Gregory's Server💦THE MEDICINE BUDDHA'S LOTUSES🪷
dew from a lotus-
plenty
for morning tea
蓮の露一つもあまる朝茶哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1819.
Trans. David Lanoue.
When his consort fell deathly sick in 680, Emperor Tenmu (天武天皇) ordered the construction of Yakushi-ji (薬師寺) as a prayer for her recovery.
The emperor's act of devotion worked, and his consort not only survived, but went on to succeed him as Empress Jitō (持統天皇 645-703).
Yakushi-ji originally stood beneath Mt. Miminashi in Kashihara (耳成山)/橿原), site of the then capital, Fujiwara-kyō (藤原京 694-710).
#Nara #奈良 #Yakushiji #薬師寺 #lotus #Japan