|
Rajo-mon Gate (羅城門) Hachiman-san To-ji Temple (八幡山 東寺) Shinsen-en (神泉苑) "Kyoto Gyoen" or Kyoto Imperial Park (京都御苑) "Kyoto Gosho" or Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所) "Sento Gosho" or Sento Imperial Palace (仙洞御所) Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine (北野天満宮) Ikenobo (池坊) & Shiun-zan Choho-ji Temple (紫雲山頂法寺) [known as "Rokkaku-do" (六角堂)] Seimei-jinjya Shrine (晴明神社) Graves of Lady Murasaki /Lord Takamura Ono[no] (紫 式部 墓所/小野篁卿 墓) Ryoma Sakamoto (坂本 竜馬) "Sanjo-O-hashi" Bridge (三条大橋) "Gojo-bashi" Bridge (五条大橋) Mannen-san Shokoku-Shoten-zen-ji Temple (万年山 相国承天禅寺) [known as "Shokoku-ji Temple" (相国寺)] Honno-ji Temple (本能寺) Nijo-jo Castle (二条城) Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple (西本願寺) Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple (東本願寺) Kongo-san Yata-ji Temple (金剛山 矢田寺) [known as "Yata-jizo" (矢田地蔵)] Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) Shinkyogoku (新京極) Nishiki Market (錦市場) Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine (錦天満宮) Manshige (萬重) Nishin-soba Matsuba (にしんそば 松葉) Kurama (四季の味めぐり くらま) Grill Alone (グリル・アローン) Tadg's (McLoughlin's) Irish Bar & Restaurant Sembon Enma-do (千本ゑんま堂) or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple (光明山 歓喜院 引接寺) Sembon Shaka-do (千本釈迦堂) or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple (瑞応山 千本釈迦堂) Kokora-ya Sanjo (ここら屋三条店) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya (四条京町家) Kyoto Kanda-myojin (京都神田明神) |
|
|
| IMAGE |
|
|
| Rajo-mon Gate (羅城門; literally "Castle Gate") site of the Heian-kyo (平安京), Kujo Street (near the junction of Sembon Street. When Emperor Kammu (桓武天皇) constructed the new capital here in Kyoto in A.D. 794, Rajo-mon Gate was created as the main gate of the capital with To-ji Temple (東寺) on the right and Sai-ji Temple (西寺; demolished after two great fires in 990 and in 1233) on the left. Visitors entered from Rajo-mon Gate after gaining permission from the gatekeepers and went through the central street called "Suzaku-oji" (朱雀大路) to Nijo (二条), the entrance of "Dai-Dairi" (大内裏; the Imperial Palace). The gate was larger than the Nandai-mon (南大門) at Todai-ji Temple (東大寺), Nara. It was also called "Rasho-mon" (羅生門). | ||
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Rajo-mon Gate site, Kujo-Sembon (九条千本), Minami Ward | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Yatori-jizo-do Hall (矢取地蔵堂), Rajo-mon Gate site (Kujo-Shinsembon [九条新千本], Minami Ward) | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Interior of Yatori-jizo-do Hall, Rajo-mon Gate site | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Miniature of Rajo-mon Gate, Yatori-jizo-do Hall | |
| Toji-Temple is formally called Hachiman-san Toji Temple (八幡山 東寺). In the thirteenth year of Enryaku (AD 794) the Kammu (桓武天皇) transferred the capital from Nara to Kyoto. After the model of Changan (長安/西安), the then capital of China, he built two huge guardian temples on the east and the west side of the Rajyo-mon (羅城門) which was the south gateway to Kyoto: To-ji Temple (東寺; East Temple) and Sai-ji Temple (西寺; West Temple).
About thirty years later, Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇) honored Kukai (空海, AD 774-835), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, with To-ji Temple and gave it the official name Kyo-o-Gokoku-ji Temple (教王護国寺), which means the temple that guards the capital and the land by virtue of Ninno-Gokoku-kyo (仁王護国経) or the main sutra of the Shingon-sect. Kukai made To-ji Temple the central seminary of Esoteric Buddhism and added other buildings to it. It remains its original layout and architectural style and is known as a treasure house of Esoteric Buddhist art, due to its large number of cultural assets brought back from China such as old Buddhist statues, carvings, a magnificent paintings, artistic handicrafts, etc. |
||
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Nan-Dai-mon (Great South Gate), To-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Kon-do (金堂; Main Hall), To-ji Temple. This building was first erected in 796. It was burnt down in 1486, and reconstructed by Katsumoto Katagiri (片桐且元 ) by the order of Hideyori Toyotomi (豊臣秀頼) in 1603. The double roofed Irimoya (入母屋)-style Kon-do is the biggest building ini To-ji Temple. The raised central part of the lower roof offsets the regularity of the front view of the building. Here the Tenjiku (天竺; old Indian) style is introduced into the traditional Japanese architectural style. This hall enshrines the statues of the Yakushi Triad (Yakushi-nyorai [薬師如来; Skt. Bhaisajyaguru] and his two attendants, Nikko Bosatsu [日光菩薩] and Gallo Bosatsu [月光菩薩]). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Ko-do (Lecture Hall), To-ji Temple. This building was started by Kokai in 825 and completed in 835. It was heavily damaged by typhoons and earthquakes, and repaired many times. It was burnt down in 1486, but reconstructed by Toyotomi Kita-no-mandokoro (豊臣北政所; Nene Toyotomi or the wife of Hideyoshi) during the Keicho Period (1596-1615). This hall enshrines a set of twenty-one Vajrayanistic statues according to "Mikkyo Mangala" [密教曼荼羅] of Esoteric Buddhism | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Shoku-do (食堂), To-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Statue of Kukai or Kobo-daishi (弘法大師), the founder, To-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) "Ho-zo" (宝蔵; Treasure House), To-ji Temple. It was built in traditional Azekura-style (storehouse built of triangular logs; a log house). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Yashima-den Hall (八嶋殿), To-ji Temple. The origin of this hall is unknown, although it is said that the hall, dedicated to the land god, was built much earlier than To-ji Temple. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Gojyu-no-to (五重塔; Five-storied Pagoda), To-ji Temple. This five storied pagoda is so famous that it reminds all Japanese of To-ji Temple and Kyoto. It is the highest pagoda in Japan, measuring 55 m (187 feet) high. It was originally built by Kukai or Kobo-daishi in 826 and burnt down four times after being struck by lightening. The present pagoda was built by the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu (徳川家光) in 1644.
Inside are placed the images of the Four Buddhas and their followers, the eight great bodhisattvas. |
|
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Gojyu-no-to (Five-storied Pagoda), To-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Gojyu-no-to (Five-storied Pagoda), To-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Gojyu-no-to (Five-storied Pagoda), To-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Framework of Gojyu-no-to (Five-storied Pagoda), To-ji Temple | |
| Shinsen-en (神泉苑), 166 Monzen-cho, Oike-dori Shinsenen-cho Higashi-hairu, Nakagyo Ward (中京区御池通神泉苑町東入ル門前町 166), was constructed in 794 when the Heian-kyo was created, It was an imperial garden located south of the Imperial Palace. Emperors and aristocrats had parties here. The original size was 400 m from north to south, and 200 m from east to west .
People had believed that the Dragon God of Rain Clouds abided in the sacred spring. In the 1st year of Tencho (天長元年) or A.D. 824, the year of severe drought, two famous Buddhist monks, Shubin-sozu (守敏僧都) of Sai-ji Temple (西寺) and Kukai (空海; or Kobo-daishi) of To-ji Temple (東寺) offered prayers for rain to the Dragon God in this garden. Kukai won and gained a supervisory authority over this garden. Shubin, bearing a grudge against Kukai, shot an arrow at him, but a Jizo-bosatsu (Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva) deterred Shubin from the action. Later the Jizo-bosatsu came to be called "Yatori-jizo" (矢取地蔵; see above) and still enshrined near the Rajo-mon Gate site. After that, Shubin lost his political power and Sai-ji Temple declined. Thus Shinsen-en ahs been maintained by To-ji Temple since A.D. 824. It enshrines the image of "Sho-Kannon" (聖観音; 観音菩薩; Skt. Avalokitesvara). Shinsen-en went to ruin from the Middle Ages. It is said that Yoshitsune Minamoto (源 義経) and his lover Shizuka-gozen (静御前) first met here when Shizuka performed a dance for rain as the 100th Shirabyoshi [白拍子; female courtesan dance in white male costume] dancer in 1182. The adjacent street "Oike-dori" (御池通) was reportedly named after this garden. In 1603 when Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康) built Nijo-jo Castle (二条城), most of the garden plot was included in the castle site, which largely downscaled the garden. |
||
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "O-Torii" (Great Shrine Gate), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "Benten-do" Hall (弁天堂; Hall of Sarasvati; the Goddess of Fortune), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "Benten-do" Hall (Hall of Sarasvati; the Goddess of Fortune), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "Chinjyu-Inari-sha" (鎮守稲荷社; Hall of Fox Deity of the Harvest God), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "Chinjyu-Inari-sha" (Hall of Fox Deity of the Harvest God), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "Zen-nyo-Ryu-o-sha" (善女竜王社; lit. Buddhist Nun-Dragon King Hall), viewed from "Chinjyu-Inari-sha", Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Hosei-bashi Bridge (法成橋), Shinsen-en. It is said that if you across this bridge praying only one wish for God in mind, your player will be answered. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) "Zen-nyo-Ryu-o-sha" (善女竜王社; lit. Buddhist Nun-Dragon King Hall), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Offerings of Sake Bottles to "Zen-nyo-Ryu-o-sha" (Buddhist Nun-Dragon King Hall), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Main Hall (本堂), enshrining the image of "Sho-Kanzeon-bosatsu" (聖観世音菩薩; Skt. Avalokitesvara), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Hojojyu-ike Pond (法成就池), viewed from Hosei-bashi Bridge, Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Hojojyu-ike Pond, viewed from North Gate (北門), Shinsen-en | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) North Gate (北門), Shinsen-en | |
| "Kyoto Gyoen" (京都御苑; Kyoto Imperial Park) is located in the city center. Since Emperor Kogen decided to move the palace here formerly known as "Tsuchimikado -Totoin-den" in 1331, the Japanese royal families lived generation after generation until 1868 when the capital was transferred to Edo (Tokyo). The palace is surrounded by a high wall and extends about 448 meters north to south and 249 meters east to west. All of the present structures were built about 1855 in Heian-period architectural style after the earlier buildings were destroyed by fire. There are six gates to the palace. Successive emperors added structures with the financial aids of Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ieyasu Tokugawa, etc. | ||
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) A southern scene from Kyoto Gyoen | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Hamaguri-gomon Gate, viewed from Kyoto Gyoen. This gate is the most famous gate as the most severe combat area of the Hamaguri-gomon Incident on August 20 (July 19 in the Lunar Calendar),1864. The Choshu feudal clan suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the allied armies of the Aizu, Kuwana and Satsuma clans. Two thirds of Kyoto were reduced to ashes in the fires caused by the battles. | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Hamaguri-gomon Gate, viewed from outside | |
| "Kyoto Gosho" (京都御所; Kyoto Imperial Palace), Kyoto Gyoen.
