Carpe Diem #1443 Music to close our journey

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the last episode of this month in which we were on a journey into the High Mountains of the Andes. I am busy with preparing our new CDHK month. Next month we will find our inspiration in the classical saijiki for seasonwords in haiku. Every day I will give you a nice kigo (seasonword) for summer and I will (try to) tell you a little bit of background on those kigo, but that's for next month.

May was a wonderful month and to conclude this wonderful month I have another nice piece of music from the Andean Mountains.

It's a beautiful piece of music "El Condor Pasa" and it's played on the renown music instrument of the Andean Mountains ... the panflute.

Enjoy the music and let your muse awaken to grant you with her / his energy for inspiration.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until June 6th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode, the first of June, later on. Have fun!

Carpe Diem #1442 almost at the end of our journey

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the penultimate episode of our journey into the high mountains of the Andes. It was a wonderful journey and I hope that you all did enjoy this month at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. It wasn't an easy month to create, but I think the journey was awesome.

This journey is almost over ... finally we will arrive at our end-station Huancayo, '(place) with a (sacred) rock') is the capital of Junín Region, in the central highlands of Peru.

Huancayo is located in Huancayo Province, of which it is also the capital. Situated in the Mantaro Valley at an altitude of 3,271 meters, it belongs to the Quechua region. Depending on delimitation, the agglomeration has a population between 340,000 and 380,000 and is the fifth most populous city of the country. Huancayo is the cultural and commercial center of the whole central Peruvian Andes area. Huancayo Metropolitano is made up of seven districts that form the urban center of Junin's region. This region is considered Peru's economic and social hub.

Huancayo Cathedral

almost there
exploring the Andean Mountains
a time machine

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until June 5th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our last episode of this month later on. For now ... I hope you will find your muse ...

Carpe Diem #1441 La lluvia (The Rain)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

First I have to apologize. My excuses for not publishing an episode for Monday May 28th there were a few circumstances that made lack of time. So I am sorry for that. But those circumstances are over now and I have time again to publish a new episode.

This month is almost over and next month we will go back to basic, because June will be a month full of classical kigo (seasonwords) for Summer (and maybe Winter). We are almost at the end of our journey into the high mountains of the Andes, but ... I don't know what I can tell more about this wonderful part of the world, and I have a so called "writer's block". So I have chosen the easy way this time.

A wonderful piece of music from the Andes. This song is called "La lluvia" - The Rain. And I think this music can be a great source of inspiration.

It's up to you ... listen to the music and let it take you into the high mountains of the Andes.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until June 4th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1440 Lake Titicaca

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at one of the last regular episodes of this wonderful month of Carpe Diem. We traveled through the Andean Mountains and dived into the gorgeous history of these mountains. Today I have another wonderful prompt for you. A prompt I think of ... this one had to be made ...

Today we visit Lake Titicaca (Bolivia) one of the world's most high lakes I think. Let me tell you a little bit about Lake Titicaca, also known as "the birthplace of the Sun".

Lake Titicaca

In Andean belief, Titicaca is the birthplace of the sun. In addition, it’s the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable body of water in the world. Banner blue skies contrast with bitterly cold nights. Enthralling and in many ways singular, the shimmering deep blue Lake Titicaca is the longtime home of highland cultures steeped in the old ways.

Pre-Inca Pukara, Tiwanaku and Collas all left a mark on the landscape. Today the region is a mix of crumbling cathedrals, desolate altiplano and checkerboard fields backed by rolling hills and high Andean peaks. In this world, crops are still planted and harvested by hand.

In this world, crops are still planted and harvested by hand.

Isn't it a wonderful place? It feels magical and mysterious and there are even people that say that Lake Titicaca is a holy lake full of spirituality and that it gives in a way energy to the spirit, the mind, the heart and the soul ...

Enjoy ...

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 31st at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new weekend meditation later on. Have fun!

