travelers and mountainfolk while their protector has left the nest. 

“Billie” Samten was a fixture of the Pillars before the Nalaggi came: originally the fatuous younger son of a pair of middle class merchant who cared more for bad poetry than he did the family business,  Samten “Found Himself” after visiting the pillars on a lark, and lived the ensuing 40 years of his life as a hermit, raising goats and providing hospitality to visitors to the ruins. Billie and a few other dedicates stayed on when others fled the monster’s presence, and can now be counted on to guide the party through his ruinous home.... provided they don’t mind the smell of slightly-off goat’s milk.

Nalaggi is indeed a celestial creature, wrought from an ancient mythology and set loose upon the world. As such, is considered a “mythic” encounter, requiring those that wish to hunt it to complete some epic task in order to be able to land a killing blow.  In the legends of the lowlanders, Nalaggi was said to be created from a desert storm by the god of the night sky, to sit guardian over an egg made of desert glass which contained one of this god’s shameful secrets. No mortal weapon was said to be able to break this shell, but if the party is clever, they might realize that rolling this egg out of the nest, through the ruins, and out over the edge of a nearby pillar may be enough to smash it.  Alternatively, Repairing and ringing the Bonsho of Sage Yitall is enough to crack the egg no matter the distance, though doing so will most certainly earn Galaggi’s attention. 

[tanuki-kimono]

Japanese folk tales #30 - The bell of Mugen

(for lovely @tsuki-no-miyako, I hope you’ll like it!)

Find my tales tagged here or visit my blog for both english and french versions. Wish me to cover a special youkai or subject? Contact me, I’ll try to accommodate ❤️

Once upon a time, there was a little town called Mugen where stood a famous temple. It was an old respectable institution and its monks were proud… but also haughty and arrogant.

One day, it came to their ears that a faraway shrine had just blessed a new beautiful bell. One monk raged:

– Our temple is the best for miles around. How could we let a second class shrine outshine us? We should have the greatest bell!

All his brother nodded vigorously. And in the blink of an eye, everything was said and done. They all seized their hats and staves and went knocking on good people’s doors. For weeks, the monk’s mumbling filled the streets:

– Offerings, offerings. We are here to collect offerings, for the glory of the Buddha.

– Bronze and silver and gold. Metal for a bell which will carry your prayers to Heaven.

– A bell, with the purest sound. A bell, to protect Mugen from demons.

Townsfolk had a lot of respect for the monks. They rummaged through their belongings, eager to outmatch each others by donating lavish gifts, willingly handing out precious heirlooms and rare antiques.

Yet, in one little house, a young lady did not shared her neighbors’ fever.

She owned an amazing bronze mirror, smooth as calm waters, finely chiseled with delicate plum blossoms, bamboos and pine branches. It was her most prized possession. For generations, women of her family had used it, lovingly passing it on to their first  daughter.

Between her tears, the young woman could nearly see her mother’s smile reflected on the precious mirror.

The voice of a monk rang urgently into her house:

– Offerings, offerings! Metal for the sacred bell!

With a heavy heart, the young lady got up, clasping her mirror tightly on her breast. Outside, she only encountered smiling eyes and happy faces. Everywhere, villagers were merrily chatting and joking, one holding a shimmering hairpin, another a beautifully crafted kettle.

The young lady sniffled. Reluctantly, she got into the line heading to the temple grounds. In front of her, people were adding their donations to a growing pile. But, when her turn came, she could not make a move, her arms clutched protectively around her mirror.

People started to whisper. A monk rose and loudly admonished her :

– Are you a true believer or not? Come on girl, you are holding down the line!

Ashamed, the young lady quickly threw the mirror on the pile and ran off, hiding her cries behind shaking hands.

Soon, all villagers had made their offerings, their prized treasures glittering under the sun.

The monks called the blacksmiths. Under the crowd cheers and the monk chanting, they built a blazing fire. Then, they started to melt the donations in a huge crucible. Small hairpins and big kettles alike all disappeared into a white hot mass.

Suddenly, a stocky man let out a cry:

– How can it be! This one is not melting!

And indeed, in the glowing pot, everyone could see that a mirror engraved with plum blossoms, bamboos and pines remained untouched by fire.

As one, people gasped and turned to the young woman. The monks were fuming:

– Selfish girl! Your egoism is unveiled for all to see! Don’t you respect the Buddha’s words? Offer your mirror wholeheartedly and maybe, maybe you’ll be forgiven!