The Imperial Palace was situated in a fixed place, called the dairi (内裏), which was rebuilt every time it was destroyed by fire. While the Imperial Palce was being rebuilt, it was customary for the Emperor to move temporarily to the residences of members of the aristocracy. Later on, this custom came to be called sato-dairi (里内裏). In the late Heian Period, the dairi was not frequently used and the sato-dairi came to be used as the de facto Imperial Palace. Over centuries, the dairi was destroyed time after time by fire and war. It eventually fell into utter ruin, never to be rebuilt again. The present Kyoto Imperial Palace is one of the sato-dairi palaces. After burning down in 1788, the Shishin-den (紫宸殿) and other major structures in the Palace compound were rebuilt in the traditional Heian style. In 1854, when the Palace burned down again, the Tokugawa Shogunate ordered that an Imperial palace identical to its predecessor be immediately rebuilt, and the work was completed with exceptional speed by the following year. This is the palace that still stands today. The Kyoto Imperial Palace, which is surrounded by Tsuji-nei or earthen walls with coping tiles, extends approximately 450 m from north to south and 250 m from east to west. It compasses a total area of approximately 110,000 sq. m (approx. 27 acres). In the south of the palace compound, Shishin-den is an imposing structure that towers above all the others. It stands behind a courtyard that is laid with white sand. Seiryo-den (清涼殿) is situated to the northwest of Shishin-den. Ko-gosho (小御所) and Ogakumon-jo (御学問所). There are various other structures, which are differentiated as those used for ceremonial purposes and those used for everyday life. The Kyoto Imperial Palace represents an eclectic yet harmonized combination of traditional architectural styles, such as the shinden (寝殿), shoin (書院), and sukiya (数寄屋) styles. It is also held in high regard as a piece of Japan's cultural heritage. (Quoted and edited from the official pamphlet.) |
||
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) The Imperial chrysanthemum crest on the roof, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) The Imperial chrysanthemum crest on the roof, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Kenrei-mon Gate (建礼門), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This is the formal [main] gate to the Imperial Palace. This is used exclusively for the national guests of the Imperial Court or the Imperial Ceremonies. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Jomei-mon Gate (承明門), Kyoto Imperial Palace. The national guests will go through Kenrei-mon Gate and this gate to Shishin-den (紫宸殿) or the Hall for State Ceremonies. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Jomei-mon Gate, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shishin-den (紫宸殿) or the Hall for State Ceremonies, Kyoto Imperial Palace. The Shishin-den, which was rebuilt in 1855, is the most important building on the palace grounds, and was used for important ceremonies of state such as enthronement ceremonies. The Shishin-den is the symbol of the Kyoto Imperial palace and the enthronement ceremonies of Emperor Taisho (大正天皇; Yoshihito [嘉仁]; 1879-1925; r.1912-1925) and Emperor Showa (昭和天皇; Hirohito [裕仁]; 1901-1989; r.1926-1989) were held here. The Shishin-den is a one-story building purely made of wood. It was built in the architectural design of the irimoya (入母屋; hipped and gabled roof) and the Imperial Palace-style with high flooring. Its roof is made of hiwada (檜皮; layers of cypress bark). The building measures 37.7 m in width and 20.5 m in height. All around the building, there are shitomido (蔀戸; latticed shutters), which are suspended from iron hooks that are attached to the inside of the building. There are 18 steps leading up to the main entrance of the building. The slatted piece of flooring composed of six planks of wood, hanging in a frame over the main entrance, is an item that survived the 1854 fire. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.)
|
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shishin-den or the Hall for State Ceremonies, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A tachibana (橘) orange tree to the west of Shishin-den, Kyoto Imperial Palace. On the other side of the stairs leading to the entrance, there is a cherry tree to the east. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A cherry tree to the east of Shishin-den, Kyoto Imperial Palace. On the other side of the stairs leading to the entrance, there is a tachibana orange tree to the west. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shishin-den viewed from the Jomei-mon Gate, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Seisho-mon Gate (清所門), Kyoto Imperial Palace. Visitors enter the Palace through this gate. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) [Old] Okuruma-yose ([旧] 御車寄; carriage porch), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This was the entrance used for official visits by courtiers who had been granted permission to enter the Palace precincts. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Okuruma-yose (御車寄; carriage porch), Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shodaibu-no-ma (諸大夫の間; Waiting Rooms for Courtiers), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This 3-room building was used as a waiting area for courtiers paying official visits to the Palace. There are three rooms named after the objects painted on the fusuma (襖; a sliding door): the Tiger Room, Crane Room and Cherry Room. Courtiers rested or waited in different rooms according to rank. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shodaibu-no-ma (Waiting Rooms for Courtiers), Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Sakura-no-ma" (桜の間; the Cherry Room; the waiting room for low ranked courtiers), Shodaibu-no-ma (Waiting Rooms for Courtiers), Kyoto Imperial Palace. The door was painted by Zaisho Hara (原 在照). | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Tsuru-no-ma" (鶴の間; the Crane Room; the waiting room for middle ranked courtiers), Shodaibu-no-ma (Waiting Rooms for Courtiers), Kyoto Imperial Palace. The door was painted by Eigaku Kano (狩野 永岳). | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Tora-no-ma" (虎の間; the Tiger Room; the waiting room for high ranked courtiers), Shodaibu-no-ma (Waiting Rooms for Courtiers), Kyoto Imperial Palace. The door was painted by Gantai (岸岱). | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shin-Okuruma-yose (新御車寄; new carriage porch), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This is the entrance used for official visits by members of the royal family or courtiers who is granted permission to enter the Palace precincts. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shinko-den (春興殿), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This hall was built on the coronation of Emperor taisho in 1915 to enshrine "Yata-no-Kagami" (八咫の鏡) or the divine mirror (神鏡). | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Seiryo-den (清涼殿), Kyoto Imperial Palace. For a log time before the separate Otsune-goten (御常御殿) was built, this structure was used as the Emperor's residence. The structure is built in the traditional shinden (寝殿) style like the Shishin-den, but the floor is built much lower. The building has many more internal partitions, making it more appropriate as a residence for everyday life. This building is also renowned throughout Japanese literature. Perhaps the best-known work in which Seiryo-den is mentioned is The Tale of Genji (『源氏物語』). Written by Murasaki-shikibu in the early eleventh century, this is a monumental work that describes court life in the Heian Period in minute and vivid detail.
The east garden of Seiryo-den is laid with white sand. Two types of bamboo, kuretake (呉竹) and kawatake (漢竹), are grown there. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlets.) |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Back of Shishin-den, viewed from Seiryo-den, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Seiryo-den, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Seiryo-den, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Seiryo-den, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Ko-Gosho (小御所), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This structure was used in ceremonies such as the Coming-of-Age Ceremony and on occasions when the Emperor received the shogun or daimyos. The Ko-gosho Conference, a crucial conference in which an order was given to restore Imperial Rule, thus changing the course of Japanese history, was held here on the night of 3 January, 1867, a year before Meiji Emperor (明治天皇; Mutsuhito; 睦仁; 1852-1912; r.1867-1912) moved his residence to Tokyo. Ko-gosho was destroyed by fire in 1954 and rebuilt in 1958. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Ko-Gosho, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Kemari-no-niwa (蹴鞠の庭) between Ko-gosho and Ogakumon-jo, Kyoto Imperial Palace. Kemari is a game that was played by palace courtiers and this is the space in which it was played. The game was played with a ball made of deerskin and the objective was to pass the ball to one another while trying to keep the ball from falling to the ground. The kemari tradition has been passed down through the ages and is still played on occastion. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Ogakumon-jo (御学問所), Kyoto Imperial Palace. Situated to the north of the Ko-gosho, this structure faces east with the kemari garden in between. It was built in an architectural design similar to the shoin (書院) style, with a floor and alcove shelves. It was used by the Emperor for study of such matters as politics, and was also used for poetry readings, where waka (和歌; a 31-syllable poem) would be read. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Oike-niwa Garden (御池庭), Kyoto Imperial Palace. The Oike-niwa Garden is a strolling garden, the main feature of which is a large pond with an artificial shoreline toward the front and stepping stones across to a boat mooring place. There is an arc-shaped keyaki (欅) bridge that stretches across the pond. It is possible to enjoy this beautiful scenery from many different angles along the shore. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Oike-niwa Garden, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Oike-niwa Garden, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Oike-niwa Garden, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Omima (御三間), Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Gonaitei Garden (御内庭; the Inner Garden), Kyoto Imperial Palace. This garden is under reconstruction. So this is not a dry garden. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Gonaitei Garden (the Inner Garden), Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Gonaitei Garden (the Inner Garden), Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Otsune-goten (御常御殿), Kyoto Imperial Palace. Located to the north of the Ogakumon-jo, the Otsune-goten is the largest structure in the palace grounds. It has 15 rooms and is built in the shoin (書院). There is a room called the Kenji-no-ma (剣璽の間) in which the sword and seal, the symbols of the Imperial Throne, were preserved. The Emperor formerly used the Seiryo-den as a place for daily life, but when Imperial Palace was restored at the end of the sixteenth century, the Otsune-goten was newly constructed reflecting the architectural style of the period. Thereafter the Emperors lived here until the capital was transferred to Tokyo in 1869. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A picture of the Heian lives, Otsune-goten, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Otsune-goten, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A ume tree and Otsune-goten, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A ume tree and Otsune-goten, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A Chinese painting, Otsune-goten, Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Buildings (Omima, Ogakumon-jo, etc.), Kyoto Imperial Palace | |
| "Sento Gosho" (仙洞御所, Sento Imperial Palace), Kyoto Gyoen. Sento Gosho Palace was completed in 1630 when the Tokugawa Shogunate tried to dethrone Emperor Gomizunoo (後水尾天皇; 1596-1680; r. 1611-21). Now only the garden and the tea-ceremony room remain. Another palace called Nyoin Gosho, attached to this palace, was built for his Empress Tofukumonin (東福門院; 1607-1678), daughter of the second Shogun Hidetada Tokugawa (徳川 秀忠), to the north of the Sento Gosho. Until then, there was no predetermined palace for a retired Emperor, but after its construction for retired Emperor Gomizunoo, the Sento Imperial Palace became the residence for retired Emperors thereafter. The Palace burned down three times during the lifetime of Emperor Gomizunoo and it was rebuilt every time. However, after the great fire of 1854 when both the Sento Imperial Palace and Kyoto Imperial Palace burned down, the Sento Imperial Palace was not rebuilt because there was no retired Emperor or Empress at that time.
