Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Images and ink (7)


Image: Morning over Tsurugi-san, woodprint by Yoshida Hiroshi (1926)

Text: On Tsurugi-dake, from Nihon Hyakumeizan (One Hundred Mountains of Japan) by Fukada Kyūya (1964):

Yes, as its name suggests, Tsurugi has all the sharpness and rigour of a sword. ... Defended by its iron citadels and snowy moats, the summit was long held to be inaccessible. According to legend, this was the mountain where Kōbō Daishi wore out a thousand pairs of straw sandals in vain attempts to scale it...

Related posts: The tiltyard of alpinism and Tales of the Genjiro

1 comment:

Kittie Howard said...

"...a thousand pairs of straw sandals." That's determination one has to admire. I re-read "Tales of Genjiiro" - smiled about not taking the lift up - wouldn't suffer enough - That's dedication one has to admire.

And my comment - a year has passed - we're off to Italy/Austria/Hungary the 28th, returning Aug. 5th. Life's mountains keep beckoning, eh?