Carpe Diem #1439 mountain(s)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Today, I also have a very busy day, so I have made it myself easy. As you maybe know next month we will have all classical kigo (seasonwords) for Summer. Seasonwords are words that point towards a season. In our rich history here at CDHK we have had also modern kigo based on Jane Reichhold's Dictionary of Haiku. And today, because of lack of time I have chosen a modern kigo of Spring that fits this month's theme "journey into the high mountains of the Andes". I choose a modern kigo from Jane's Saijiki as mentioned above: mountains and I have a few nice haiku by Jane Reichhold to awaken your muse.

soul shape
between soft evening peaks
a valley cradle

mountains
folding into a valley
bird wings

© Jane Reichhold

The goal is to create haiku, tanka or another form of Japanese poetry inspired on this kigo. Create your poem by using the prompt. That doesn't mean you have to use the word, but your reader must understand that the season is Spring.

Enjoy this episode and I hope it inspires you all. This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 30th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.
For now ... have fun!

Carpe Diem #1438 Chachani (Imagination-episode)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

I am a little bit busy today and the upcoming days, so I have chosen to make it myself a little easier. For today I have (another) imagination-challenge for you all. It's an image of Chachani and Misti two wonderful mountain peaks in Peru.

Chachani and Misti

This image is your source of inspiration. Create your Japanese poetry inspired on this image ... awaken your muse.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 29th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1437 Nazca Culture

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

This journey into the high mountains of the Andes is almost done. We have only one week to go, so what can I tell you more on this journey? Well ... the Andes has a very rich history and there were several cultures e.g. the Inca, as we have seen already. But as I was preparing this episode I ran into an article on National Geographic about the so called Nazca lines, once created by the Nazca culture (300 B.C - 600 A.D.).

Nazca lines (monkey)

It's a spectacular sight all these geometric forms. There are still a lot of questions about these figures, but it's said that the Nazca people carved them. There are a lot of these figures, not only figures like the above Monkey, but also geometric figures like the one hereafter.

Hindu Mandala in Nazca lines

There are really a lot of ideas about these lines, but the Nazca culture itself isn't really known. So I just have to tell you a little bit about the Nazca culture.

The Nazca culture was developed on the coast of Ica department, with the main center of the city of Cahuachi in the Rio Grande Valley. Nazca was an ancient civilization that emerged in the province of Nazca, around the first century and into decline in the sixth century. It was located along the Rio Grande between the years 300 BC to 600 A.D. Had an area of influence that extended to the north Pisco to Arequipa in the south and east to Ayacucho. Until the sixth century increased their contacts with the Andes, reaching even into the highlands of Ayacucho. This contact was especially important in the formation of the Huari culture.

An outstanding feature is its polychrome pottery with figures of men, animals, plants, etc. In many of these ceramics, mutilated men are represented. The textile art flourished as much as in the time of the Paracas. They had an own style of metalworking, although of lesser quality at the time of Chavin.

According to many researchers Nazca culture would be a continuity of Paracas culture (Necropolis period), as both peoples had developed customs and advanced farming techniques. It was a society based on agriculture, although located in one of the most deserted areas of the Peruvian coast. To produce their foods use fully the river flows in summer, using reservoirs and canals. They were also militarist States. The military of the Nazca culture were very courageous and so gained a special place in the social pyramid with the priests. The peasants were at the service of a warrior aristocracy and theocracy residing in beautiful pyramid-shaped ceremonial centers. Examples of adobe architecture are the ruins of Kahuachi, the Tinguiña, Tambo Viejo, Huaca Dos Palmos and Chaviña. Also they built with thick trunks of Huarango as shown in the Estaquería.

Nazca architecture at Cahuachi (Peru)

The most impressive of this civilization are the lines made in the Pampas of Nazca and other sites on the southern coast of Peru. The Nazca lines are located in a geographical area with little rainfall, demonstrating knowledge of geography and meteorology. Twenty miles from the city of Nazca is located Chauchilla Cemetery, an open air cemetery where despite the looting you can still see mummies in good condition and pottery.

Must have been an awesome culture ...

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 28th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.