The Kyoto Omiya Palace (京都大宮御所) was used for the Empress Dowager. The present Kyoto Omiya Palace was built in 1867 for Empress Dowager Eisho (英照皇太后), a consort of Emperor Komei. After Empress Dowager Eisho moved to Tokyo in 1872, the property was liquidated, leaving only the main structure, the Otsune-goten (御常御殿), which still exists today. The garden with a vast courtyard was created by the most well known artist of the era, Enshu Kobori (小堀 遠州; 1579-1647), upon completion of the Sento Imperial Palace in 1630. The garden (North Pond) of the Kyoto Omiya Palace and the garden (South Pond) of the Sento Imperial Palace were connected by a canal in 1746-1747. The total area of the palace grounds is approximately 91,000 sq m (approximately 22 acres). Of the total area, the Sento Imperial Palace emcompasses approximately 75,000 sq m (approx. 4 acres). The palaces are surrounded by tsujibei (土塀), or earthen walls with coping tiles. When they were built, the group of buildings comprising the Sento Imperial Palace was located in a pine grove to the south of the present-day Kyoto Omiya Palace, but today, other than the Seika-tei (醒花亭) and Yushin-tei (又新亭), the two tea pavilions, nothing of the structure remains. There is a vast garden and two ponds, the North Pond and South Pond, which are located along a north-south axis. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) |
||
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Sei-mon" (Main Gate), Sento Imperial Palace. Visitors enter through this gate. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Okuruma-yose" (御車寄; carriage porch), Sento Imperial Palace. This is the entrance to the Kyoto Omiya Palace. It is used today when the Emperor and Empress or state guests pay a visit to Kyoto. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Sento Imperial Palace site | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Ostune-goten and Nan-tei (Inner Courtyard), Sento Imperial Palace. This is where Empress Dowager Eisho actually lived. The interior of the residence was remodeled in a Western style to receive His Royal Highness the Prince of Wakes (later King Edward VIII) of the United Kingdom on the occasion of his State visit to Japan in 1922, the year of publication of James Joyce's Ulysses and T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. The garden is also known as Shochikubai-mp-niwa, (松竹梅の庭), literally Pine-Bamboo-Plum Garden, since these types of trees are planted there. (Quoted and edited form the Official Pamphlet.)
You see two plum trees (梅) in front of the building. |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Pine-tree (松), Shochikubai-mp-niwa, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Bamboo grove (竹), Shochikubai-mp-niwa, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Near Yushin-tei (又新亭; teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Near Yushin-tei (teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Yushin-tei (a teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace. This is a tea pavilion that was a gift presented by the Konoe family (近衛家) in 1884. It has a large round window and a thatch and shingle roof. The tea pavilion appears to lie in a world of its own, with the tea garden divided by an inner gate, and a trellis separating the tea garden from the Sento Imperial Palace garden. It the tea garden there is a seat with an arbor on the outer side of the inner gate. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Yushin-tei (a teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Yushin-tei (a teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Yushin-tei (a teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) North Pond (北池), Sento Imperial Palace. Upon leaving the Kyoto Omiya Palace from the side gate of the south garden, the entire view of the North Pond comes into sight. The islet, situated to the east of the pond, adds a depth of perspective to the view as seen from the west. In addition, the top of Higashiyama Hill (東山), tinted a misty violet hue, can be seen above the trees on the opposite side of the pond, and blends in with the rest of the natural landscape as the surrounding scenery. (Quoted from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A monument of Tsurayuki Kino (紀貫之; poet; c.868-c.945), along the North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace. It is said that this place was Kino's residence. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A small shrine of Ise-jingu Shrine (伊勢神宮), along the North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Akose-ga-fuchi (阿古瀬淵), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Carps in the North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Yatsu-hashi" (八ツ橋; Zigzag Bridge), North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Yatsu-hashi" (八ツ橋; Zigzag Bridge), North Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) O-taki (雄滝; lit. "Male Waterfall") and "Soshi-Arai-no-Ishi" (草子洗いの石; Tanka Paper Washing Stone), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Soshi-Arai-no-Ishi" (草子洗いの石; Tanka Paper Washing Stone), Sento Imperial Palace. It was named after the anecdote about Kuronushi Otomo (大伴黒主) and Komachi Onono (小野小町). When Otomo made a wonderful tanka poem in a tanka gathering, Ono suspected him of cannibalizing some old poem. So she came on this stone and soaked Otomo's paper in water to check the paper. Thus she proved Otomo's poem was a plagiary. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Momiji-bashi" (紅葉橋; Bridge of Autumn Leaves), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Su-hama" (州浜), South Pond, Sento Imperial Palace. There are 111,000 rather flat and oval stones that are laid out from the shoreline into the pond. It is said that each stone was transported for one sho (升; about 0.5 US gallons) of rice. To the west of the shoreline is a small shrine dedicated to the poet Hitomaro Kakinomoto (柿本 人麻呂), many of whose works can be found in the famous poetry anthology the Manyo-shu (『万葉集』: A Collection of a Myriad Leaves), compiled in the eighth century. The view from the Seika-tei looking to the South Pond is one of the most renowned spots in all of the Sento Imperial Palace grounds, as it became gloriously abloom with cherry blossoms in the spring. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.) | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A stone lantern along the South Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Su-hama" (州浜), South Pond, Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Seika-tei" (醒花亭; teahouse), Sento Imperial Palace. This is a tea pavilion that is located in a north-facing position in the southernmost part of the garden, from which one can enjoy the entire view of the South Pond. The name originates from a poem by the Chinese poet Li Po (李白; 701-762). | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A stone lantern, "Seika-tei," Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A stone lantern, "Seika-tei," Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) A stone lantern, "Seika-tei," Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Seika-tei," Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "O-Hiyashi" (お冷し; or "Himuro"; 氷室; the ancient refrigerator), Sento Imperial Palace | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Kakinomoto Shrine (柿本社), Sento Imperial Palace. Named after the famous poet Hitomaro Kakinomoto (柿本 人麻呂). | |
| Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine (北野天満宮) is located in Bakuro-cho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto. It enshrines Michizane Sugawara (845-903), known as one of the most excellent scholars of Japanese history, who first served Uda Tenno (Emperor Uda, 867-931; r. 887-897) who tried to renovate the politics apart from the powerful Fujiwara family. Sugawara finally became "U-Daijin" (the Minister of the Right, the second most important ministerial position) in the reign of Daigo Tenno (Emperor Daigo, 885-930; r.897-930), but was relegated to Dazai-fu (now Dazaifu City, Fukuoka), Kyushu in 901 by his rival Tokihira Fujiwara's slander and died in despair in 903. His wife Kisshome and three children were sent to Motai, County Isawa, Oshu (now Mesawa, Oshu City, Iwate): His wife reportedly died there soon after she received his obituary in 903. Kisshome and their children's tombstones stand in Higashiyama Town, Ichinoseki City, Iwate. To get more information about the Sugawara family, go to the Ichinoseki page and the Dazaifu City page.
Two years later, a series of calamities, storms, fires and violent deaths happened in Kyoto and people thought they were all attributed to Sugawara's deep-seated grudge. Thus Sugawara was posthumously reinstated to the highest rank (Sho-Ichii, Dajo-Daijin, the most important ministerial position) and later in 978 was even deified as "Kitano Tenman-gu Tenjin" (the God of Learning of Kitano-Tenman-gu), Kyoto, then of Dazaifu Tenman-gu, Fukuoka and of numerous other Tenman-gu shrines all over Japan. |
||
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) Information board and map of Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ichi-no-Torii" (the First Shrine Gate), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ni-no-Torii" (the Second Shrine Gate), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "San-no-Torii" (the Third Shrine Gate), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) A statue of the lying cow/ox, Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. Michizane Sugawara was strongly related to the ox: He was born on the cow/ox time of the cow /ox day of the cow/ox year, that is, 1-3 a.m., June 25, 845.
Furthermore on February 25, 903, when he died in Dazai-fu and his corpse was carried by a cow/ox carriage (particularly used by a nobleman in the Heian Period), the cow/ox suddenly sat down and refused to move in front of Anraku-ji Temple. So people were compelled to entomb his corpse there. Then Nakahira Fujiwara, for fear of Sugawara's grudge, asked Emperor Daigo's favor to build a new shrine there for the repose of Sugawara's soul. Dazaifu Tenman-gu was constructed in 919. Thus here are many statues of the lying cows/oxen. |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ro-mon" (the Two-Storied Gate or Tower Gate), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Sanko-mon" (Gate of the Three Lights), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Sanko-mon" (Gate of the Three Lights), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Sanko-mon" (Gate of the Three Lights), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) A statue of the lying cow/ox, Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. Michizane Sugawara was strongly related to the ox: He was born on the cow/ox time of the cow /ox day of the cow/ox year, that is, 1-3 a.m., June 25, 845. Furthermore on February 25, 903, when he died in Dazai-fu and his corpse was carried by a cow/ox carriage (particularly used by a nobleman in the Heian Period), the cow/ox suddenly sat down and refused to move in front of Anraku-ji Temple.
So people were compelled to entomb his corpse there. Then Nakahira Fujiwara, for fear of Sugawara's grudge, asked Emperor Daigo's favor to build a new shrine there for the repose of Sugawara's soul. Dazaifu Tenman-gu was constructed in 919. Thus here are many statues of the lying cows/oxen. |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) A statue of the lying cow/ox, Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. Michizane Sugawara was strongly related to the ox: He was born on the cow/ox time of the cow /ox day of the cow/ox year, that is, 1-3 a.m., June 25, 845. Furthermore on February 25, 903, when he died in Dazai-fu and his corpse was carried by a cow/ox carriage (particularly used by a nobleman in the Heian Period), the cow/ox suddenly sat down and refused to move in front of Anraku-ji Temple.
So people were compelled to entomb his corpse there. Then Nakahira Fujiwara, for fear of Sugawara's grudge, asked Emperor Daigo's favor to build a new shrine there for the repose of Sugawara's soul. Dazaifu Tenman-gu was constructed in 919. Thus here are many statues of the lying cows/oxen. |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Sha-den" or "Hon-den" (Main Shrine), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. It enshrines Michizane Sugawara. The present building was constructed in 1607. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ema-sho" (the Ex-voto Gallery Hall), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Homotsu-den" (the Treasure Hall), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) A statue of the lying cow/ox, Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. Michizane Sugawara was strongly related to the ox: He was born on the cow/ox time of the cow /ox day of the cow/ox year, that is, 1-3 a.m., June 25, 845. Furthermore on February 25, 903, when he died in Dazai-fu and his corpse was carried by a cow/ox carriage (particularly used by a nobleman in the Heian Period), the cow/ox suddenly sat down and refused to move in front of Anraku-ji Temple.
So people were compelled to entomb his corpse there. Then Nakahira Fujiwara, for fear of Sugawara's grudge, asked Emperor Daigo's favor to build a new shrine there for the repose of Sugawara's soul. Dazaifu Tenman-gu was constructed in 919. Thus here are many statues of the lying cows/oxen. |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Baien" (梅園; the ume orchard garden), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine (50 different ume species, 2,000 trees in all). This shrine is very famous for ume (Japanese apricot) trees. The following tanka poem by Sugawara in Dazai-fu, is very familiar to the Japanese people:
東風吹かば (Kochi Fukaba) 匂い寄こせよ (Nioi Okoseyo) 梅の花 (Ume-no-hana) 主なしとて (Aruji Nashitote) 春な忘れそ (Haru na Wasureso) (When the easterly wind brows, Send your fragrance to me, The ume blossoms, Although your master is no longer there, Never forget to bloom in spring.) (trans. Eishiro Ito) |
|
;)
|
(Tuesday 21 February) "Tomo-uji-sha" (A shrine for the Tomo family), Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine. This enshrines the mother of Michizane Sugawara, who was from the Otomo family. It has been especially worshipped from mothers who wish their children's growth and success. | |
| The head office of Ikenobo (池坊) is located in Ikenobo, Rokkakudori Totoin Nishi Hairu, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市中京区六角通東洞院西入池坊).
Rokkaku-do Hall (六角堂) or formerly called Shiun-zan Choho-ji Temple (紫雲山頂法寺) is located behind the head office of Ikenobo (248 Donomaecho Rokkakudori Higashinotoin Nishi Hairu Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto; 京都市中京区六角通東洞院西入堂之前町248). "Ikebana"(生け花) or "Ka-do" (華道) is Japanese floral art originated with Ikenobo, Kyoto as a Buddhist floral offering. Since the Edo Period, numerous floral art schools have branched off from the original Ikenobo: There are 392 schools formally registered in Japan Ikebana Art Association (日本生け花芸術協会) in March 2005. Rokkaku-do or Shiun-zan Choho-ji Temple was founded by a priest from Shitenno-ji (四天王寺), Osaka in 587, much earlier the capital transfer in 794. (Like many temples in Nara and Kyoto, a legend tells that Rokkaku-do was originally built by Shotoku-taishi (聖徳太子) or Prince Regent Shotoku in 587. This place is said to be the birthplace of Japanese floral art. Now this hall is the 18th temple on the Kannon [Skt. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara] Pilgrimage Western Japan. the present building was built in 1875. |
||
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Head Office of Ikenobo (池坊) near Karasuma-Oike Station. the present building made in 1977 has 11 overground floors and 2 underground floors (53 m high). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Floral art in front of the head office of Ikenobo | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Rokkaku-do (六角堂; the Hexagonal Hall) built in 1875 | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Inside of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall): It enshrines "Nyoirin Kannon" (Skt. Cintamanicakra). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Inside of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall): It enshrines "Nyoirin Kannon" (Skt. Cintamanicakra). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Image of Binzuru-sonjya (賓頭盧尊者) in the right side of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall).
"Binzuru" (賓頭盧; Skt. Pindola Bharadvaja) was one of the sixteen arahats, who were disciples of the Buddha. Pindola is said to have excelled in the mastery of occult powers. It is commonly believed in Western Japan that when a person rubs a part of the image of "Binzuru" and then rubs the corresponding part of his/her own body, his/her ailment there will disappear. Cf. also the Nara Central page and the Asuka Area page. |
|
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) "Namu Fudo-myo-o" (南無 不動明王 [Skt. Acalanatha; the God of Fire; the Martial Arts Protector]) Hall, in the precinct of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Inside of "Namu Fudo-myo-o" Hall, Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Numerous images of "Namu Jizo-bosatsu" (南無 地蔵菩薩 [Skt. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva; a guardian deity of children]), Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Swans on the pond, Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall). As the information board claims that Shotoku-taishi took a bath here. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) The pond of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Statue of Shinran-shonin (親鸞上人; St. Shinran, founder of Jodo-shinshu sect of Buddhism; 1173-1262) in the precinct of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall). Shinran once stayed at this temple to go to his master Honen (法然; St. Honen, founder of Jodo-shu sect; 1133-1212) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Shinran-do Hall (親鸞堂) in the precinct of Rokkaku-do (the Hexagonal Hall) | |
| Have you ever seen either of the Japanese films Onmyo-ji (「陰陽師」2001) or Onmyo-ji II (「陰陽師 II」2003)? The films, based on Baku Yumemakura (夢枕 獏)'s series of novels Onmyo-ji (1988-), were directed by Yojiro Takita (滝田洋二郎) starring Mansai Nomura II (野村萬斎 II; Kyogen actor, 1966-) as the legendary Onmyo-ji Seimei Abe (阿部晴明, ?921-1005).
Seimei was born in Abeno, Settsu (now Abeno Ward, Osaka City) as a son of Masuki Abe (安倍保名). Seimei learned Onmyo-do (陰陽道; Yin and Yang Cosmology) from Tadayuki Kamo (賀茂 忠行, ?-960). The Japanese "Onmyo-do" is a Chinese-influenced traditional Japanese esoteric cosmology mixed by natural science and occultism, developed from the original Chinese cosmology in the seventh century. In the first historical record of Seimei can be found in 960, when he became an apprentice of cosmology: He was ordered by Emperor Murakami (村上天皇) to tell his fortune. Before long he became a master of cosmology. In 979, 59-year-old Seimei performed a ceremony by the order of Emperor Kazan (花山天皇) to exorcise "Tengu" (天狗) or long-nosed goblins in Nachi-yama (那智山). Around this time Seimei gradually won public confidence including one from Emperor Ichijo (一条天皇) and Michinaga Fujiwara (藤原道長). We can assure how aristocrats trusted Seimei from many documents including Michinaga's diary. Seimei mentioned in numerous literary masterpieces, like Okagami (『大鏡』: The Great Mirror), Konjyaku Monogatari (『今昔物語』; Stories, Modern and Ancient), Uji Shui Monogatari (『宇治拾遺物語』; A Collection of Tales from Uji). His descendants, Abe, or from the late Muromachi Period, Tsuchimikado family (土御門家) occupied dominent positions of cosmology at palace and succeeded Seimei's cosmology, etc. from generation to generation until the end of Edo Period in the late nineteenth century. There are many shrines enshrining Seimei over the country including Seimei-jinjya Shrine and Abe-no-Seimei-jinjya Shrine, Abeno Ward, Osaka City. |
||
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) First Stone Shrine Gate to Seimei-jinjya Shrine, 806 Horikawa-dori Ichijo Agaru, Kamigyo Ward. The nearest station is Imadegawa on Karasuma Line) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) First Stone Shrine Gate to Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Second Stone Shrine Gate to Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Seimei-i (晴明井; Seimei Spring), Seimei-jinjya Shrine; Good for healing your illness. "Gobo-sei" (五芒星; pentacle or pentagram) is very similar to Western "Solomon's seal" (hexagram). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) "Hon-den" (Main Hall) of Seimei-jinjya Shrine: You will find "Gobo-sei" (五芒星; pentacle or pentagram), which is very similar to Western "Solomon's seal" (hexagram). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Inside of "Hon-den," Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) "Yaku-yoke Momo" (Talisman Peach against Evils), Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) One picture of the serialized pictures on Seimei's life, Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Another picture of Seimei's life, "Ema-sha" (絵馬舎; Ex-voto Hall), Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Signpost indicating Seimei's residence site, Seimei-jinjya Shrine | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Signpost indicating Rikyu Senno (千利休; founder of "Sa-do" [Japanese art of ceremonial tea-making] 1522-1591)'s residence site, Seimei-jinjya Shrine. Surprisingly Rikyu lived in the site of Seimei's residence in his later days! He made tea using water from Seimei-i (晴明井; Seimei Spring). See above. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Ichijo-modori-bashi (一條戻橋) made of the old bridge used between 1922 and 1995. In the precinct of Seimei-jinjya Shrine. See below. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Stone Image of the "Shiki-jin" (式神; demons in Onmyo-do) in the side of the above miniature bridge | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) The present Ichijo-modori-bashi Bridge (一條戻り橋) along the Hori-kawa River (堀川) near the bus stop "Ichijomodoribashi. It was originally called "Tsuchimikado-bashi" (土御門橋). In 918, when the funeral parade for Kiyotsura Miyoshi (三善 清行) passed this bridge, his son Jozo (浄蔵) touched his casket crying and praying for God, Kiyotsura was miracurously brought back to life: Thus later people began to call this bridge "Modori-bashi" (Bridge of Resurrection).