All around, townsfolk were watching her with plain discontent. Between bitter tears, the young lady finally spat:

– Fine I give it! I give it!

As soon as those words escaped her lips, she felt her heart grow cold. And the mirror melt, joining the molten bath.

Days and days passed. Finally, one brisk morning, the great bell was revealed. Immense and magnificent, its heavy silhouette overlooked the town. In clear weather, its deep ringing could be heard from far, far away.

Monks and townspeople were both delighted: Mugen truly had the most amazing temple of the province.

Yet, for the young woman, nothing was the same. All ignored her, only throwing her side looks full of disdain. As a defense, the poor girl turned sour and lonely. Many years passed and people forgot her history. She became the town’s madwoman, always muttering nonsense and harsh curses under her breath.

One evening, the old woman went to the river and jumped, never again to be seen. But, in her belongings, people discovered a strange message:

Ring it, ring it ‘til it cracks! Break the bell! Become richer than you ever dreamt!

Townsfolk whispered and whispered about the madwoman’s words. And one day, a greedy man took his chance and started to ring the bell. In a steady rhythm, he kept striking metal with the roped beam.

Heavy, loud, the bell sang and sang, its deep longing call echoing across the land. In a trance, others villagers soon joined him:

– I won’t let you keep the bell’s treasure!

Holding mallets and big staves, they all struck frenetically. The ringing was deafening, resounding deep in their bones. More and more people came, eyes mad, each yearning to strike. Overwhelmed monks didn’t know what to do to contain the raving mob.

– My turn! My turn!

The bell sang in a mad unsettling rhythm. Furious people fought to get close to the bell, vicious blows exchanged here and there. The ringing sound picked up pace as the rabid crowd chanted:

– Strike harder! Break the bell!

The bell rang and suddenly…

CRACK!

… Vibrations had damaged the wooden frame holding the bell. Shattered wood splattered everywhere. In a heavy dust cloud, the huge bell came down crushing people under its weight. It was still uncracked.

The song of greed had stopped. In a dreadful silence, monks and villagers slowy came back to their senses. Someone wailed in near hysteria:

– Cursed! This bell is cursed!

The abbot tried his best to calm people down. He ordered his monks to chant protective sutra.

– This ill-fated thing must disappeared… You and you come here!

Under the abbot’s guidance, monks and villagers joined their effort to roll the huge bell down the temple’s hill, where stood a deep swamp. And, some people said that, as the beautiful bell of Mugen slowly sank into the mud, a feminine silhouette escaped from the mist and disappeared into thin air.

Notes:

Bells are extremely important objects in Japan. Bit it big bonsho or smaller suzu, people believe bells have the power to cast away demons and evil spirits. That’s partly why the deep gong-like sound of big buddhist bells plays an important part in many rituals such as dead festival (ōkubo-ōgane for obon) or New Year Joyanokane ceremonies.

Because of their aura, bells can be found in many tales. A famous one is Musume Dojoji, where the spurned lady Kiyohime turned into a serpent out of spite and purchased her lover who hid under a temple bell. This story is a classic noh play and has also a beautiful kabuki version.

Mirrors also play an important role in Japanese culture. One of the most prized artifacts of the country is the Yata no kagami, a mirror supposed to have helped to lure the goddess Amateresu from her cave. Precious objects, they’ve kept for centuries an aura of magic and mystery. They were for example said to show your true soul… or catch it depending of the story!

Mirrors were especially associated with women. So it’s no wonder that in today’s tale, the young woman left a piece of her soul in her beloved mirror. And, because of her grief, her last words imbued the bell with a power, revealing the dark face we all can hide inside of us. A very classical example of Japanese ghost story!

[pictures sources:  1 / 2 / 3]

[thekimonogallery]

"Bonsho, also known as Tsurigane or Ogane are large bells found in Buddhist temples, used to summon the monks to prayer and to demarcate periods of time."

 [Japanese Art Culture No. 248 (Ⅰ)]

[asunnydog]

"Happy Valentine's day Chiasa!" She gives the yokai a tiny bonsho bell. "Had to pay an interdimensional shop owner for that one. But she claimed it was from Japan"

Chiasa, palm over heart, very gently took the tiny bell, using her claws to hold it up, letting it dangle. With a warm, perhaps bittersweet smile, she muttered something under her breath; similar to japanese yet unrecognizable; and giving the bell a light chime.

It was hard to see through the bangs, but you could almost feel the tears welling up at the edges of her eyes. She was clearly a little homesick.

She still had yet to say a word to the other, simply pulling her in for a tight, loving embrace. It was from japan alright.

[doobler]

Noteworthy locations: The Totum Continent

Yarely Capitol -The capital of human life, closed in by massive stone walls. Visitors have to pass through multiple checkpoints in order to enter. Magic is strictly prohibited (though found in the sleazier underbelly of the city) and magicfolk are often seen as lower class or even invaders. This is Brittney’s home city.

Castellia City - A melting pot of many cultures and a constant point of attack for malevolent magical forces. Riker’s smithy acts as a point of constant foot traffic here.

The Heart - Totum’s epicenter of magical energies. It’s rumored ancient gods and otherworldy beings slumber here. When banished, this is where Orthos arrived and where Zaith was found as an abandoned baby.

Konasan - Meaning “three corners”, it houses an interesting array of flora and fauna. With cold mountains to the north, grassy hills to the north east, and plains to the south, its a rather untouched little paradise. Guarding it for centuries is Bonsho Shrine, a place for spiritual enlightenment and exorisms. This is Umeko’s home town.

Shefsha’ah - A far off desert outpost that spreads to the sea, it’s very rarely visited by travellers. Those who can make it through the insufferable heat and blistering sandstorms can find a tropical oasis waiting for them. The locals love visitors and will most definitely attempt to sell you every last trinket and morsel of food that they’ve got, all in good tidings of course.

??? - Very few attempt to cross the barrier into this godforsaken penninsula. The air is acrid and sour, the soil hard and dead. What grows here is foul and the locals are, to put it mildly, unfriendly. Those who do wander into this wasteland either never come back or swear to never retell the events that they witnessed. Some say, if you can see this land on the horizon at dusk, you can hear cruel whispers in your ears and a fist will close around your lungs. 

Witches’ Bog - Where Centrium Forest is a hub of mostly positive magic, the bog has more menacing undertones. The water is a sickly purplish color, the air reeks, and mysterious wildlife lurk in the shadows. If you survive the natural trials, you may find the Witches’ Hut, home to a coven of hags and sorceresses. They’ve been rumored to steal babies, hex travelers, drink the blood of virgins, and perform bizarre and disturbing rituals. Zaith grew up here.

Assassin’s Guild - High on mountain crags, in the deep coldy terrain, lies a veritable fortress. Here, generations of stolen children are trained to become deadly killers, all for the sake of keeping their masters rich. Many try to escape, either in their youth or adolescence. Very few get out alive. Once made into living weapons, these assassins are sent out into the world to kill for hire. It’s a cruel and terrible process that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Bayern spent the first half of his life here.

Bloodlurch Estate - Count Santiago Bloodlurch and his nymph wife Idesia tilled this land by hand for decades, cultivating a truly beautiful piece of farmland for all to enjoy. Many small hamlets housing every variety of life sprung up nearby, their own crops saturated with positive magical energies. After their deaths, the estate was left to rot when their only child mysteriously disappeared. It still stands as a haven for nature and many farmers visit the land to pray for good fortune. This is where Chrys was born and raised.

Aecor Vista - A testament to human ingenuity, this gorgeous coast side city boasts a beautiful seaside view paired with whimsical architecture and exquisite cuisine. Most of the continent’s seafood is exported from this city alone and it’s a proud and constant tourist destination. Many affluent members of any society will come to showcase their wealth with lavish meals and textile commissions. This is Bayern’s birthplace.

[thelifesway]

Keisha waiting for her turn to ring the #Bonsho #NanHuaTemple #Jozi #Parenting #TheLifesWay #Photoyatra . . . . . . #photographyeveryday #DaughtersLove #aashishRai #lifestyle #technology #Blogger #5yearsofTheLifesWay #SocialMediainfluencer #TheLifesWayAnniversary #BuddhistTemple #Buddhism #SouthAfrica #TravelJournalist #anytimeanywhereMagazine #NikonD7000 #Keisha #Prayers #NewYearCelebrations #loveoflife #FollowYourBliss #FestiveSeason #Johannesburg

[chabrenannebridge-blog]

Lady Aries, frames #simpleart #madewithpaper #aries #zodiac #pioneer #droid #woman #future #mother #maiden #isolt #kate #frames #sketch #panels #westernwoman #eastmeetswest #blackandwhite #thebeginning #bonsho #tamingoftheshrew #shakespeare #catonahottinroof #manandmachine #fashion #dress #60s #dayruler #metamorphosis #hitchcock