Eiheiji-cho (永平寺町) is a town located in Yoshida County, north Fukui (福井県), Japan.  It was first under cultivation as part of Shihi-no-sho (志比庄) in the late Heian Period (平安時代).  It has developed as a temple town of Eihei-ji Temple (永平寺), the head temple of Soto-shu (曹洞宗) sect of Zen Buddhism since the foundation in 1244.
  On February 13, 2006 Matsuoka Town (松岡町) and Kamishihi Village (上志比村) from Yoshida County merged into the town of Eiheiji.  As of April 1, 2009, the town has an estimated population of 20,379 and a density of 216 persons per sq. km.  The total area is 94.34 sq. km.

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Guesthouse Ikkyu

Guesthouse Ikkyu (一休) is located in the opposite side of the bus station or at 28-9-2 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, County Yoshida (吉田郡 永平寺町志比 28−9−2). As a Japanese restaurant It specializes "soba" (buckwheat vermicelli), while it also sell a variety of souvenirs.

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(Sunday 15 March) Guesthouse Ikkyu, 28-9-2 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, County Yoshida

Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu

Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] (志比線刻磨崖仏) is located near Sogen-bashi Bridge (曹源橋) across the Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川). There are nine engraved images of "Bosatsu" (菩薩; Bodhisattva). The oldest one can date back to the 7th year of Eisho (永正7年) or AD 1510. All of these nine images were presumably carved during the Eisho Era (永正年間) between 1504-1520. At that time this area was ruled by the 4th Echizen-Asakura lord Takakage (越前朝倉家４代孝景, 1493-1548). It was the severe time of the struggles between the Asakura clan and "Ikko-ikki" (一向一揆; lit. "single-minded leagues"). "Ikko-ikki" are mobs of peasant farmers, monks, Shinto priests and local nobles, who rose up against samurai rule in the 15th and 16th centuries. They followed the beliefs of the Jodo Shinshu (浄土真宗; True Pure Land) sect of Buddhism which taught that all believers are equally saved by Amida Buddha's grace. These nine images of series of battles These anonymous images of Bodhisattva were presumably carved for the repose of the souls of uncountable victims during the long series of battles.

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(Sunday 15 March) Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River. This is one of the nine stone monuments inscribed with a tanka poem by Dogen-zenji (道元禅師, 1200-1253) who founded Kichijo-zan Eihe-ji Temple (吉祥山 永平寺).

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

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(Sunday 15 March) Shihi-Senkoku-Magai-butsu [Shihi Line-engraved Stone-cliff Buddhas] near Sogen-bashi Bridge across the Eiheiji-gawa River

Approach to Eihei-ji Temple

Approach to Eihei-ji Temple (永平寺参道)

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple. The stone on the left by the red bridge is one of the nine stone monuments inscribed with a tanka poem by Dogen-zenji (道元禅師, 1200-1253) who founded Kichijo-zan Eihe-ji Temple (吉祥山 永平寺).

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple. The stone on the left by the red bridge is one of the nine stone monuments inscribed with a tanka poem by Dogen-zenji (道元禅師, 1200-1253) who founded Kichijo-zan Eihe-ji Temple (吉祥山 永平寺).

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple. This is one of the nine stone monuments inscribed with a tanka poem by Dogen-zenji (道元禅師, 1200-1253) who founded Kichijo-zan Eihe-ji Temple (吉祥山 永平寺).

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple. This is one of the nine stone monuments inscribed with a tanka poem by Dogen-zenji (道元禅師, 1200-1253) who founded Kichijo-zan Eihe-ji Temple (吉祥山 永平寺).

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple. This is one of the nine stone monuments inscribed with a tanka poem by Dogen-zenji (道元禅師, 1200-1253) who founded Kichijo-zan Eihe-ji Temple (吉祥山 永平寺).

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(Sunday 15 March) Approach to Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) "Sanko" (山�T) along the approach to Eihei-ji Temple. They specializes "soba" (蕎麦; buckwheat noodles) and "Goriyaku-dango" (御利益だんご) which is a sweet toasted dumpling with miso nut flavor and divine favor. The address is 5-10-1 Shihi, Eiheiji Town, Yoshida County (吉田郡永平寺町志比5-10-1).

