SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN'S OLD GATE LOST AND FOUND

I heard things might be getting started so I went and took a look.

Indeed, a payloader is always a good sign of things about to happen.

On closer look, the gate was gone. Very carefully removed. Wonder where it went.

Alterted by an email from Mary Nagen that it was at Kubota Garden,  I went to see.

Sure enough, there it was, propped up in the maintenance yard. The friendly staff said they aren't quit sure what they are going to do with it, but glad to have it there.

>Here is a view we hardly ever saw, as the sides were buired in plant material in the old location.

And here is a closer look at the nice Kanshu-ji style stone lantern, seemingly also awaiting a home in the Kubota Garden.

SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN KAMI CALMING CEREMONY

On June 16 2008 a ground breaking ceremony, of sorts, was held at the site of the future Garden Gatehouse Village.

Reverend Barrish of Tsubaki Shrine in Granite Falls, Washington came to perform the Jinchinsai, a Shinto rite which is done prior to breaking ground for buildings. Respects are paid to the kami of the land about to be disturbed.

Bamboo poles held rope and folded paper at the building site. A mound of sand is placed to the side of the portable alter. The ceremony follows a series of moves:

bowing

clapping

waving

reading

pouring sake

burying an amulet, which later will be buried under the building.

Also a folded white paper amulet will be placed in the attic, together they, along with this ceremony will ward off disasters and misfortune during and after the construction.

Next, a cake with rendering of the Village on it was served with tea,

followed by a stroll through the garden to see the iris in bloom: