There was a very interesting grave at the second waterfall we went to. All around the grave were samurai swords.(PICTURE: I want a sword by my grave one day!)
On top of the tombstone was this image.
Yuya told me it was a god. Apparently they have a bunch of gods.
One thing I found really interesting though was that on top of a tree stump next to the grave was a pile of rocks.
This reminded me of Jewish cemeteries. For those of who you don't know the tradition, Jews place rocks on the top of headstones to show that they had been there and were thinking of the deceased. I'm pretty sure that is why we do it...and because rocks are cheaper than flowers.
I asked Yuya why people placed rocks on the tree and he said it was a way to make a wish. I thought that was pretty cool. Who would have thought Jews and Samurais have similar traditions?
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To quote The Jewish Book of Why, "This is a symbolic act indicating that members of the family and friends have not forgotten the deceased. The final scene in Steven Spielberg's movie Schindler's List portrays scores of survivors, and relatives of surviviors, one by one placing a stone on the tombstone of Oskar Schindler, who saved over 1,100 Jews from extinction during the Holocaust." Flowers were to offset the odor of a decaying body and since Jews bury quickly, flowers are not encouragedat funerals but they are acceptable at cemeteries. Stones last longer.
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