Japan Journey

JAPAN

Koyasan

Kyodo

Ekoin Temple Okunoin Temple kongobuji Temple Danjo Garan

Fushimi Inari Taisha Kiyomizu-dera Temple Ginkaku-ji Temple Kinkakuji Temple Nanzen-ji Temple Arashiyama and Sagano Kyoto Gyoen National Park

Stories LiChiaChun

CONTENTS Koyasan Ekoin Temple

- - - - - 01

Okunoin Temple

- - - - - 08

kongobuji Temple

- - - - - 13

Danjo Garan

- - - - - 16

Kyodo Fushimi Inari Taisha

- - - - - 18

Kiyomizu-dera Temple-Nio-mon

- - - - - 22

Ginkaku-ji Temple

- - - - - 26

Kinkakuji Temple

- - - - - 32

Nanzen-ji Temple

- - - - - 36

Arashiyama and Sagano

- - - - - 43

Kyoto Gyoen National Park

- - - - - 48

Yamada-Matsu Monko Course

- - - - - 50

Ekoin Temple Dosho, KoboDaishi's own disciple, built Ekoin almost 1200 years ago. "Eko" originally means "Transference of Merit.�

Ekoin is the perfect place to escape the hectic city, reflect and enjoy a slower, more refined pace of life. Everything is done with meticulous care, and after even a short stay you find yourself taking pleasure in the simplicity of temple living.

The First Journey story We arrived on Ekoin Temple at 19:30. The monk asked us have dinner, we answered Not yet. Then he told that our kitchen closed up at 7 p.m. and what time it is. We replied it's 7:30 p.m. He seriously asked why. I rush said Uh..so sorry because transferred... at the same time in my mind answered we come from Taiwan and the trains was interrupted so we sent more time here.

Later, he told us the public place closed at 10p.m and took us to our stayed room. What a kind and what a terrible of feeling.

Kobo-Daishi Poetry The mind is colorless and intangible, and its original form is pure and clear like the full moon

Why, you ask, do I compare human nature and the moon?

It is because the round and clear shape of the full moon is not unlike a mind aspiring towards enlightenment.

Okunoin Temple Okunoin is the site of the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism and one of the most revered persons in the religious history of Japan. Instead of having died, Kobo Daishi is believed to rest in eternal meditation as he awaits Miroku Nyorai (Maihreya), the Buddha of the Future, and provides relief to those who ask for salvation in the meantime.

The Second Journey Story We w a l k e d i n t h e b r e e z e snowflake and a woman who come from England glad told me how amazed beautiful snow here. I told her it's my first time to see snow-dusted and she said how adorable girl...

Afterwards,How fantastic here, no one say anything and breath in peace.

kongobuji Temple Kongobuji was originally constructed in 1593 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to commemorate the death of his mother. Later it was merged with a neighboring temple and reorganized into the head temple of Shingon Buddhism Behind the building is the Banryutei Rock Garden, the largest rock garden in Japan. Built in 1984, its large rocks from Shikoku, the birthplace of Kobo Daishi, represent a pair of dragons emerging from a sea of clouds.

Danjo Garan is one of the two

Buddha in the hall but all of

The Daito was a pet project

most sacred sites in Koyasan.

them perished in fire. We do

first started by Kobo Daishi

The temple was created as a

not know what kind of images

but completed by his

place for secret training in

t h o s e we r e , a s t h e ve r y

successor. It is said that the

Shingon esoteric Buddhism.

existence of the temple was

interior of the pagoda is

Inside the temple, there are a

kept secret. There is also a

representing the world of

Main Hall, several small

blood mandala (Chimandara)

Mandala: at the center there

temples and pagodas.

which is believed to hold the

is a statue of TaizĂ´-kai

Kondo (Main Hall)

blood of Shogun Taira no

Dainichi Nyorai, and four

This is the place where most

Kiyomori.

statues of Buddha are

ceremonies are held. It

Konpon Daito (Large Pagoda)

surrounding it. It is also

perished in fire seven times

Konpon Daito is a 50-meter

beautifully decorated with

and was restored in its

tall pagoda. It was constructed

Bosatsu’s face on the 16

present shape in 1932.There

between 816-887 and restored

pillars.

used to be seven images of

in its original shape in 1937.

