White snakes of Iwakuni
These snakes have scarlet colored eyes and ivory white bodies. They have never been known to hurt human beings.... in fact, it is said that if a white snake settles in a private home, the family of the house welcomes it as a good omen, and does not remove the snake.
"It is said that the farmed white snakes of Iwakuni are messengers of Bensaiten (the goddess of good fortune), and that they bring riches and good luck. White snakes flourish in Iwakuni as almost nowhere in the world. A continuous stream of visitors come to Iwakuni to pray to the snakes for success in business."
"The snakes maintain an inherited character which the mutation of the color to white is stabilized. Opinions of some experts is that the white snake is albinism resulting from a pigment insufficiency of the blue green snake going into recessive stage (inferior heredity)."
From: Asia » Japan » Hiroshima
In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fo... [read more]
In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fo... [read more] Blog: Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Date: September 25th 2005
Today Casey and I decided to go on an adventure. It took us 2 days to decide to go to Onomichi City (to the east of us), and after arriving at the train station and discovering that it would cost almost $40 round trip for transportation, we decided to choose another destination. So, standing infront of the ticket machine at the train station we looked up at the map on the wall, and decided ... read more
Date: September 25th 2005
Today Casey and I decided to go on an adventure. It took us 2 days to decide to go to Onomichi City (to the east of us), and after arriving at the train station and discovering that it would cost almost $40 round trip for transportation, we decided to choose another destination. So, standing infront of the ticket machine at the train station we looked up at the map on the wall, and decided ... read more
Comment on White snakes of Iwakuni
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it solely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." -Mark Twain
Hey everyone! I have started this journal in order to keep you informed of my adventures in Japan, as well as my travels throughout Asia.
... full info
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