Ray Carns

On the top of Jubo Mountain stands the crumbling, stark white Gamo Jubosan Peace Kannon, the Japanese Bodhisattva of mercy. She towers over the brush and trees, visible for kilometers, a symbol of hope for peace in the world. To reach the top, you follow a wide paved road winding upward under a canopy of trees, shafts of sunlight highlighting patches of fallen leaves. At first you don’t notice, but then it becomes so noticeable you can’t help but see them, search for them—brooms. Brooms constructed of three or four dozen long twigs secured by wire to a length of bamboo. They lean against trees, lay on the ground, or by the side of the road. Then you notice how few leaves are on the road, although you see no one sweeping, but there are enough fallen leaves that you consider taking one of the brooms and sweeping. You wonder if you must be a monk to use the brooms. Is something more than sweeping involved? Do you chant or say prayers? Do you sweep with one broom until you reach the next, then change brooms, on and on until you reach the top? Do you only sweep a section of road? Too many questions without answers, so you leave the brooms where they rest and continue to the top of the mountain.

Photography

The Brooms of Jubo Mountain