In the Heian Period this bridge was considered to be the demon's gate to "Daidairi" (大内裏; Emperor's Palace). This bridge was on the border between in and around the city of ancient Kyoto. People had believed that uncountable demons and goblins went in and went out through this bridge: The north side was a burial ground. Thus this bridge was considered to be the entrance to devildom. There are many ghost stories about this bridge. the most prominent figure is of course Seimei Abe who succeeded to confine an ugly demon in the stone coffin and hided under the bridge. See Konjyaku Monogatari (Stories, Modern and Ancient). After "harakiri," the head of Rikyu Senno was exposed here with other heads of criminals in 1591. |
|
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Small shrine located northwest of Ichijo-modori-bashi Bridge along the Hori-kawa River. Ichijo-modori-bashi and its environs are also the place for offering prayers. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Another shrine located northwest of Ichijo-modori-bashi Bridge along the Hori-kawa River. Ichijo-modori-bashi and its environs are also the place for offering prayers. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) An old house at Hori-kawa Imadegawa Junction (near the shrine in kyc2007-065) | |
| Graves of Lady Murasaki (紫 式部 墓所)/Lord Takamura Ono[no] (小野篁 卿 墓) in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区紫野西御所田町) or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru (堀川北大路下ル西側).
Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部; 979?-1016?), or Lady Murasaki as she is sometimes known in English, was a Japanese novelist, poet, and a maid of honor of the Imperial Court in the middle of the Heian Period when the Court was most prosperous with rich culture. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji (『源氏物語』) written in elegant Japanese between about 1000 and 1008, one of the earliest and most famous novels in human history. "Murasaki Shikibu" was not her real name; her actual name is unknown, though some scholars have postulated that her given name might have been Kaoriko/Takako/Koshi Fujiwara (藤原 香子). Her diary states that she was nicknamed "Murasaki" (紫; "purple wisteria blossom") at court, after a character "Murasaki-no-ue" (紫の上) in The Tale of Genji. "Shikibu" refers to her father Tametoki Fujiwara (藤原 為時, 949?-1029?)'s position (式部大丞) in the Bureau of Ceremony (式部省; shikibu-sho). Lord Takamura Ono[no] (小野篁 卿,802-852), famous for his mysterious legend of the descent into Hell, was a descendant of the famous ambassador to China Imoko Ono[no] (小野妹子) in the early 7th century and an ancestor of Lady Murasaki. For further information, refer to "Daichin-zan Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple" of the Kyoto East page. |
||
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Graves of Lady Murasaki (紫 式部 墓所)/Lord Takamura Ono[no] (小野篁 卿 墓) in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区紫野西御所田町) or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru (堀川北大路下ル西側). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Indicating Stone of Grave of Lady Murasaki | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Graves of Lady Murasaki/Lord Takamura Ono[no] in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Lord Takamura Ono[no] in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Lord Takamura Ono[no] in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Inscriptions of Lady Murasaki/Lord Takamura Ono[no] in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Indicating Stone and the Small Shrine for Lady Murasaki in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) The Small Shrine for the Grave of Lady Murasaki in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru< | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Lady Murasaki in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Lady Murasaki in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Lady Murasaki in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Lady Murasaki in Nishigoshoden-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City or West of Horikawa-Kitaoji-sagaru | |
| Ryoma Sakamoto (坂本 竜馬, 1836-1867) | ||
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) Site of Ryoma Sakamoto's temporary abode, West Kiya-machi Street or in front of Kyogeki-kaikan (坂本竜馬寓居之跡), 木屋町通り西、京劇会館前) | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) Site of Ryoma Sakamoto's temporary abode (坂本竜馬寓居之跡), West Kiya-machi Street, Nakagyo Ward or in front of Kyogeki-kaikan, (中京区木屋町通り西、京劇会館前). | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Site of Ryoma Sakamoto's in the west side of Upper Shijo Kawara-machi Street (中京区河原町通四条上がる西側) | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Site of Ryoma Sakamoto's in the west side of Upper Shijo Kawara-machi Street (中京区河原町通四条上がる西側) | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 21 March) Seafood Tavern Ikeda-ya Hananomai (海鮮茶屋 池田屋はなの舞) standing on the site of Hotel Ikeda-ya (池田屋) in Sanjo-Kiya-machi (京都市中京区三条通河原町東入ル中島町82 申和三条ビル) | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 21 March) Seafood Tavern Ikeda-ya Hananomai standing on the site of Hotel Ikeda-ya in Sanjo-Kiya-machi | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 21 March) Seafood Tavern Ikeda-ya Hananomai standing on the site of Hotel Ikeda-ya in Sanjo-Kiya-machi | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 21 March) Seafood Tavern Ikeda-ya Hananomai standing on the site of Hotel Ikeda-ya in Sanjo-Kiya-machi | |
| "Sanjo-O-hashi" Bridge (三条大橋) | ||
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) Sanjo-O-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) Sanjo-O-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) Statues of Yaji-san and Kita-san (弥次さんと喜多さん; the two main characters of Ikku Jippensha[十返舎 一九; 1765-1831]'s Shank's Mare (『東海道中膝栗毛』1802-1822) in the western edge ("Rakuchu") of Sanjo-O-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) The backward of Ponto-cho Street (先斗町通) vewed from Sanjo-O-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) The backward of Ponto-cho Street (先斗町通) vewed from Sanjo-O-hashi Bridge | |
| "Gojo-O-hashi" (五条大橋) or "Gojo-bashi" (五条橋) Bridge is the place of the popular episode in which the giant warrior-monk Musashibo-Benkei encounters the Gen-ji hero Yoshitsune, still a boy wearing a female shawl and playing a flute in fear of being found by the Heike clan, on the Gojo-bashi Bridge one night in Kyoto in the late Heian Period, and challenges him to fight. When the slim youth easily defeats him swinging and dodging round as quick as lighting, Benkei becomes his follower for life. Although both of them are recorded in many historical documents, this episode is very dubious. | ||
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Gojo-0-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Matsubara-bashi Bridge (the original site of Gojo-0-hashi Bridge) | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Statue of Ushiwaka-maru & Musashibo-Benkei (in the Gosho-ningyo style by Shotaro Okamoto, 1961), "Nishidume" (the west end) of Gojo-0-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Statue of Ushiwaka-maru & Musashibo-Benkei (in the Gosho-ningyo style by Shotaro Okamoto, 1961), "Nishidume" (the west end) of Gojo-0-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Statue of Ushiwaka-maru & Musashibo-Benkei (in the Gosho-ningyo style by Shotaro Okamoto, 1961), "Nishidume" (the west end) of Gojo-0-hashi Bridge | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Statue of Ushiwaka-maru & Musashibo-Benkei (in the Gosho-ningyo style by Shotaro Okamoto, 1961), "Nishidume" (the west end) of Gojo-0-hashi Bridge | |
| Mannen-san Shokoku-Shoten-zen-ji Temple (万年山 相国承天禅寺) was founded by Soseki Muso (夢窓疎石) with the order of the 3rd Ashikaga Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga in 1382. The first chief abbot was Muso's disciple Myoha Shunoku (春屋 妙葩). It belongs to the Rinzai-shu sect of Buddhism. | ||
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "So-mon" (総門; Main Gate), Shokoku-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Tenkai-bashi" Bridge (天界橋), Shokoku-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Shokoku-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Hatto" (法堂; Lecture Hall), rebuilt by Hideyori Toyotomi (豊臣秀頼) in 1605, Shokoku-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Interior of "Hatto" (Lecture Hall), Shokoku-ji Temple. The Shumi-dan (須弥檀; the Central Altar) enshrines Shaka-nyorai (釈迦如来; Sakyamuni; the Great Buddha) with Anan-sonjya (阿難尊者;Ananda) and Kasho-sonjya (迦葉尊者; Maha-ka-s'yapa) on the sides. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Sotan-jinjya" (宗旦稲荷; Shrine of Sotan the Fox Deity), Shokoku-ji Temple. Legend tells that one white fox lived in the precincts of SHokoku-ji Temple in the early seventeenth century. He transformed into the famous tea master Sotan Senno (千 宗旦, 1578-1658) and enjoyed a religious life and sometimes played the game of go (碁) with priests. At night the fox ate vegetables in the field freely. On the opening ceremony of the new tearoom at Jisho-in Temple (慈照院), a brahc temple of Shokoku-ji Temple, however, Sotan the fox, like the real human master Sotan, made tea in an admirable manner which much impressed people. Sotan the Fox died a premature death falling into a well in front of a tofu (bean-curds) vendor; or we should say, he died just like other foxes. People made a small shrine for him here and held a memorial service for him. Legend still survives with this shrine. | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Statue of the Sotan-inari (Sotan the Fox Deity), Shokoku-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) "Kyo-zo" (経蔵; Scripture Hall) containing Korai-ban Issai-kyo (高麗版一切経; the Korean Translation of the Complete Sutras), Shokoku-ji Temple | |
| Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple (大本山 本能寺), belonging to Nichiren-sect of Buddhism, was founded in Abura-koji, Kyoto by Nichiryu in 1451. It moved to Uchino, O-miya-Rokkku, Kamigyo, finally to Shijo-Nishinotoin where "Honno-ji-no-hen" (本能寺の変; Incident at Honno-ji) occurred in June 2, 1582. Mitsuhide Akechi (1528?-1582), Oda's powerful general, attacked Honno-ji Temple with 15,000 soldiers and forced Nobunaga Oda (1534-1582), when almost holding sway over the country, to commit suicide that day. Akechi's authority over Nobunaga's territories lasted only for eleven days and he was soon defeated by Oda's another general Hideyoshi Hashiba (later Hideyoshi Toyotomi, 1537-1598). It became a giant step to bring the whole country under Toyotomi's rule. Hideyoshi moved the temple to the present site (Honnoji-mae-cho, Oike-kudaru-shita, Teramachi-dori, Nakagyo Ward) ten years after the incident. It belongs to Hokke-shu Honmon-ryu sect. The present main shrine was reconstructed in 1928. | ||
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) San-mon Gate to Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) Statue of Nichiren-shonin (St. Nichiren, 1222-1282), Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) Hon-do (Main Hall), Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) Nobunaga Oda's mausoleum, Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) Tower erected for the repose of Nobunaga Oda's soul, the mausoleum, Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple. His real grave is in Daitoku-ji Soken-n Temple (大徳寺 総見院). | |
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) Tower erected for the repose of the fallen's souls during the battle of the Honno-ji Incident, the mausoleum, Daihon-zan Honno-ji Temple | |
| Nijo-jo Castle (二条城) was originally built in 1603 to be the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, and it was completed in 1626 by the third Shogun Iemitsu, who transferred some structures from Fushimi Castle, built in the Momoyama Period (1573-1614). Consequently, lavished decorated Nijo-jo Castle is representative of the height of Momoyama architecture. In its day, it served as a symbol of the power and authority of the Tokugawa military government.
