Today's Todaiji-Temple

Today I felt here is alive with foreign travelers,having a bustle before the  Lehman Shock. Thanks to yen's depreciation,I wonder?

I walked around at the site of the Todaiji-Temple today.
Maples or ginkgos leaves have already colored and started falling from the trees. ｔhey were showing the last glow, receiving the late autumn's light.

As the site of Todaiji-Temple is very large and I don't know well about the way around there. So I strolled the place where I can see the golden しび（ a kind of decoration that attached the both side of ridge of roof,  charm against the fire, that's embodied the shape that fish jumps from the surface and left its tail over the surface.)
             
                                                      The Great Buddha of Todaiji

                                                                 Around Daibutu Pond

                                                    From The Febuary -Hall in Todaiji

There are many big ginkgo trees in the site and  their golden leaves were strewed and accumulated widely around them. The place covered with ginkgo's leaves are shiny in the dimly grove, so couples, children, foreign travelers and deers were exciting together on the yellow carpet and  touching the warmness ginkgo provided.

When Fall turned the leaves crimson in Japan, people go maple viewing. This custom started around Heian period ( around 8 ~12century, its capital was Kyoto city) so many maple trees are planted in Kyoto city.

Many people composed a tanka poem related to the maple trees. This was composed in around 10 century.

                奥山に紅葉踏み分け
                     鳴く鹿の　
                          声聞く時ぞ秋は悲しき

meaning:
　　Feet deep in maple's autumnal carpets in the mountains,

     Away from crowds along with distant voice,

      Heart deep in sorrow with deer crying in solo.


(Both the writer and the deer were disappointed in love,I wonder?)

Some world heritage site like Todaiji-temple or Kasuga Grand Shrine or Kofukuji-Temple etc, are built near each other and also adjoin the living space of people or Nara park. We can go around by foot. People are trying to let the living space sit in the situation of the old days as possible as they can. So when I walk there I can be in the restful world like time stopped. I like it. I think it's similar to some  European medieval world heritage site.