For now ... have fun! Be inspired and share your wonderful poetry with us all.

Carpe Diem #1436 Machu Picchu ... imagination-episode

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend. It was a weekend with a tough challenge I think, but I have seen already several responses on our weekend-meditation. It also was a time to rest before going further on our journey into the high mountains of the Andes (South America, Peru).

The last two regular episodes we stepped into a time-machine back to the time of the Inca. We visited a few wonderful sights of this ancient culture, but ... the most beautiful sight in my opinion is renown Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel situated on a mountain ridge 2,430 metres above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru, above the Sacred Valley, which is 80 kilometres northwest of Cuzco and through which the Urubamba River flows.

Machu Picchu

high in the mountains
a city built for the beauty of the Sun -
Machu Picchu

© Chèvrefeuille (2013)

Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its three primary structures are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. Most of the outlying buildings have been reconstructed in order to give tourists a better idea of how they originally appeared. (Source: Wikipedia)

A wonderful sight I think. For today's episode I have a photo for your inspiration, say this episode is an Imagination episode. You can use both photos, the one above or the one hereafter.

Machu Picchu (2) overview

spiritual place

feeling in touch with the Inca -

Machu Picchu

© Chèvrefeuille (2013)

Well ... enjoy this episode. Become inspired through the images of this wonderful Inca sight Machu Picchu.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 27th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on. For now ... have fun!

Carpe Diem #1435 Coricancha - The Temple of the Sun

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Yesterday we had our first encounter with the ancient Inca Empire. In this Empire the Sun was worshipped and in a lot of buildings like e.g. temples we can see that. All the Inca buildings were created with help of Astronomers, they could tell how the building, a city or a temple had to be built according to the mathematics of the Universe.

The Inca, like the religion of Aton in ancient Egypt, was a one god religion, but there were always smaller deities. Every Inca Emperor was seen as God, and so they were the Sun ...

One of the most beautiful temples of the Inca Empire was situated in Cusco, where we were yesterday, and was called "The Temple of The Sun" or "Coricancha". It was the most important temple of the Empire.

remains of Coricancha in Cusco

Let me tell you a little bit more about this important temple:

Coricancha, the Incas' temple of the sun built in the shadows of the Andes. The thin air and harsh, rocky slopes of the Peruvian Andes wouldn’t seem to be a likely locale for the capital of an extensive pre-Columbus empire. Any community seeking to thrive under these conditions would need to be equipped with tremendous ambition – and no small amount of political and mechanical ingenuity.

Luckily for the Incas, they had these in abundance, and were able to tame the harsh landscapes to create the largest empire in South America before the arrival of the Europeans, using a blend of religious belief, political will and clever design. Nowhere is this more evident than at Coricancha – the temple of the sun – which they built as the crown jewel of their capital city of Cusco, and the centrepiece of an empire that revolutionised city planning in South America.

Pachacútec

When Pachacútec assumed the Incan throne in 1438, he began to reform the city of Cusco by restructuring the street grid, which remains to this day. The city is said to be designed in the shape of a puma, with Coricancha located in the animal’s tail, and considered the holiest site in Incan mythology.

The location of Coricancha within the city was very important. Placed at the convergence of the four main highways and connected to the four districts of the empire, the temple cemented the symbolic importance of religion, uniting the divergent cultural practices that were observed in the vast territory controlled by the Incas.

Inca priest

As well as housing more than 4,000 priests, the positioning of the temple in relation to the nearby Andes mountains meant that Coricancha functioned as an enormous calendar. Shadows cast by stones placed on the foothills could be seen from the temple, marking out the solstice and equinoxes observed by the Incan empire.

The temple complex consisted of four main chambers, each dedicated to a different deity of the moon, stars, thunder and rainbows. Much of Coricancha was filled with gold, with one chamber containing a giant sun disc, reflecting sunlight that illuminated the rest of the temple. The disc was aligned so that during the summer solstice it illuminated a sacred space where only the emperor himself was allowed to sit.