When Yoshinobu, the fifteenth Tokugawa Shogun, returned sovereignty to the Emperor in 1867, the Castle was given to the Imperial family. In 1884 it was renamed Nijo-rikyu Detached Palace, and in 1939 donated to Kyoto City renamed Nijo-jo Castle and opened to the public. Nijo-jo Castle in its entirety has been designated a historic relic. The Nimomaru Palace itself is a National Treasture, and twenty-two other structures (including the Eastern Main Gate) have been nominated Important Cultural Properties. The Nimomaru Garden has also been designated a Special Scenic Spot. The total area of the Castle is 275,000 square meters; 7,300 square meters are occupied by buildings. (quoted from the official pamphlet) |
||
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) "Higashi-Ote-mon" (Eastern Main Gate), Nijo-jo Castle. To the side of the "Higashi-Ote-mon" (Eastern Main Gate) of the Castle remains the "Bansho" (a guardhouse used for the regulation of visitors). In the Shogun's absence between 1634 and 1863, gate guard duty fell to the caretakers of the castle who were stationed there in alternating years, fifty persons at a time. Though the residences of the caretakers have disappeared, this guardhouse built in 1608 remains as rare example of their type. | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) "Karamon" (Chinese-styled Gate) to Ninomaru Palace, Nijo-jo Castle | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) "Ninomaru-Goten" (Ninomaru Palace), Nijo-jo Castle. This palace, comprising 3,300 square meters, was originally built in 1603 by the first Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu, and was completed in 1626 by the third Shogun Iemitsu.
The palace proper consists of five buildings, with 33 rooms and 800 tatami (Japanese straw mats) in total. It is almost entirely constructed of Hinomi wood (Japanese cypress). The paintings on the sliding doors and walls of each room are by great artists of the Kano School. The transoms above the sliding doors are beautifully carved from massive cypress blocks. To the northeast of the palace are service buildings for the preparation and storage of food. The "Ohiroma Ichi-no-ma, Ninoma" (First and Second Grand Chambers) of this palace were used in 1867 by the fifteenth Tokugawa Shogun Yoshinobu to announce "Taisei-Hokan" (the restoration of sovereignty to the Emperor) to the "daimyos (feudal lords). With this declaration, the long rule of over 260 years of the Tokugawa Shogunate was brought to a close. |
|
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) "Ninomaru-Teien" (Ninomaru Garden), Nijo-jo Castle. In keeping with traditional Japanese garden design, this garden is conceived around a large central pond and contains stones in variety of shapes, sizes and colors. In the center of the pond are three islands; "Horai-jima" (Island of Eternal Happiness), "Tsuru-jima" (Crane Island) and "Kame-jima" (Turtle Island). The design of the garden is attributed to the renown tea master and garden architect Enshu Kobori (1579-1647). | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Gate Bridge to Honmaru Palace, Nijo-jo Castle | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) The site of "Tenshu-kaku" (Donjon), Honmaru, Nijo-jo Castle. The name Honmaru designates the area surrounded by the inner moat of the Castle. The original palace in it was constructed in 1626 to house the Shogun and his retainers, and incorporated structures of the Momoyama Period (1573-1614) transferred from Fushimi Castle. Its "Tenshu-kaku," the five-storied central tower, once located in the southwest corner of the complex, was struck by lightning and burned down in 1750. | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) The Honmaru complex, Nijo-jo Castle, viewed from the site of "Tenshu-kaku." In 1893, the present structure was transferred to Nijo-jo Castle from "Kyoto-Gosho" (Kyoto Imperial Palace). Originally built in 1847 as the residence of Prince Katsura, it remains an elegant example of courtly architecture. | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) A western view of Honmaru Palace, Nijo-jo Castle | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) "Uchi-bori" (Innermoat), Nijo-jo Castle | |
;)
|
(Friday 18 February) Gate to "Waraku-an" (lit. Hermitage of the Japanese Comfort; modeled after "Zangetsu-tei" of the Ura-Senke School), Seiryu-en Garden, Nijo-jo Castle. It was completed in 1965. Now used for a big tea ceremony for Kyoto citizens and the reception place for state guests. | |
| Jodo-Shin-shu Hongwan-ji-ha (浄土真宗 本願寺派), often referred to as Nishi Hongwan-ji (西本願寺; West Hongwan-ji), is the mother temple and headquarters for more than 12,000,000 Shin-shu Buddhists affiliated with 10,500 temples and churches in Japan and throughout the world. It is formally called Ryukoku-san Hongwan-ji Temple (龍谷山 本願寺).
The temple was first established some 700 years ago at Otani Hombyo (大谷本廟), the mausoleum of Shinran-shonin (親鸞 上人), the founder of the Shin-shu Buddhist tradition (Jodo-Shin-shu). Because of persecutions and civil wars in Japan, the temple was forced to move from place to place in the Kansai District. However, with the grant of land in Kyoto from Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1591, the temple was permanently established at its present site, and though the years many structures, which today are National Treasures and Important Cultural Assets, were added to make the complex that is seen today. In the last few years of the Edo Period, this temple became the gendarmerie station for the legendary Shinsen-gumi (lit. the Newly Selected Team [of the special secret service samurai] ) of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Today, Nishi Hongwanji-ha is the largest denomination of Jodo-Shin-shu sect. Of course, one must not forget that Nishi Hongwanji-ha is itself a sub-sect of Hongwan-ji, but since the Nishi and Higashi Hongwanji's are not very different, many people who belong to one of the sects just call themselves "Hongwanji-ha" or "Jodo-shin-shu-monto." |
||
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) The "Goei-do Mon" (御影堂門; Gate to the Founder's Hall), Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple. The Goei-do" Hall, built in 1636, is under restoration until 2011. | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "Amida-do" (阿弥陀堂; the Amitabha Hall built in 1760) or "Sogo-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "Shumu-Sogo-chosha" (the head office), Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "Amida-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "Amida-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "Amida-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple. Courtesy of Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "Amida-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple. Courtesy of Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) "(Go-Honzon) Amida-Nyorai " (the principal image of Amitabha), "Amida-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple. Courtesy of Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Saturday 19 February) The image of Shinran-shonin (the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect), "Amida-do," Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple. Courtesy of Nishi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
| Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple (東本願寺; East Hongwan-ji Temple), the headquarters of the Jodo-Shinshu Otani-ha sect (浄土真宗太谷派) of Buddhism, is formerly called "Shinshu-Hombyo" which was founded the 12th head priest Kyonyo-shonin with the grant of land in Kyoto from Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1602. They separated from the "(later Nishi) Hongwan-ji-ha" with the aid of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1602, although there seems no big difference between the two sects' doctrines even now. As the result, the Jodo-Shinshu sect, the biggest Buddhist sect of Japan, was divided into the two sects, "Nishi Hongwanji-ha" ("Jodo-Shinshu Hongwan-ji-ha") and "Higashi Hongwan-ji-ha" ("Jodo-Shinshu Otani-ha"). It has been long considered that the most powerful Buddhist sect was divided by the Tokugawa Shogunate who feared the potential of the revolts involving its fanatic devotees, the lower-classed samurai and the tenant farmers.
