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| Fushimi Inari
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Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (伏見稲荷大社), 68 Fukakusayabunouchi-cho, Fushimi Ward, was founded by Irokogu Hata in the 4th year of Wado (711) in the Yamashiro Bashin at the foot of [Fushimi] Inari-san (Hill of [Fushimi] Inari, 233 m). This shrine is the largest Inari shrine and the head shrine of no less than 30,00 Inari shrines over Japan. The asylum consists of several shrines including "Sakura-mon" (Gate of Cherry Blossoms), "Hon-den" (Main Shrine) and "Oku-no-in" (formerly "Okush-Hohai-sho"; Penetralia), followed by the 4km sacred tunnel made of ten thousands of red torii (Japanese shrine gates) making their maze-like way through the woods to the core of the mysterious Hill of Inari.
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine enshrines Inari-Daimyojin (稲荷大明神), the mysterious Shinto Goddess of Rice, Sake and Fertility who is associated with "kitsune" (foxes) and red torii. Japanese people are very familiar to the old superstition that foxes and raccoon dogs have a magic power to enchant people especially in a lonely place. The fox statue is often seen carrying a key in his mouth, which is for the rice granary. Statues of menacing "kitsune" (foxes), said to have the magic power to take possession of human spirits, alternate with torii gates. Foxes are said to love "Inari-zushi" (sour and sweet rice balls rolled in fried tofu [bean curd]), which is available in any sushi restaurant and many traditional takeaway shop, etc. They have a variety of events and festivals throughout the year.
Fushimi Inari Shrine once experienced a total destruction in March 1468 during the series of Wars of Onin/Bunmei in the Muromachi Period (1392-1573). In December 1468 the shrine managed to build a provisionary shrine according to the shrine record. They gradually reconstructed shrine buildings between 1477-1499. As Hideyoshi Toyotomi constructed a legendary gigantic castle Fushimi-jo nearby and worshipped the shrine profoundly to pray for his mother's recovery in 1588: Her mother was said to be restored to health thanks to the continuous prayers at the shrine.  Hideyoshi officially acknowledged the shrine's old manor which was also assured by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo Period (1603-1867).
The founder Hata family (秦氏族) is considered to have come from "Shiragi" (新羅; the southeast Korean dynasty Shilla/Silla, 356-935). In the early sixth century, they mainly domiciled in Uzumasa, Yamashiro (now Ukyo Ward, Kyoto). Irokogu Hata was a younger brother of Tori Hata who founded Matsuo-taisha Shrine (松尾大社) at the foot of Matsuo-san (Hill of Matsuo, now Arashiyama, Nishigyo Ward, Kyoto) in 701. (*Matsuo-taisha Shrine is reportedly the oldest shrine of Kyoto.) Thus Irogoku Hata's family in Fukakusa is considered to be a cadet family of the Hata clan.
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kys2006-002 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Map & Information board of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-004 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ichi-no-Torii" (the First Red Shrine Gate) in the Omote-Sando [main approach to the shrine] of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-005 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Many small Inari shrines along the Omote-Sando [main approach to the shrine] of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-006 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ni-no-Torii" (the Second Red Shrine Gate) in the Omote-Sando [main approach to the shrine] of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-007 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Ro-mon" (the Two-Storied Gate/ Tower Gate, built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi n 1589), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-008 |
(Tuesday 21 February) One of "Koma-Kitsune" (a pair of stone-carved guardian foxes at the gate of the Shinto shrine), Fushimi-Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-009 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The other of "Koma-Kitsune" (a pair of stone-carved guardian foxes at the gate of the Shinto shrine), Fushimi-Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-010 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Mai-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall), Fushimi-Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-012 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Hon-den" (Main Shrine, built in the "Inari Style" in 1499), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-013 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Interior of "Hon-den" (Main Shrine, built in the "Inari Style" in 1499), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-014 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Hon-den" (Main Shrine, built in the "Inari Style" in 1499), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-015 |
(Tuesday 21 February) A "Torii" (the Red Shrine Gate) indicating the way to the deeper part of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-016 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Another "Daimyo-jin" Hall, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-017 |
(Tuesday 21 February) A "Torii" (the Red Shrine Gate) indicating the way to the deeper part of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-018 |
(Tuesday 21 February) A shrine housing the image of the sacred horse, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-019 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Another hall on the way to the "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-020 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The entrance to the "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Torii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." |
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kys2006-021 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Torii" literarrly means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. |
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kys2006-022 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Torii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. |
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kys2006-023 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Trii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. |
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kys2006-024 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Trii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. |
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kys2006-025 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Trii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. |
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kys2006-026 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Trii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Trii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. |
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kys2006-027 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Oku-no-in" (formerly "Okush-Hohai-sho,"; Penetralia located behind the first part of the "Senbon Trii"), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-028 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Interior of "Oku-no-in" (formerly "Okush-Hohai-sho"; Penetralia located behind the first part of the "Senbon Trii"), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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kys2006-030 |
(Tuesday 21 February) A pair of "Omokaru-ishi" (a pair of the touchstones of fortune-telling) lanterns on the right side of Oku-no-in," Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. If you have some wish, come here and pray to the Inari God for the realization of your wishes, carrying either of the head stones (Omokaru-ishi): It is said that your wish will be fulfilled if you feel the stone lighter than you expect, and that your wish will be unfulfilled if you feel the stone heavier than you expect. |
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kys2006-031 |
(Tuesday 21 February) One of "Omokaru-ishi" (the touchstones of fortune-telling) on the lantern on the right side of Oku-no-in," Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine. If you have some wish, come here and pray to the Inari God for the realization of your wishes, carrying either of the head stones (Omokaru-ishi): It is said that your wish will be fulfilled if you feel the stone lighter than you expect, and that your wish will be unfulfilled if you feel the stone heavier than you expect. |
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kys2006-032 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The continuing "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Trii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. The round walk to the core of the Hill of Inari usually takes two hours or longer (about 4 kilometers). |
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kys2006-033 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The continuing "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Torii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. The round walk to the core of the Hill of Inari usually takes two hours or longer (about 4 kilometers). |
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kys2006-034 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The continuing "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Torii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. The round walk to the core of the Hill of Inari usually takes two hours or longer (about 4 kilometers). |
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kys2006-035 |
(Tuesday 21 February) A shrine of the continuing "Senbon-Torii" Gate, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: "Senbon Trii" literally means the "Gate Consisted of Thousands of Red Shrine Gates." Each "Torii" was donated by an individual or a corporation, etc. The round walk to the core of the Hill of Inari usually takes two hours or longer (about 4 kilometers). |
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kys2006-036 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The Red Gate to "Goko-do" (lit. The Road of Good Luck; the shrine approach or the shrine town), Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine |
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| Tofuku-ji
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Enichi-san Tofuku-ji Temple (慧日山 東福寺), 15 Hon-machi, Higashiyama Ward, is the head temple of the Tofuku-ji School of the Rinzai-shu sect (臨済宗) of Zen Buddhism. It was founded by Michiie Kujo the great statesman in 1236. Even its name, "Tofuku-ji," is a combination of one character from the names of Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara.
Most of the original buildings were burned down by the three fires in 1319, 1334 and 1336, and took about twenty years to the complete reconstruction. Since this temple was ranked among the Five Great Temples of Kyoto in 1334, it flourished long as the complete Zen temple. However, in the 14th year of Meiji Era (1881), the "Butsu-den" (Buddha Hall) and the "Hatto" (Lecture Hall), etc. were destroyed by fire. They were all reconstructed by 1934. However, the temple retains the magnificent scale characteristic of a medieval Zen temple. |
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kys2006-037 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The "Nikka-mon" Gate of Tofuku-ji Temple: Most visitors usually go through this gate to the precincts. |
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kys2006-038 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Map of Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-041 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Tsuten-bashi" (the Bridge to Heaven), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-044 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Tsuten-bashi" (the Bridge to Heaven), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-045 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Tsuten-bashi" (the Bridge to Heaven), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-046 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The garden viewed from "Tsuten-bashi" (the Bridge to Heaven), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-047 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The Aizen-do Hall, built in the early Muromachi Period (1392-1573), Tofuku-ji Temple. Originally called "Manjyu-ji Aizen-do" and moved from Manjyu-ji Temple, Kyoto in the early Showa Era (1926-1989). It enshrines "Aizen-myo-o" (Skt. Ragaraja or the All-Accepting Diety). |
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kys2006-048 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Kaisan-do" (the Founder's Hall; also called "Joraku-an"; the Hall of Ever Comfort), Tofuku-ji Temple. The original building was burnt down in 1819 and reconstructed by Tadayoshi Ichijo n 1823. |
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kys2006-049 |
(Tuesday 21 February) Interior of the "Kaisan-do" (the Founder's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-050 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The Zen garden of the "Kaisan-do" (the Founder's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-052 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The Zen garden of the "Kaisan-do" (the Founder's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-055 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Hojo" (the Abbot's Hall, originally built in 1235; reconstructed in 1890), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-056 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Hojo" (the Abbot's Hall, originally built in 1235; reconstructed in 1890), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-057 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The tablet "Hojo," "Hojo" (the Abbot's Hall, originally built in 1235; reconstructed in 1890), Tofuku-ji Temple |
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kys2006-058 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The west garden of "Hojo Teien" (the Four Gardens of the Abbot's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple. The gardens arranged at the four quarters around the building of Hojo were laid out in 1939 by Mirei Shigemori, afamous garden-builder, who intended to express the simplicity of Zen in the Kamakura Period (1192-1333) with the abstract construction of modern arts.
The following description is quoted from the official pamphlet:
The southern garden: This garden in the front of Hojo is the most contrived work among the four gardens and is composed of four rock-composites symbolizing the Elysian Islands from the east to the west, named, "Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo," placed on the sand garden floor "Hakkai" (meaning the eight rough seas) and five moss-covered sacred mountains at the right corner in the west side.
The western garden: Compared with rigidity of the southern garden's Zen style (dry stone garden), this garden has a gentle style composed of moss and azalea-shrubs trimmed in a chequered pattern in imitation of "Seiden," a Chinese way dividing the land.
The northern garden: Squared-cutted stones and moss are distributed in a small-sized chequered pattern. This garden faced on the "Tsuten-bashi" Bridge and gorge noted as an autumn-tinted valley "Sengyokukan."
The eastern garden: Seven cylindrical stones are arranged in the moss field so as to the represent main stars of the Great Bear of Heaven.
These stones were originally foundation-stones used at the other place of the temple. |
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kys2006-059 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The southern garden of "Hojo Teien" (the Four Gardens of the Abbot's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple:
'This garden in the front of Hojo is the most contrived work among the four gardens and is composed of four rock-composites symbolizing the Elysian Islands from the east to the west, named, "Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo," placed on the sand garden floor "Hakkai" (meaning the eight rough seas) and five moss-covered sacred mountains at the right corner in the west side' (quoted from the official pamphlet). |
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kys2006-061 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The western garden and the southern garden of "Hojo Teien" (the Four Gardens of the Abbot's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple.
'The southern garden: This garden in the front of Hojo is the most contrived work among the four gardens and is composed of four rock-composites symbolizing the Elysian Islands from the east to the west, named, "Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo," placed on the sand garden floor "Hakkai" (meaning the eight rough seas) and five moss-covered sacred mountains at the right corner in the west side' (quoted from the official pamphlet).
'The western garden: Compared with rigidity of the southern garden's Zen style (dry stone garden), this garden has a gentle style composed of moss and azalea-shrubs trimmed in a chequered pattern in imitation of "Seiden," a Chinese way dividing the land' (quoted from the official pamphlet). |
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kys2006-062 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The southern garden of "Hojo Teien" (the Four Gardens of the Abbot's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple.
'This garden in the front of Hojo is the most contrived work among the four gardens and is composed of four rock-composites symbolizing the Elysian Islands from the east to the west, named, "Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo," placed on the sand garden floor "Hakkai" (meaning the eight rough seas) and five moss-covered sacred mountains at the right corner in the west side' (quoted from the official pamphlet). |
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kys2006-064 |
(Tuesday 21 February) The southern garden of "Hojo Teien" (the Four Gardens of the Abbot's Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple.
'This garden in the front of Hojo is the most contrived work among the four gardens and is composed of four rock-composites symbolizing the Elysian Islands from the east to the west, named, "Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo," placed on the sand garden floor "Hakkai" (meaning the eight rough seas) and five moss-covered sacred mountains at the right corner in the west side' (quoted from the official pamphlet). |
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kys2006-066 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "San[gedatsu]-mon" (Gate of Three Emancipations; Main Gate of a Zen Temple), Tofuku-ji Temple. "San-mon" symbolizes the three Zen gates, "Ku-mon," "Muso-mon" and "Musaku-mon." This gate was the oldest existing Japanese Zen gate built in 1394-1428 (or 1384-1387). |
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kys2006-069 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "San[gedatsu]-mon" (Gate of Three Emancipations; Main Gate of a Zen Temple), Tofuku-ji Temple. "San-mon" symbolizes the three Zen gates, "Ku-mon," "Muso-mon" and "Musaku-mon." This gate was the oldest existing Japanese Zen gate built in 1394-1428 (or 1384-1387). |
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kys2006-070 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "San[gedatsu]-mon" (Gate of Three Emancipations; Main Gate of a Zen Temple), Tofuku-ji Temple. "San-mon" symbolizes the three Zen gates, "Ku-mon," "Muso-mon" and "Musaku-mon." This gate was the oldest existing Japanese Zen gate built in 1394-1428 (or 1384-1387). |
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kys2006-072 |
(Tuesday 21 February) "Hon-do" (Main Hall), Tofuku-ji Temple. The present building was reconstructed in 1934. |
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kys2006-073 |
(Tuesday 21 February) A traditional house between Tofuku-ji Temple and JR Tofukuji Station |
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| Senyu-ji Temple
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To-zan [Sen-zan] Sennyu-ji Temple (東山 or 泉山 泉涌寺) or Sohon-zan Mitera Sennyu-ji Temple (総本山 御寺 泉涌寺, 27 Sennyuji-Yamanouchi-cho, Higashiyama Ward) is located at the foot of Mt. Tsukinowa (月輪山) in Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto. The origin of this temple, familiar to local citizens with the name "Mitera" (御寺), can be traced back to the Tencho era (天長年間; 824-834) when Great Priest Kobo (弘法大師) founded a small temple in this place. That small temple, which was first called by the name, Horin-ji (法輪寺), and in 1218, Senyu-ji (仙遊寺), was remarkably enlarged by Great Priest Gachirin Shunjo (月輪大師俊仍, 1166-1227). Large temple buildings were built in the contemporary Chinese style of the Song Dynasty (宋), and the temple was renamed after the clear water beginning to flow from its precinct as "Sennyu-ji" (泉涌寺) or a temple of the flowing fountain.
Priest Shunjo entered the priesthood as a young man. He went to Song (宋) to study Buddhism. After coming back, he turned Sennyu-ji Temple into a prosperous temple covering four schools of Buddhism; Shingon Esoteric Buddhism (真言宗), Tendai Buddhism (天台宗), Zen Buddhism (禅宗) and Pure Land Buddhism (浄土宗). The temple has been supported by the Imperial family, pious Buddhists. Since the burial of Emperor Shijo (四条天皇) in this temple in 1242, the mausoleum of several succeeding emperors were built in this area, with this temple playing the role of a mourning temple for the Imperial family. |
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kys2007-001 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Dai-mon" (Great Gate), Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-004 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Yokihi-Kannon-do" (楊貴妃 観音堂; Empress Yang-Avalokitesvara Hall), Sennyu-ji Temple. Empress Yang (or Yang Kuei-fei; Yang Guifei, AD 719-756) is known as a wife of the Emperor Xuan Zong of the Tang Dynasty and also as a exquisite beauty of the Chinese history. When she died, the Emperor missed her very much and had her sculpture made in an image of Avalokitesvara, which was brought to this temple by Priest Tankai (堪海律師) in 1255. The beauty and holiness of the statue have been attracting worshippers. |
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kys2007-005 |
(Saturday 24 February) A picture of Empress Yang on the wall of "Yokihi-Kannon-do" (Empress Yang-Avalokitesvara Hall), Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-006 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Gan-kake Jizo" (Ksitigarbha-odhisattva [Buddhist Guardian Deity of Children] for offering prayers) on the left of "Yokihi-Kannon-do," Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-009 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Butsu-den" (Buddha's Hall), Sennyu-ji Temple, viewed from the Great Gate. This building was reconstructed by the order of the 4th Tokugawa Shogun Ietsuna (徳川家綱) in 1668. This location of the main building (building a main hall at the bottom of the hill/mountain) is very rare in Japan, although another famous example is "Komponchu-do" (Main Hall) of Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple. |
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kys2007-010 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Butsu-den" (Buddha's Hall), Sennyu-ji Temple, viewed from the Great Gate |
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kys2007-011 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Butsu-den" (Buddha's Hall), Sennyu-ji Temple. The structure of the building is a typical "Kara-yo" (lit. traditional Chinese) style. The celing is decorated with a painting of a dragon by Tanyu Kano (狩野探幽, 1602-1674): Tanyu also painted the image of Avalokitesvara in a white garment on the wall of the Ura-do (裏堂). |
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kys2007-012 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Butsu-den" (Buddha's Hall), Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-013 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Shari-den" (Relics Hall), behind "Butsu-den," Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-015 |
(Saturday 24 February) Gate to Hon-bo (residential building), Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-016 |
(Saturday 24 February) Probably "Tearai-bachi" (washhand basin) in the inner garden of "Honbo," Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-017 |
(Saturday 24 February) Inner garden of "Honbo," Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-020 |
(Saturday 24 February) Inner garden of "Honbo," Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-022 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Chokushi-mon" (Gate for Imperial Emvoys),to "Goza-sho" (御座所; the Imperial Chamber), Sennyu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-023 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Sennyu-ji Mizuyakata" (泉涌寺 水屋形) or the fountain hall of the temple. This temple was named after this clear spring. |
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kys2007-025 |
(Saturday 24 February) Monument inscribed with a tanka poem collected in [Ogura] Hyakuninisshu (『(小倉) 百人一首』(the Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets) as No. 62 poem by Lady Sei-shonagon (清少納言, ?966-?1025) whose father Motosuke Kiyohara (清原元輔, 908-990) lived here:
夜をこめて (Yo wo Komete)
鳥のそら音は (Tori no Sora-ne ha)
はかるとも (Hakaru tomo)
よに逢坂の (Yoni Osaka no)
関はゆるさじ (Seki wa Yurusaji)
(Before the daybreak,
Even if you attempt to imitate
The crowning of a cock,
Never will I allow you to pass
the Barrier Station of Osaka.)
(trans. Eishiro Ito)
*The Barrier Station of Osaka (逢坂関) was located on the hill of Osaka-yama (逢坂山, 325 m), Otsu City, Shiga (demolished in 795).
It has been referred to in many tanka poems because Osaka literally means "the barrier of lovers' secret meeting."
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| Unryu-in
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Ruri-san Unryu-in (瑠璃山 雲龍院), the Sennyu-ji Branch Temple (泉涌寺別院) is located in 36 Sennyuji-Yamanouchi-cho (泉涌寺山内町), Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. It was founded in 1372 by Emperor Gokogon (後光厳天皇; or Iyahito; 弥仁; r.1352-1371; 1338-1374)) of Hoku-cho (Takauji Ashikaga [足利尊氏]'s Northern Dynasty in the Period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (南北朝時代; 1336-1392). Like Sennyu-ji Temple, it does not belong to any particular Buddhist sect: It is the fortieth temple of the Western Japan Pilgrimage for Yakushi-nyorai (薬師如来; Skt. Bhaisajyaguru-vaiduryaprabha; the Physician of Souls). It is also famous for copying for a sutra. |
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kys2007-026 |
(Saturday 24 February) San-mon Gate (山門; temple gate), Unryu-in Temple |
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kys2007-028 |
(Saturday 24 February) Approach to the entrance, Unryu-ji Temple |
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kys2007-029 |
(Saturday 24 February) "Shoro" (belfry), Unryu-in Temple |
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kys2007-031 |
(Saturday 24 February) A small shrine in the garden, viewed from the main hall called "Ryuka-den" Hall (竜華殿), Unryu-in Temple |
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kys2007-032 |
(Saturday 24 February) Inner garden viewed from "Shoin" (書院; a drawing room), Unryu-in Temple |
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kys2007-034 |
(Saturday 24 February) Inner garden viewed from "Shoin" (書院; a drawing room), Unryu-in Temple |
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kys2007-035 |
(Saturday 24 February) A picture of the dragon in the clouds in the entrance hall, Unryu-in Temple: The dragon is the symbol of this temple as the name indicates. |