The Sun disc was aligned so that during the summer solstice it illuminated a sacred space where only the emperor himself was allowed to sit. In this we can see how the Emperor of the Inca  was worshipped as a god.

high in the mountains
the sun shines bright and always
eyes of the Inca

© Chèvrefeuille (senryu)

What a richness ... a temple plated with gold to honor the sun and his human form ... the Emperor of the Inca Empire. 

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 24th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new weekend-meditation later on.

Carpe Diem #1434 Cusco ... first "contact" with the Inca Empire

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

We are on a journey into the high mountains of the Andes. We are traveling by train and have seen already the beauty of Peru and the rich history of this region. We discovered a few ancient races like the Huanco people and today we will make our first "contact" with the renown race of the Inca people.

Today we are visiting Cusco, the former capital and center of the Inca Empire.

Cusco, often spelled Cuzco, is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cusco Province. In 2013, the city had a population of 435,114. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft).

The indigenous name of this city is Qusqu. Although the name was used in Quechua, its origin is found in the Aymara language. The word is derived from the phrase qusqu wanka ('Rock of the owl'), related to the city's foundation myth of the Ayar Siblings. According to this legend, Ayar Awqa (Ayar Auca) acquired wings and flew to the site of the future city; there he was transformed into a rock to mark the possession of the land by his ayllu ("lineage"):

The Legend of Ayar Auca

“Then Ayar Oche stood up, displayed a pair of large wings, and said he should be the one to stay at Guanacaure as an idol in order to speak with their father the Sun. Then they went up on top of the hill. Now at the site where he was to remain as an idol, Ayar Oche raised up in flight toward the heavens so high that they could not see him. He returned and told Ayar Manco that from then on he was to be named Manco Capac. Ayar Oche came from where the Sun was and the Sun had ordered that Ayar Manco take that name and go to the town that they had seen. After this had been stated by the idol, Ayar Oche turned into a stone, just as he was, with his wings. Later Manco Capac went down with Ayar Auca to their settlement...he liked the place now occupied in this city Cuzco. Manco Capac and his companion, with the help of the four women, made a house. Having done this, Manco Capac and his companion, with the four women, planted some land with maize. It is said that they took the maize from the cave, which this lord Manco Capac named Pacaritambo, which means those of origin because...they came out of that cave.”

What a wonderful story. This is just the beginning of our next stage in this journey ... visiting the ancient grounds of the Inca Empire.

a miracle
without wings attached
mankind grew

© Chèvrefeuille

Cusco ... image found on Pinterest

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 23rd at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our next episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1433 Cerro de Pasco

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

A wonderful place we visited yesterday one of the National Parks of Peru somewhere along the Peruvian Railway we are traveling this month. Today we will make a stop in Cerro de Pasco, the capital of Pasco Region Peru.

I ran through the Internet and found a nice article about this city at Wikipedia. I will share part of it here.

Sunset at Cerro de Pasco

Cerro de Pasco became one of the world's richest silver producing areas after silver was discovered there in 1630. It is still an active mining center. The Spanish mined the rich Cerro de Pasco silver-bearing oxide ore deposits since colonial times. Sulfide minerals are more common in the Atacocha district however.
Francisco Uville arranged for steam engines made by Richard Trevithick of Cornwall, England, to be installed in Cerro de Pasco in 1816 to pump water from the mines and allow lower levels to be reached. However, fighting in the Peruvian War of Independence brought production to a halt from 1820 to 1825.

Cerro de Pasco (population 70,000) is a city in central Peru, located at the top of the Andean mountains. It is the capital of the Pasco region, and an important mining center. At 4,330 metres (14,210 ft) elevation, it is one of the highest cities in the world. (Source: wikipedia)

on top of the world
black smiths create beauty
the silvery moon

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 22nd at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1432 Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

What a wonderful journey this is. We are traveling by train straight through the Andean Mountains. A region in the world with a very rich history, as we already have seen. Today we are visiting Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park. This National Park is situated in the so called Pasco Region Peru. Let me tell you a little bit more about this National Park.