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(Sunday 15 March) "Goriyaku-dango" (御利益だんご) which is a sweet toasted dumpling with miso nut flavor and divine favor at "Sanko," 5-10-1 Shihi, Eiheiji Town, Yoshida County

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(Sunday 15 March) "Goriyaku-dango" (御利益だんご) which is a sweet toasted dumpling with miso nut flavor and divine favor at "Sanko," 5-10-1 Shihi, Eiheiji Town, Yoshida County. Highly recommended!

Eihei-ji Temple

Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple (吉祥山永平寺), located at 5-15 Shihi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun (吉田郡永平寺町志比5-15). is one of two main temples of the Soto-shu sect (曹洞宗) of Zen Buddhism. Its founder was Dogen-zenji (道元禅師; also Dogen Kigen [道元希玄], or Eihei Dogen [永平道元] or Bussho-Dendo-kokushi [仏性伝東国師] or Joyo-daishi [承陽大師], 1200-1253). Eihei-ji is located about 10 km (6 mi) east of Fukui City in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Dogen was born into a noble family. His father may have been Michichika Koga (久我 道親, 1149-1202), a high-ranking minister in the imperial court, while his mother was likely the daughter of Motofusa Fujiwara (藤原 基房, 1145-1231), who had once been a regent in the court. Dogen's father died when Dogen was three years old, and his mother when he was eight, which strongly impressed Dogen with the Buddhist notion of "mujo" (無常; impermanence). Dogen founded Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple in 1244 in the woods of rural Japan, quite far from the distractions of Kamakura Period urban life. He appointed a successor, but sometime after his death the abbacy of Eihei-ji Temple became hotly disputed, a schism now called the "Sandai So-ron" (三代相論: third-generation contention). Until 1468, Eihei-ji Temple was not held by the current Jokin Keizan (瑩山紹瑾, 1268-1325) line of Soto-shu sect, but by the line of Dogen's Chinese disciple Jakuen (寂円, 1207−1299). After 1468, when the Keizan line took ownership of Eihei-ji Temple in addition to its major temple Soji-ji Temple (總持寺) and others, Jakuen's line and other alternate lines became less prominent. The entire temple was destroyed by fire several times. Its oldest standing structure dates from 1749, and the manuscripts in its treasure house are reconstructions from that era. Today, Eihei-ji Temple is the main training temple of Soto Zen. The standard training for a priest in Eihei-ji Temple is a two-year period of practice. It is in communion with all Japanese Zen temples, and most temples in America, including the San Francisco Zen Center, 300 Page St., San Francisco, CA 94102.

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(Sunday 15 March) Stone Signpost of Soto-shu Daihon-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Another Stone Signpost/Inscription of Soto-shu Daihon-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Front Stone Gate to Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Ruri-Shobo-kaku (瑠璃聖宝閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) "Kyoka-Saika-no-chi" (炬火採火之地; lit. the place where the torchlight was put), the memorial stone of the 42nd Kokumin-Taiiku-Taikai (国民体育大会; National Sports Festival) held in September in the 42nd year of Showa (昭和42年) or AD 1967. In front of Ruri-Shobo-kaku (瑠璃聖宝閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple.

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(Sunday 15 March) A statue of Kannon-bosatsu (観音菩薩; Avalokitesvara; the Goddess of Merci), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) A statue of Tenchi-Kannon-bosatsu (天地観世音菩薩; Avalokitesvara of the World), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) A monument inscribed with a tanka poem, Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Illustrated map of Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Ruri-Shobo-kaku (瑠璃聖宝閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Tsuyo-mon Gate (通用門; the service entrance) of Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. Visitors go through the gate.

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(Sunday 15 March) Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣) or Souke-sho (総受処; the reception hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) "Chozu-bachi" (手水鉢) by Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Sansho-kaku (傘松閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. This reception hall is noted for its ceiling filled with 230 paintings of birds and flowers, the work of 144 leading Japanese artists.

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(Sunday 15 March) San-mon Gate (山門) or San-Gedatsu-mon Gate (三解脱門; lit. Gate of the Three Liberations), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The name "San-Gedatsu-mon" means the "gate to liberate from three earthly states of man: greed, anger and stupidity.

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(Sunday 15 March) San-mon Gate (山門) or San-Gedatsu-mon Gate (三解脱門; lit. Gate of the Three Liberations), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The name "San-Gedatsu-mon" means the "gate to liberate from three earthly states of man: greed, anger and stupidity.

