Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * August '24

Lets go back to summer with these MFS RR cards that I've received in August. They're from Finland, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

 

Ruotsinpyhtää is a town in southern Finland, near Anna's childhood home area. The local church was built in 1771 from wood. It was renovated in 1898 to its current gothic revival appearance.

When I posted July's card, I've said that Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is probably one of the places / monuments in Russia that I've the most cards from. In August, Inesa sent me another card. 

The monastery ensemble includes over 50 buildings of different significance.  The largest building of the monastery is the Assumption Cathedral constructed in 1559-1585 by the orders of Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the annexation of Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates to Russian lands. This majestic cathedral is very similar to the Assumption Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin. Its white stone facades harmoniously contrast with the four bright-blue domes, which sparkle with golden stars. The fifth dome of the Assumption Cathedral is gold-plated. - in: https://www.advantour.com

Hirosaki Saisho-in five-story pagoda is considered to be the most beautiful pagoda in Tōhoku region. Tomoko wrote that five-story pagodas represent the Buddhist view of universe, which consists of five elements, earth, water, fire, wind and sky. 

The construction of this pagoda began in 1656 and was completed in 1667.  It was built during the Edo Period using a construction method with no nails. The pagoda is designated as a national important cultural heritage site.

This is a detail of a traditional Korean roof with Japsang figures. Japsang is a group of small animal-shaped statues made of clay and placed on top of the roofs, lined up on the edge of vertical ridges at the eaves. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392 CE – 1910 CE), which was under the influence of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368 CE – 1644 CE), Koreans began to place Japsang on top of the roofs of royal palaces.

Japsang is always installed in odd numbers, ranging from 3 to 11, and comprises different animals – dragon, phoenix, lion, giraffe, sea horse, haetae (a mythical unicorn lion), and monkey – considered sacred and becoming guardians to the building.

Japsang figures were used as decorative symbols to represent the authority, dignity, and grandeur of a building and as shamanic symbols to protect from and chase away evil spirits, harmful energy, and misfortune. Like the Chinese, it is believed that Koreans’ greatest fear was a fire during that time since most of the buildings were made of wood. Japsang, therefore, was believed to prevent fire in a shamanistic way. - in: https://www.rubensdelacorte.com

Card sent by "hellow0rld".