Yanachaga-Chemillén National Park

The Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park is located in the Pasco Region in Peru. It preserves part of the Peruvian Yungas and Ucayali moist forests ecoregions. The Palcazu River, Huancabamba River, Pozuzo River and their affluents flow through this national park. Some native communities still live in here. There are also some archaeological fields from the Inca and Yanesha cultures.

It looks awesome this National Park and it's home to the Ctenophryne Barbatula, one of world's most tiny species of frogs. Another species that you can find in this National Park is the Andean cock-of-the-rock, a kind of bird.

Andean Cock-Of-The-Rock

The Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus), also known as tunki (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is widely regarded as the national bird of Peru. It has four subspecies and its closest relative is the Guianan cock-of-the-rock.

Well ... it has become a short episode, but that can work too for your inspiration.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 21st at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our next episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1431 Chavin Culture

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

What a wonderful weekend I have had. First there was the International Nurses Day and second today (May 13th) was Mother's Day. Of course I visited my mother. She was released from hospitial and is doing great now. Tomorrow we will celebrate her 88th birthday. Thank you all for being so kind to pray for her health. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend too and especially those of you who are mother, grandmother and mother-in-law. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day.

Okay ... back to our journey into the high mountains of the Andes. Last Friday I challenged you with an image of Paron Lake and told you already a little bit about our theme for today ... the Chavin Culture, a prehistoric culture that was far ahead on their time.

Chavin de Huantar (photo © Martin St. Amant

The above image shows you an archaeological site of the Chavin Culture. This photo I found on Wikimedia and is made by Martin St, Amant. Let's go and find out some nice information about the Chavin Culture.

The Chavín culture is an extinct, prehistoric civilization, named for Chavín de Huantar, the principal archaeological site at which its artifacts have been found. The culture developed in the northern Andean highlands of Peru from 900 BCE to 200 BCE. It extended its influence to other civilizations along the coast. The Chavín people (whose name for themselves is unknown) were located in the Mosna Valley where the Mosna and Huachecsa rivers merge. This area is 3,150 metres (10,330 ft) above sea level and encompasses the quechua, suni, and puna life zones. In the periodization of pre-Columbian Peru the Chavín is the main culture of the Early Horizon period in highland Peru.

The Chavin Culture has reached wonderful achievements for example they were wonderful goldsmiths.

Chavin Gold Crown

The chief example of architecture is the Chavín de Huantar temple. The temple's design shows complex innovation to adapt to the highland environments of Peru. To avoid the temple's being flooded and destroyed during the rainy season, the Chavín people created a successful drainage system. Several canals built under the temple acted as drainage. The Chavín people also showed advanced acoustic understanding. During the rainy season water rushes through the canals and creates a roaring sound and creates a noise like a jaguar, a sacred animal. The temple was built of white granite and black limestone, neither of which is found near the Chavín site. This meant that leaders organized many workers to bring the special materials from far away rather than use local rock deposits.

The Chavín culture also demonstrated advanced skills and knowledge in metallurgy, soldering, and temperature control. They used early techniques to develop refined gold work. The melting of metal had been discovered at this point and was used as a solder.

The people domesticated camelids such as llamas. Camelids were used for pack animals, for fiber, and for meat. They produced ch'arki, or llama jerky. This product was commonly traded by camelid-herders and was the main economic resource for the Chavín people. Chavín people also successfully cultivated several crops, including potatoes, quinoa, and maize. They developed an irrigation system to assist the growth of these crops.

More about this Culture? At Wikipedia

A Stela found in Chavin that looks somewhat like a bird

As I look at the above image ... something odd happens. My mind works in a very fast way ... this "stela" looks very much like the "steles" found of Ithe nca and Mayan culture. It seems like in the Andes the spirit is giving its inspiration through the same way. Isn't that odd? Or am I delusional? 

high in the mountains
an eternal creature is dwelling

cultures entwined

© Chèvrefeuille

Well ... what a wonderful forgotten culture this is ... the Chavin I never had heard of them.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 20th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1430 Paron Lake (Peru)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at a new episode of our wonderful Kai. Today I have chosen to challenge you to create a haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form inspired on an image. It's an Imagination episode so to say.

It's an image of Paron Lake, a lake somewhere in the Andean Mountains. In this region of the Andean Mountains once lived the Chavin. The Chavín culture had its development nucleus in the Huari Province (Ancash Region), covering various ecological zones, in the view of the lagoon Parón in the natural region of Janca.

About this Chavin culture we will speak in our next regular episode that I will try to publish next Sunday.

Paron Lake (Peru)

reflections
peaks
ripple

© Chèvrefeuille (experimental haiku)

A short episode ... but I think this image will inspire you in a great way ...

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 17th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new weekend-meditation later on. For now .... have fun!

Carpe Diem #1429 Galera Station

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the 2nd episode for today. Earlier today I shared an episode with you about the Huanca, one of the races that lived and still live in Peru. We are on our way with the Peruvian Railroad, one of the highest railroads of the world. A few days ago we arrived at Lima and now we are going further on this railroad.

The Peruvian Railroad includes also one of the highest railway stations, Galera Station. Galera station is the theme for this episode. It will be a short episode and I hope you will find the inspiration to create haiku, tanka or other Japanese poetry form ...

Galera Station (wikimedia)

Galera is the third highest railway station in the Western Hemisphere with an elevation of 4,777 m (15,681 ft). It is situated in the Andes in Peru at km 172.7 on the Ferrocarril Central Andino (FCCA) line from Lima to Huancayo, immediately east of the 1.2 km (6860 ft) Galera summit tunnel (4,783 m (15,694 ft) above sea level).

Nowadays there are no longer passenger trains that enter this station, but ... we are on a virtual railroad trip so we can visit it. The above image was made back in 2008, in that same year the last passenger train arrived here.

high in the mountains
the nest of an eagle embedded by white peaks
no more trains allowed

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 16th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.

Carpe Diem #1428 The Story of the Huanca

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Yesterday I told you a little about the Huanca people and I promised you all that I would tell you a little bit more about the Huanca. I have done some research on this, not so renown Peruvian group of people, and ran into a nice weblog about Peru. I was really surprised to read that weblog and I am glad to share a part of this weblog. Of course I will give the credits after this part of this episode.

Park of the Huanca Identity

When hearing about Peru you will hear a lot about the Incas and their empire as it was one of the largest and was the empire that would confront the Spanish in the 16th century. According to some historians like Waldemar Espinoza Soriano the Spanish conquest was not only successful because of the technological superiority that the Spanish possessed but also due to one key alliance between the Spanish and the Huancas (also spelt Wancas, or Wankas). The Huancas emerged from the Jauja, Concepcion and Huancayo provinces at the end of the 12th century and according to the stories of the Huancas the nation came into being when sixty kinship groups (Ayllus) left the “Pacarina” (Pacarina is an ancient Andean term that refers to a location where the ancestors came from and the final destination of their ancestors) called Huari Huillca. They were known for their vast cities built on mountaintops, their capital Siquillapucara (or Tunanmarca) located in the district of Tunanmarca in Jauja at one point had a population of 1500.

