Restoring the dark shine to the statues of Nara's Yakushi-ji Temple

Translated from the original article at: http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/natnews/topics/553276/

7:07PM March 29, 2012

Priests cleaning the Yakushi Sanzon Statues=On the afternoon of March 28, Nara City (Photos taken by Takekawa Tomoichiro)

Before the annual Spring Flower Festival and Shuni-e events, a cleaning of the Yakushi Sanzon Statues was performed on the 28^th. A national treasure, they are the object of worship of in main hall of Yakushi Temple in Nara City.

In the hall, amidst the echoes of chanting, together the priests began the work of dipping cloths into steaming water. Using ladders, they carefully scrubbed the Sanzon statues.

Facing the beautiful black shine that returned to the statues, temple visitors silently brought their hands together in prayer.

The flower festival begins on the 30^th until April 5^th. During that time, the monks will be praying for a rich harvest, the country's prosperity and more.

Original text:

黒の輝き取り戻す「お身拭い」　奈良・薬師寺

2012/03/29 19:07

薬師三尊像を清める僧侶ら＝２８日午後、奈良市（竹川禎一郎撮影）

奈良市の薬師寺で２８日、春の恒例行事「花会式（はなえしき）（修二会＝しゅにえ）」を前に、金堂の本尊・薬師三尊像（国宝）を清める「お身拭（みぬぐ）い」が営まれた。

金堂に読経が響くなか、僧侶らが、お供えのもちを蒸した残り湯に浸した布を手に、作業を開始。はしごなどを使い、薬師三尊像を丁寧に磨いた。

美しい黒の輝きを取り戻した薬師三尊像に向け、訪れた参拝者らは静かに手を合わせた。

花会式は３０日に始まり、４月５日まで練行衆（れんぎょうしゅう）が五穀豊穣（ほうじょう）や国家繁栄などを祈願する。