It is said that in the beginning of the division was the conflict between Kennyo-shonin, the head priest of Ishiyama-Hongwan-ji (castle rather than temple located in the present Osaka-jo Castle site), and his son Kyonyo -shonin during the battles with Nobunaga Oda in 1570-1580: Kennyo surrendered Ishiyama Hongwan-ji to Oda after he knew that Oda suppressed the revolts by the Jodo-Shin-shu believers against the feudal lords in Nagashima (now part of Mie) and Echizen (now Fukui) while Kyonyo and his followers persistently insisted to be besieged in the castle/temple to fight with Oda till the end. Kennyo was forced to disinherit his son. However, Kyonyo was still warmly supported by many adherents and finally decided to be independent from his father's sect with the aid of Ieyasu Tokugawa. The original Jodo-Shin-shu sect was founded by Shinran-shonin (1173-1262). He was born in 1173 as a son of Arinori Hino of the Fujiwara clan. He received ordination and entered priesthood at the age of 9, and underwent rigorous training and study at Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei located in the northeast outskirts of Kyoto. Enryaku-ji Temple has long been the center of the Japanese Buddhism since the early ninth century. After making earnest efforts for over 20 years, he became disillusioned by the trends of the time on Mt. Hiei, which not only tended to cater to the wishes of the social and political authorities, but incorporated folk beliefs, forgetting the essential precept of Saicho (Dengyo-daishi, 767-822), the founder of Enryaku-ji Temple. After leaving the mountain, he sought out Honen (1133-1212) who was teaching the nembutsu (saying the Name of the Amitabha Buddha in Japanese, "Nammu-Amida-Butsu") at Yoshimizu in the eastern hills of Kyoto. Shinran became a disciple of Honen. As teaching only the nembutsu in place of the esoteric Buddhist doctrines increased the followers remarkably, both Honen and Shinran became the target of harassment by other older Buddhist orders. Finally the nembutsu was prohibited by the Imperial Edict: Shinran and Honen were sent to Echigo (now Niigata) and Tosa (now Kochi) respectively. Although both were pardoned in 1211, Shinran chose to propagandize the Kanto District where he began to write his major work, Kyogyo-shinsho (The True Teaching, Practice, and Realization of the Pure Land Way), which teaches the nembutsu of Other Power and thereby forms the foundation for the Jodo-Shin-shu Buddhist tradition. After his death in 1262 at the age of 90, his daughter, Kakushin-ni, erected a mausoleum to the memory of her great father at Otani, Higashiyama, Kyoto: it became the nucleus for the formation of the Hongwan-ji ha. |
||
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) A message from Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple: It says "Let us discover the significance of birth and the loy of living." | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Chokushi-mon Gate (勅使門; Gate for Imperial Envoys), Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Goeido-mon Gate (御影堂門; Gate to the Founder Hall), Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Goeido-mon Gate (Gate to the Founder Hall), Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) inside of Goeido-mon Gate (Gate to the Founder Hall), Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple, the headquarters of the Jodo-Shinshu Otani-ha sect of Buddhism | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple, the headquarters of the Jodo-Shinshu Otani-ha sect of Buddhism | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Sampai-settai-jo (参拝接待所; Reception Hall for Worshippers), Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Wednesday 7 March) Amida-do Hall (阿弥陀堂; Hall of Amitabha), Higashi Hongwan-ji Temple | |
| Kongo-san Yata-ji Temple (金剛山 矢田寺), or Yata Jizo (矢田地蔵)
According to temple history, Yata-ji Temple, Sanjo-agaru, Teramachi-dori, Nakagyo Ward, was founded in Gojo-boumon (now Shimogyo Ward) as a branch temple of Yata-ji Temple in Yamato (now Yamato-Koriyama City, Nara Prefecture) in 796 at the beginning of the Heian Period (794-1185) and the moved to the present site in 1579, after having been moved from place to place. It enshrines Yata Jizo which 2 meter-tall statue. It was said that when the founder Mankei (Manmai) went to the under world, he saw a living Jizo. He later asked some artist to mold the Jizo. Commonly called "Daijyu-Ku-jizo" (the scapegoat Jizo) worshipped by the local people as the reliever for the dead in Hell. The bell hanging at this temple is called "Okuri-gane" (Sending Bell) as opposed to "Mukae-gane" (Greeting Bell) at Rokudo-chinno-ji Temple. "Okuri-gane" is rung by people sending departed spirits to the other world to rest in peace. This temple throngs with many visitors throughout the year. It belongs to Nishiyama-Jodo-shu sect. |
||
;)
|
(Sunday 19 February) Yata-ji Temple (Yata Jizo) | |
;)
|
(Sunday 19 February) Interior of Yata-ji Temple (Yata Jizo) | |
| Takase-gawa River (高瀬川) in Kiya-machi-dori Street (木屋町), is a small canal made by the powerful merchant Ryoi Suminokura in c. 1611 in order to bring commodities to the city center of Kyoto. The canal runs from Nijo-Kiya-machi to Jyujo Street in parallel with the Kamo River and meets the Uji River at Fushimi-Kyo-bashi Bridge. Numerous willow trees and cherry trees are planted along the canal: It is lighted up in the evenings of the Cherry-blossom season. Also famous for the setting of Ogai Mori's fiction Takase-bune (The Takase River Boat, 1916) | ||
;)
|
(Sunday 19 February) The monument in memory of Shozan Sakuma (佐久間 象山; philosopher and tactician, 1811-1864) and Masujiro Omura (founder of the Japanese Imperial Army, 1825-1869), who were assassinated here along the canal. | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) The Takase River | |
;)
|
(Friday 14 March) The Takase River | |
;)
|
(Sunday 19 February) The Takase River in night town | |
;)
|
(Sunday 19 February) "Hakata-Nagahama Ramen Miyoshi," (博多 長浜 ラーメン みよし), a ramen restaurant in Kiya-machi, along the canal. As the name indicates, their ramen dishes are in the Kyushu style, that is, "Tonkotsu [lit. pork bone] taste." Highly recommended. | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) Grave of Hidetsugu Toyotomi (豊臣秀次, 1568-1595) in Kiya-machi along the canal. He was a nephew of Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣秀吉, 1537-1598) and became the second (last) "Kampaku" (関白; the chief advisor to the Emperor) from the Toyotomi family. After Hideyoshi got a legitimate son, Hideyori (豊臣秀頼, 1593-1615), their relationship suddenly became worse and finally Hideyoshi sent Hidetsugu to Koya-san (高野山; sacred place of the Shingon-sect of esoteric Buddhism) and finally commanded him to do "harakiri" in 1595. | |
| Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) was built in 1964 in front of the Karasuma [North] Exit of Kyoto Station (131 meters high). You can enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto from the scenic dome (100 meters high). Different from the Eiffel Tower and Tokyo Tower, built in the motif of a Buddhist candlestick, no steel-frame is used for the tower: It was made by welding of 12 mm-22 mm super-steel cylinders as the cylindrical tower barrel. | ||
;)
|
(Monday 20 February) Kyoto Tower, viewed from the Karasuma Exit of Kyoto Station | |
| Shinkyogoku [新京極; lit. the new (northern) edge of Kyoto] Street has a history of 1,200 years: In the age of "Heian-kyo" (the ancient Japanese capital Kyoto), Kyogoku Street [now called Teramachi Street] ran from north to south along the eastern edge of the city. The current name can be traced back to the late sixteenth century when Hideyoshi Toyotomi had many temples relocated to Kyogoku Street and renamed it Teramachi [lit. Temple Town] Street in order to make the capital more defensible. As many temples in the area began to provide stages for various actors and entertainers, the area gradually developed commercially. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, a new street was constructed in the east of Teramachi Street, which was later called "Shinkyogoku" Street in 1872 and has been developed as the center of the business district. Shinkyogoku Street runs from Sanjo-dori Street to Shijo-dori Street in parallel with the Kamo-gawa River and Kawaramachi-dori Street. | ||
;)
|
(Monday 20 February) Shinkyogoku Street | |
;)
|
(Monday 20 February) Shinkyogoku Street | |
;)
|
(Monday 20 February) Shinkyogoku Street | |
;)
|
(Monday 20 February) The southern [Shijo-dori] edge of Shinkyogoku Street | |
| Nishiki Market (錦市場) or Nishiki-koji Street (錦小路) runs from Teramachi Street (east) to Omiya-nishi-hairu (west). The history of the street can be traced back to the Enryaku Era (782-806). After the War of Onin in 1467-1477, the street had long devastated in the Age of Civil Wars (1467-1582) until Hideyoshi Toyotomi made himself the master of the Empire in 1582. Originally the street was called Gusoku-koji (lit. armor street) and reportedly renamed as the present name by Goreizen Tenno (Emperor Goreizen)'s will in 1054.
The market began to deal with fish and poultry about 400 years ago after Toyotomi's rule. In the Edo Period (1603-1867), the market street thrived with the three big fish mongers of Kyoto, Kami-no-mise, Nishiki-no-mise and Rokujo-no-mise (Toiya-machi). In 1770 they began to sell vegetables near the fishmongers. After the Meiji Restoration in 1867, the franchise of the three fishmongers was abolished and people could open any shop anywhere. However, many shops ended up with closing until only seven shops survived. Thus the first union was established soon. The present union was established in 1963 and now has 127 members and 130 shops (February 2006). |
||
;)
|
(Monday 20 February) Irish pub "field" off Nishiki-koji Street (Karasuma-Nishiki-higashi-hairu); famous for Irish music | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) : The west gate to Nishiki Market or Nishiki-koji Street from the west | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) Nishiki Market or Nishiki-koji Street | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) Nishiki Market or Nishiki-koji Street | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) Nishiki Market or Nishiki-koji Street | |
| East end of Nishiki market or the shrine gate to Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine (錦天満宮; Nishiki Shrine dedicated to Michizane Sugawara, 中京区新京極通四条上ル中之町537). Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine is located between Shinkyogoku Street and Teramachi Kyogoku Street. This Tenman-gu Shrine was originally founded in the site of Rokujogawara-in mansion (六条河原院) of Toru Minamoto (源 融) as the guardian shrine for Kankii-ji Temple (歓喜寺) in 1003. In 1587 the shrine and the temple moved to the present site due to Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣秀吉)'s city plan. In the Meiji Era in the late ninteenth century, Kangi-ji Temple moved to Higashiyama-Gojo (東山五条), and recently moved to Oyake in Yamashina Ward (山科区大宅).
