Asuka
先日、個展の会期中ではあったが聖徳太子探訪の旅として、太子が生まれ育ち、また当時の曽我氏の基盤でもあった奈良県明日香村を訪ねた。早朝、京都から近鉄線に乗り橿原神宮前で下り駅員に行き方を訪ねると、レンタル自転車があると教えてくれた。 飛鳥地方は古い遺跡がかなり広範囲に点在しているので自転車で回るのが便利らしく、駅前にはいくつもレンタル自転車の店がある。 聖徳太子の生涯を主題とした襖絵の制作にあたり、この飛鳥地方の風景を是非見て来たいと思った。太子が生まれたと言われる橘寺、曽我馬子の陵といわれている石舞台をめざして自転車をこぎ始める。 自分のペースでゆっくりと景色を見ながら自転車で廻れるのは有り難かったのだが、３５度を越す真夏の快晴。それに起伏の多い野道を変速ギアのない自転車は、かなりキツかった。
タオルを頭にまき、ボトルの水で水分を補給しながらなんとか橘寺にたどりつき、金堂の太子像の前に座ったら、面白いように体中から汗が文字通り滝のように流れ出た。でも暑さの中で思いっきり体を動かして汗をかいてみるのがこれほど気持ち良いことかと、あらためて驚く。蝉の声に囲まれ、人気のないお堂で暑さにもかかわらず実に良い時間が流れた。
Yesterday, I visited Asuka village for a research of Prince Shotoku screen painting project. Kintetsu line brought me to Kashiwara-Jingumae from Kyoto in early morning. When I asked a station attendant for a direction to Asuka, he suggested me to take a rental bike. Since many historical sites are scattered around in this area, bicycle seems to be the best vehicle to move around.
In order to develop imagery for the screen painting, I really wanted to see the landscape of where Prince Shotoku spent his childhood. So I set out to visit Tachibana-temple which is believed to be where he was born. It was a good idea to take a bike trip so that I could look around the scenery as I ride through a beautiful country side rode. But it was bit tough to pedal on a hilly rode with a bike with no gear in a very hot and muggy summer day. When I arrived at the temple and sat in a main hall, I was soaked in sweat and it kept coming down like a waterfall. But for some reasons, it felt really good. Despite the heat, I could spend surprisingly calm and peaceful time in the temple.
タオルを頭にまき、ボトルの水で水分を補給しながらなんとか橘寺にたどりつき、金堂の太子像の前に座ったら、面白いように体中から汗が文字通り滝のように流れ出た。でも暑さの中で思いっきり体を動かして汗をかいてみるのがこれほど気持ち良いことかと、あらためて驚く。蝉の声に囲まれ、人気のないお堂で暑さにもかかわらず実に良い時間が流れた。
Yesterday, I visited Asuka village for a research of Prince Shotoku screen painting project. Kintetsu line brought me to Kashiwara-Jingumae from Kyoto in early morning. When I asked a station attendant for a direction to Asuka, he suggested me to take a rental bike. Since many historical sites are scattered around in this area, bicycle seems to be the best vehicle to move around.
In order to develop imagery for the screen painting, I really wanted to see the landscape of where Prince Shotoku spent his childhood. So I set out to visit Tachibana-temple which is believed to be where he was born. It was a good idea to take a bike trip so that I could look around the scenery as I ride through a beautiful country side rode. But it was bit tough to pedal on a hilly rode with a bike with no gear in a very hot and muggy summer day. When I arrived at the temple and sat in a main hall, I was soaked in sweat and it kept coming down like a waterfall. But for some reasons, it felt really good. Despite the heat, I could spend surprisingly calm and peaceful time in the temple.
