Broken Needles
Posted on 20. Apr, 2007 @ 2:25 pm by harvey in Language
「針供養」(はりくよう)
needle mass // requiem service for broken needles
Say what?
I’m not making this up.
- Harvey
4 Responses to “Broken Needles”
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Michael
Apr 21st, 2007
at 00:02
Yep. Tailors and seamstresses, or just anyone who does much sewing, can take their old and broken needles to a temple once a year, stick them in box full of tofu, a priest performs a service for the needles and blesses the people, and the box will be buried in the earth.
—-
In other words, if you’re digging for treasure somewhere in Japan and your shovel hits a box, don’t get too excited. ^_^
harvey
Apr 21st, 2007
at 00:25
I randomly asked a Japanese teacher about this, by saying, “hey I was thinking about going to a 針供養 with my friend here.” and she was like, “oh wow really? when where?” As if she knew exactly what it was… She did.
I asked her about it, told her I was joking, and she explained it all to me… Just like you did Michael.
She also said there were other types of unofficial 供養 for other types of tools.
I want to experience one of these services and get pictures!
They should have a 古いパソコン供養。
Jess
Apr 21st, 2007
at 09:20
Oh my.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in memory of these needles…
Clive
Apr 21st, 2007
at 14:17
If that’s what they do for needles, what do they do with pyrotechnic washlets?