As for the general information of Michizane Sugawara or Tenman-gu shrines, see "Kitano Tenman-gu" (see below). |
||
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) East end of Nishiki market or the shrine gate to Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) "Hon-do" (Main Hall) of Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine | |
;)
|
(Thursday 22 February) "O Mikuji" (written oracle; a sacred lot) vending machine in Nishiki Tenman-gu Shrine. You can enjoy "Shishi-mai" (ritual dance with a lion's mask) performed as an exorcism by the traditional Japanese puppet for free! With only 200 yen you will get a written oracle from the puppet. You can choose one oracle from 6 different types (standard, children, joy, love, etc)! | |
| Manshige (萬重) is a famous Kyoto-style restaurant. The home restaurant is located in Omiya-dori Imadegawa-agaru, Kamigyo Ward. My friend Professor Manabu Asai of Kyoto Prefectural University took me here for the first time in February 1998. Since then, I have often visited here and ordered a bento (lunch/dinner box). | ||
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) Manshige, a traditional Kyoto-style restaurant in Porta, JR Kyoto Station | |
;)
|
(Saturday 24 February) "Seiro-bento" (せいろ弁当) @ Manshige, a traditional Kyoto-style restaurant in Porta, JR Kyoto Station. This costs 2,100 yen. | |
| Nishin-soba Matsuba (にしんそば 松葉) on the 2nd floor of JR Shinkansen Kyoto Station is a last-minute restaurant before leaving Kyoto. "Nishin-soba" is a Kyoto-style buckwheat noodles with sweet and salty herring. Their head restaurant is Shijo-O-hashi Higashizume Minami-za Nishi-donari, Higashiyama Ward (東役四条大橋東詰南座西隣). | ||
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Nishin-soba Matsuba, JR Shinkansen Kyoto Station | |
;)
|
(Saturday 10 March) Nishin-soba and Nishin-soba-shigure-meshi (rice bowl with herring boiled down in soy on top), Matsuba | |
| Traditional Japanese Restaurant Kurama (四季の味めぐり くらま) in Asty Road Restaurant Mall near Hachijo Exit of JR Kyoto Station (JR京都駅構内アスティロードレストラン街１階) | ||
;)
|
(Thursday 20 March) Traditional Japanese Restaurant Kurama in Asty Road Restaurant Mall near Hachijo Exit of JR Kyoto Station | |
;)
|
(Thursday 20 March) Traditional Japanese Restaurant Kurama in Asty Road Restaurant Mall near Hachijo Exit of JR Kyoto Station | |
| Grill Alone (グリル・アローン), "heavy meal" restaurant and coffee, Morris Bldg. 1F, Teramachi-Oike-agaru (中京区寺町通御池上ルモーリスビル１階) near Kyoto City Hall | ||
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Grill Alone, "heavy meal" restaurant and coffee, Morris Bldg. 1F, Teramachi-Oike-agaru near Kyoto City Hall | |
;)
|
(Saturday 15 March) Famous "Omu-raisu" (omelet containing fried rice as a filling, seasoned with ketchup), Grill Alone | |
| Tadg's (formerly called McLoughlin's Irish Bar & Restaurant), run by Chef Tadg and Mika McLoughlin, is located on the 8th Floor of the Empire Building , 521 Kami-Osaka-cho, Kiyamachi Sanjo-agaru, Nakagyo Ward (京都市中京区木屋町三条上ル上大阪町521 エンパイヤビル8階). A few minutes walk from Shiyakushomae Station on Underground Tozai Line or near the famous Hakata |
||
;)
|
(Monday 5 March) Tadg's (McLoughlin's) Irish Bar & Restaurant | |
;)
|
(Tuesday 6 March) Tadg's (McLoughlin's) Irish Bar & Restaurant | |
| Sembon Enma-do (千本ゑんま堂) or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple (光明山 歓喜院 引接寺) is located at 34 Enma-mae-cho, Sembon-dori Rozanji-agaru , Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City (京都市上京区千本通蘆山寺上ル 閻魔前町34番地). It belongs to the Koya-san Shingon-shu sect (高野山真言宗). As the name shows, it enshrines the wooden image of Enma-ho-o (閻魔法王), the King of Hell (restored by Josei (定勢), famous sculptor of Buddhist images in 1488). The temple was founded by Takamura Ono (小野 篁, 802-853), Jyokaku (定覚) in 1017 or the 1st year of Kan-nin (寛仁). | ||
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Signpost of Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Entrance to Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The main hall of Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The main hall of Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The main hall of Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple: the wooden image of Enma, the King of Hell | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The wooden image of Enma, Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The wooden image of Enma, Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The wooden image of Shimei-son (司命尊), public prosecutor of Hell, Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The wooden image of Shiroku-son (司録尊), clerk of the law-court of Hell, Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The ceiling paintings of Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Small carvings of the Two (布袋尊 & 大黒天) of the Seven Divinities of Good Luck (七福神), Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) "Warabe-chan" (わらべちゃん), the statue of Avalokitesvara (Kuan-Yin; 観音), Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Stone pagoda for Lady Murasaki (紫式部), Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Statuette of Lady Murasaki, Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) "Kuyo-ike" (供養池; the pond for the repose of souls), Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) "Kuyo-ike" (供養池; the pond for the repose of souls), Sembon Enma-do or Komyo-zan Kangi-in Injo-ji Temple | |
| Sembon Shaka-do (千本釈迦堂) or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple (瑞応山 千本釈迦堂) is located at Mizomae-cho, Imadegawa-dori Shichihonmatsu-agaru, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto City (京都市上京区今出川通七本松上ル溝前町). It belongs to the Shingon-shu Chisan-ha sect (真言宗智山派). The main image of the temple is Shaka-nyorai (釈迦如来). The temple was founded by the Chinese monk Giku (義空) in 835 or the 2nd year of Jowa (承和). Giku was recommended to come to Japan by his master (中国杭州海昌院斉安国師).
The temple is famous for the story of Okame (おかめ), the suicide wife of the master builder Takatsugu (高次) who built the main hall. This temple is also famous for the December event of "Daiko-daki" (大根焚き), cooking special radish soup. Local people believe that eating the radish soup prevents you from having a stroke of paralysis. |
||
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Signpost of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) "So-mon" (総門) Gate of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The main hall of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Hall of Fudo-myo-o-do (不動明王堂; the hall dedicated to Acala; the God of Fire), Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Statue of Hotei-son (布袋尊; a god with a potbelly; one of the Seven Deities of Fortune), Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The main hall of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) The main hall of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Interior of the main hall of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Golden statue of Kannon (Avalokitesvara (Kuan-Yin; 観音), Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Bust of Okame (おかめ), Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Their collection of "Okame" dolls, Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple. "Okame" or "Otafuku" (お多福) means a plain-looking woman or a homely woman who brings multiple fortunes or happiness. | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Stone stupa (仏舎利) of Sembon Shaka-do or Zio-zan Daiho-on-ji Temple | |
| Kokora-ya Sanjo (ここら屋三条店) is located at 1st & 2nd Floor 96-2 Nakajima-cho, Sanjo-Higashi-hairu, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City ( 京都市中京区河原町三条東入ル中島町96-2 三条木屋町ビル1・2階) near the Takase River (高瀬川). their concept is "Kyoto home meals" (京都のおうちごはん). | ||
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Kokora-ya Sanjo, 1st & 2nd Floor 96-2 Nakajima-cho, Sanjo-Higashi-hairu, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Kokora-ya Sanjo, 1st & 2nd Floor 96-2 Nakajima-cho, Sanjo-Higashi-hairu, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 12 March) Signpost of the site of the old home (寓居跡) of Zuizan Takechi (武市 瑞山, 1829-1865) off Kokora-ya Sanjo by the Takase River (高瀬川). Widely known as his nickname Hampeita Takechi (武市半平太), Takechi was the leader of the innovative political party Tosa-Kin-no-to (土佐勤王党) which once overwhelmed the Tosa clan (土佐藩). He was distantly related to Ryoma Sakamoto (坂本龍馬, 1836-1867), the most popular hero of the Meiji Restoration (明治維新). | |
| Shijo-Kyo-Machiya (四条京町家) is located at 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City (京都市下京区四条通西洞院東入郭巨山町11). It was built by a merchant on June 4, 43th year of Meiji (明治43年) or 1910 CE. Free admission. | ||
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Shijo-Kyo-Machiya, 11 Kakukyoyama-cho, Saito-in Higashi-hairu, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
| Kyoto Kanda-myojin (京都神田明神) is located at 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City (京都市下京区綾小路通西洞院東入新釜座町728). It enshrines Masakado Taira (平 将門. ?-940). This is the place where Masakado's head was exposed to view in public. Masakado, 5th descendant of Emperor Kanmu (桓武天皇), was a samurai in the Heian Period of Japan, who led one of the largest insurgent forces in the period against the central government of Kyoto.
See also the Joso City page. |
||
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Kanda-myojin, 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Kanda-myojin, 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Kanda-myojin, 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Portrait of Masakado Taira, Kanda-myojin, 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Kanda-myojin, 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City | |
;)
|
(Friday 11 March) Kanda-myojin, 728 Shinkamanza-cho, Ayanokoji-dori Seitoin-Higashi-hairu, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City: This is the place where Masakado's head was exposed in public. |