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(Sunday 15 March) San-mon Gate (山門) or San-Gedatsu-mon Gate (三解脱門; lit. Gate of the Three Liberations), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The name "San-Gedatsu-mon" means the "gate to liberate from three earthly states of man: greed, anger and stupidity.

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(Sunday 15 March) Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen), etc., Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Stairs to Hatto (法堂; Dharma Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Joyo-den (承陽殿; Founder's Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Hakusan-sui (白山水), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. Hakusan-sui is sacred water coming from the Hakusan Mountains (白山連峰). It is offered to the statue of Dogen-zenji every morning.

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(Sunday 15 March) The gate of Joyo-den (承陽殿; Founder's Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Tablet of Joyo-den (承陽殿; Founder's Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Interior of Joyo-den (承陽殿; Founder's Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Interior of Joyo-den (承陽殿; Founder's Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Hatto (法堂; Dharma Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Hatto (法堂; Dharma Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Hatto (法堂; Dharma Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Hatto (法堂; Dharma Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Ichimonji-ro Corridor (一文字廊) (front), Bustu-den (仏殿; Buddha Hall) (back), Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen) (left), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Stairs to Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The Dai-Kuin is a three-story building with a basement. Meals are prepared in this large kitchen for all the resident priests and those guests who stay on the second floor. All food is vegetarian. In the "Tenzo Kyokun" (典座教訓; the Instructions for the Zen Cooking), Dogen-zenji wrote, "A dish is not necessarily superior because you prepared it with choice ingredients, nor is a soup inferior because you made it with simple greens. Many rivers flowing into the ocean become the one taste of the ocean. Upon flowing into the pure ocean of Dharma, there are no such discriminations as delicacies or plain food: There is just one taste, and it is the Buddha Dharma, the world itself as it is."

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(Sunday 15 March) The altar of Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The famous big wooden pestle called "O-surikogi" (大すりこぎ) hangs on the pillar in the middle.

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(Sunday 15 March) In Dai-Kuin (大庫院; the Great Kitchen), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The famous big wooden pestle called "O-surikogi" (大すりこぎ) hangs on the pillar in the middle.

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(Sunday 15 March) The mausoleum of the former ruling Echizen-Matsudaira family (越前松平家) in the backyard of Dai-Kuin, Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Yoku-shitsu (浴室; the Bath). Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. The bath building for priests is one of the three important training places (or "Sanmoku-dojo" [三黙道場]; the Three Silent Places), where talking is prohibited as well as Tosu (東司; the Toilets) and So-do (僧堂). Before entering the bath, each priest makes three bows while reciting "We bathe vowing to benefit all beings. May our bodies and minds be purified both inwardly and outwardly." Zen priests take a bath twice a month on the 4th and 9th.

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(Sunday 15 March) Corridor to the San-mon Gate (山門), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In the San-mon Gate (山門), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Teachings in the tablet in the San-mon Gate (山門), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) The four Deva kings (仁王; the four Chinese guardian gods) of the San-mon Gate (山門), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) The four Deva kings (仁王; the four Chinese guardian gods) of the San-mon Gate (山門), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) "Sho-ro" (鐘楼; Belfry). Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) "Shido-den" (祠堂殿; the Memorial Service Hall), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. This hall contains thousands of memorial tablets for lay followers and their relatives. It is also the place where memorial services are performed at the request of lay followers, for their relatives and friends.

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(Sunday 15 March) In the visitors' hall of Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In the visitors' hall of Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In the visitors' hall of Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In the visitors' hall of Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In the visitors' hall of Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) In the visitors' hall of Kichijo-kaku (吉祥閣), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Seated statue of Ichiyo-Kannon (一葉観音; the Avalokitesvara on the leaf) who saved Dogen-zenji, Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) "Hoon-to" (報恩塔) or "Nokyo-to" (納経塔; the Holy Scripture Tower), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple. Built in 1996, this tower contains the copies of the Buddhist Scriptures by lay followers.

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(Sunday 15 March) Ishi-toro (石燈籠) in front of "Hoon-to" (報恩塔) or "Nokyo-to" (納経塔; the Holy Scripture Tower), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) A hall up the hill, Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Small halls by Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) Small halls by the Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) A small hall by the Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) A small hall by the Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

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(Sunday 15 March) A small hall by the Eiheiji-gawa River (永平寺川), Kichijo-zan Eihei-ji Temple

        

Copyright (c) 2009 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.