A: Hey there, did you catch the news?
B: Nope, what's up?
A: So, some foreign residents in Ehime took part in this thing called "shabutsu"!
B: Oh yeah? What's that about?
A: It's like, they went to this temple and traced Buddhist images. The prefectural government organized it as a way to attract more foreigners to the area.
B: Wow, sounds interesting! Where did they go?
A: They visited Iwayaji Temple, one of the 88 temples on that famous Shikoku pilgrimage route. They worshipped in its main hall and Daishido hall first.
B: That sounds beautiful. What happened next?
A: Before they started tracing, the temple's chief priest gave them advice to breathe deeply while drawing lines to stay focused. Then, each person picked a Buddhist image and traced it on washi paper for about 30 minutes.
B: That sounds like a peaceful activity! What did they think?
A: This Taiwanese girl said it made her feel calm, even though it was hard at times. She prayed for good health for her family during the process. A woman from Argentina said it was her first shabutsu experience and she loved it!
B: Seems like they had a meaningful time! I'd love to try that someday.
B: Nope, what's up?
A: So, some foreign residents in Ehime took part in this thing called "shabutsu"!
B: Oh yeah? What's that about?
A: It's like, they went to this temple and traced Buddhist images. The prefectural government organized it as a way to attract more foreigners to the area.
B: Wow, sounds interesting! Where did they go?
A: They visited Iwayaji Temple, one of the 88 temples on that famous Shikoku pilgrimage route. They worshipped in its main hall and Daishido hall first.
B: That sounds beautiful. What happened next?
A: Before they started tracing, the temple's chief priest gave them advice to breathe deeply while drawing lines to stay focused. Then, each person picked a Buddhist image and traced it on washi paper for about 30 minutes.
B: That sounds like a peaceful activity! What did they think?
A: This Taiwanese girl said it made her feel calm, even though it was hard at times. She prayed for good health for her family during the process. A woman from Argentina said it was her first shabutsu experience and she loved it!
B: Seems like they had a meaningful time! I'd love to try that someday.
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Summary
Foreign residents in Ehime participated in "shabutsu," a temple event organized to attract foreigners. They traced Buddhist images at Iwayaji Temple, one of the 88 temples on the Shikoku pilgrimage route. The chief priest advised participants to breathe deeply while tracing. A Taiwanese girl found