The nation continued to grow, cultivating maize and herding llamas and alpacas for over 500 years. One thing to note about the Huancas in their culture was the close relationship to dogs, this relationship is mentioned in some legends some which are disputed as being false. It all starts with a war of two gods Huallallo Carhuincho and Yanamka Tutamñaca. Huallallo defeated Yanamka, Huallallo then took the fertile lands and gave it to the Huancas however, Yanamka refused to accept defeat and organized a rebellion. On hearing about the rebel army Huallallo went to the Quinancaya plain to watch the rebel army and found that the rebels were far superior to the Huancas and feared for his people. Huallallo planned to destroy the rebels so he sent a hail storm, heavy rains and red soil that fell from the sky which lasted five days and to finish them off he sent thunder and lighting. After the storm had finished Huallallo was surprised to find that the rebel officers were still alive so in one final act of desperation he turned them into dogs. As the rebels were turned into dogs they howled which annoyed Huallallo who sent lighting to shake the Earth, as the Earth shook the dogs became mute and the dogs became hoarse and became reluctant to bark. It is said that the Huancas were known as Allcomicoc (dog eater in Quechua) to the neighbouring communities. Their God, Huallallo Carhuincho, ordered five dogs to be sacrificed and that the meat and blood should be presented to his soldiers who ate them with chicha. The skulls of the dogs were made into musical instruments by the God and were known to make a terrifying noise when played. Dogs also became faithful companions that helped with daily tasks such as sheep dogs and to keep birds from the crops and were trained to perform tricks to provide entertainment and some were painted and sacrificed. In some legends you may read that the Huancas started to eat dogs because before that they used to eat humans although, it is said this was a lie created by the descendants of the Gods Pariacaca and Yanamka. Now, at the same moment that the Huancas were expanding the Incas were also expanding and starting from app. 1438 A.D the Inca Manco Capac started a rapid expansion through war and peaceful assimilation, many nations were incorporated into the Inca Empire however, the Huancas fought hard against the Incas. It was in 1460 when the Huancas fell to the Incas, under the command of Inca Yupanqui a large Inca army invaded, fierce fighting over the course of several months ensued but due to hunger and the lack of water the Huancas surrendered to the Incas. The Incas then exiled the Huanca people to far off lands and destroyed the capital Siquillapucara. When the Huancas learnt of the Spanish arrival to the land they quickly allied themselves with them, supplying the Conquistadores with men, women, food and information. The Huancas were not the only ones to see the Spaniards as force that could release their lands from the Incas, others communities joined another well-known group called the the Chachapoyas also joined the Spanish. After the fall of the Inca Empire, the Huancas requested compensation for the help they provided to the Spanish Empire many of their requests were denied and the Spanish crown refused to allow them to take back control of their land. However, under Philip II, King of Spain the Huancas received recognition for their service and was provided with a coat of arms to symbolize the union. (Source: https://gringoperu.blogspot.nl/2016/04/the-story-of-huancas.html)

Huanca ruins

What a story. "gringoperu" is a wonderful weblog about Peru sure worth a visit, so share your appreciation by visiting that weblog. 

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 16th at noon (CEST). Later today I will publish another episode.

Carpe Diem #1427 Huanca

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at a belated episode of our wonderful Kai. We are on a journey into the high mountains of the Andes and today I love to tell you a little bit about the rich history of this region. Maybe you know the Inca, but have you heard about the Huanca people? I can say ... I had never heard of the Huanca, so to me this is a wonderful lesson.

The Huanca are a Quechua people living in the Junín Region of central Peru, in and around the Mantaro Valley. At around 500 BC, they were incorporated into the Wari Empire. Despite efforts to defend its independence, the Huancas were eventually subdued by the Inca leader Pachacutec in 1460 and the region was incorporated into the Inca empire. It subsequently became a notable stopping point along the Inca Camino Real (one of the main roads of the Inca empire).

Alpaca blessing ceremony by a Huanca Shaman

Isn't it a wonderful kind of people? Worth to explore further, so that's what I am going to do, but not today ... maybe tomorrow.

new life's promise
spit drips from my face
Alpaca blessing

© Chèvrefeuille

Just a little bit of humor ...

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 15th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on, and I hope to be on time.

Carpe Diem #1426 Junin, Mantaro Valley

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at this belated episode of Monday May 7th. Thank you all for your kind words according my mother. It takes a lot of my time to take care of her, but that cannot mean that I am forgetting my other family of haiku poets at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. So here it is a new (short) episode about another region along the Peruvian Railroad that we are traveling this month.

Junín is a region in the central highlands and westernmost Peruvian Amazon. Its capital is Huancayo.The region has a very heterogeneous topography. The western range located near the border with the Lima Region, has snowy and ice-covered peaks. On the east, there are high glacier valleys which end up in high plateaus (Altiplano). Among them is the Junín Plateau that is located between the cities of La Oroya and Cerro de Pasco.

