Moxibustion ritual held at temple

In a traditional ritual to beat the summer heat, people burnt moxibustion on their heads at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto on Thursday.

The moxibustion event is held annually at Sampoji Temple to pray for health and safety on the hottest day of summer according to the Japanese calendar.

Visitors put an earthenware plate, measuring about 30 centimeters in diameter, on their heads on which is inscribed a sutra to ward off evil. Amid the chanting of sutras, moxa is then burnt on the plate for about 5 minutes.

One participant said he feels relaxed after the ritual and hopes to survive the summer heat.

Chief priest Eisho Suzuki said that the ritual, originally believed to cure heat exhaustion, now attracts many children who want to pass their school entrance exams.

2008/07/24 21:43

http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/24_34.html

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