Mantaro Valley Peru (Junin region)

The Mantaro Valley becomes wider before Jauja up to the limit with the Huancavelica Region. This area concentrates a large share of the region's population. Towards the east, near the jungle, there is an abundance of narrow and deep canyons, with highly inclined hillsides, covered by woods under low-lying clouds.

Until the arrival of the Incas the plains of Junin region known as the Pampas were inhabited by a semi-wild, rowdy group of people whose rivals were the Tarumas. Meanwhile, the Mantaro Valley was inhabited by the Huancas. Inca Pachacuti won all these races in 1460, which later became part of the Inca Empire. Huancayo became the region's main highway rest stop on the Inca Trail.

Well ... the Junin Region looks awesome and here we find the first historical culture we will find our inspiration in ... but that's for tomorrow.

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 14th at noon (CEST). I will take you into the history of Peru in our next episode ... no not the Incas ...

Carpe Diem #1425 El Río Hablador (The Talking River)

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

First I have an announcement to make. During circumstances I will not publish new episodes next week. There are some things occurring right now that need my attention. As you all maybe have read my mother is hospitalised again and I think you all will understand that she needs my attention and my time. What does this mean? Well ... next week I will give you short episodes, sometimes only the prompt. I know that's not your experience here at CDHK. I always try to create episodes to inspire you and that's what I love to do, but right now I haven't the energy to create the episodes as you know them.

Today I have chosen another nice prompt and I hope it will inspire you. We are on a journey through the Andean Mountains and I hope you like this journey. Our prompt for today is "El Rio Hablador" (The Talking River) and it's a nickname for the Rimac River.

Rimac River (nicknamed: "The Talking River")

The Rímac River is located in western Peru and is the most important source of potable water for the Lima and Callao Metropolitan Area. The river is part of the Pacific watershed and has a length of 160 km. The river begins in the highlands of the Huarochirí Province in the Lima Region and its mouth is located in Callao, near Jorge Chávez International Airport.

The name Rímac is from the Quechua word rimaq, meaning "speaker, speaking", leading to it being nicknamed El Río Hablador ("the talking river").

What a wonderful nickname this river has ... The Talking River ... Isn't that what we can say too the babbling brook ... Maybe you can remember us reading "Siddhartha" and in that story we read that Siddhartha listened to the river and became enlightened. Will "The Talking River" give the citizens of Lima that same feeling?

high in the mountains

crystal clear water gives birth to a river -

I light a candle

© Chèvrefeuille

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 10th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new weekend-meditation later on.

Carpe Diem #1424 Lima

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Well are on our way. Our journey through the Andean Mountains has started. And today we will arrive at Lima, capital of Peru. So let's take a break and visit Lima together. Let me firsr tell you a little about Lima.

Lima, capital of Peru

Lima the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima Metropolitan Area. With a population of more than 10 million, Lima is the most populous metropolitan area of Peru and the third-largest city in the Americas (as defined by "city proper"), behind São Paulo, and Mexico City.

Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as Ciudad de los Reyes. It became the capital and most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. Following the Peruvian War of Independence, it became the capital of the Republic of Peru. Around one-third of the national population lives in the metropolitan area.

Lima is home to one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the New World. The National University of San Marcos, founded on May 12, 1551, during the Spanish colonial regime, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas.

Plaza de Armas, Lima, Peru

The Historic Center of Lima, La Plaza de Armas, is on the UNESCO heritage list. It's the ancient city of Lima. Here you can sense history as if you are there. Say ... in the ancient time, a time traveling experience.

Lima is the birthplace of the first Southern American Saint Rose of Lima. She was declared holy in the 17th century by Pope Clement IX. She became the patroness of Peru and is still the patroness of Peru.

Saint Rosa de Lima (painting by Claudio Coello

What a wonderful place Lima must be I think. So enjoy this short break ....

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until May 9th at noon (CEST). I will try to publish our new episode later on.