Danjo Garan

GaranFushimi Inari Taisha

The origin of Fushimi Inari Taisha is described in Yamashirokoku Fudoki, an ancient report on provincial culture, geography and oral tradition that was presented to the emperor.

Irogu no Hatanokimi, an ancestor of Hatanonakatsue no Imiki, is said to have shot a rice cake, which turned into a swan and flew away. Eventually the swan landed on a peak of a mountain, where an auspicious omen occurred and rice grew. Inari is named for this miracle (“ina” is Japanese for “rice”). It has also been described in other ancient texts, which state that priests such as Hatauji have held spring and autumn festivals at the shrine ever since the deity Inari Okami was enshrined on a plateau in the Inari Mitsugamine area during the Wado era (708-715).

An ancient shrine text also says that Irogu no Hatanokimi, a respected figure in what is now the Fukakusa area of Kyoto, received an imperial order from Empress Genmei to enshrine three deities in three mountains on the first Day of the Horse of the second month of 711.

That year, the farmers were blessed with great harvests of grains and much silk from their silkworms.

This shows that Fushimi Inari Taisha and the Fukakusa area are closely connected to Hatauji, and that our deity has been enshrined since the first Day of the Horse in the second month of 711. But there is reason to believe that our faith dates back even further than this.

We hope.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Nio-mon This is main entrance of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It was burnt down during a civil war (1467-1477) and reconstructed in the early 16th century. In 2003, the gate was taken apart and refurbished. This magnificent two-story gate measures approximately 10 meters wide, 5 meters long, and 14 meters high, and displays unique features of the era when it was rebuilt

Whether we are single or fall in love, we are still embraced by love. We face to face each other, to love and to be love. Enjoy one's life and record our memory in the light.

Ginkaku-ji Temple

Ginkaku-ji Temple (The Silver Pavilion) is an elegant temple set in beautiful grounds at the foot of Kyoto's eastern mountains. Its grounds are an outstanding example of Japanese landscape architecture. Whether one is sitting on the landing beside the unique sand garden with its 2-metre silver cone, or walking the trail and catching glimpses of the Pavilion from different vantage points, one is constantly aware of the lovely details which move the heart. Originally designed as a retirement villa f o r t h e S h o g u n A s h i k a g a Yo s h i m a s a (1436-1490) in the Muromachi Period (1338 1573), Ginkaku-ji Temple was modeled on its sister temple Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion). Yet Ginkaku-ji Temple was never plated with silver, and the main temple building remains an unpainted brown--and in its way, exemplifies the Japanese idea that something plain can be beautiful.

Looking back over the grounds from the Togu-do, one cannot help but admire the refined aesthetic which this retired shogun pursued in his final years.

With its moss covered gardens, bamboo groves, and interesting dry-sand garden, Ginkaku-ji lives up to the phrase “simple is beautiful”.

Originally Ginkaku-ji was a retirement villa from which Yoshimasa propagated the surge of cultural pursuits that would later be referred to as “Higashiyama Culture”, but it was converted into a temple after Yoshimasa’s death in accordance with his wishes.

“Faith is what gets you started. Hope is what keeps you going. Love is what brings you to the end.”

– Mother Mary Angelica

Kinkakuji Temple World Cultural Heritage,Kinkaku-ji is one of Kyoto’s leading temples which formal name is Rokuon-ji.

The interior of the Golden Pavilion E a c h fl o o r h a s a d i f f e r e n t architectural style Kinkakuji was built to echo the extravagant Kitayama culture that developed in the wealthy aristocratic circles of Kyoto during Yoshimitsu's times. Each floor represents a different style of architecture.

The first floor is built in the Shinden style used for palace buildings during the Heian Period, and with its natural wood pillars and white plaster walls contrasts yet complements the gilded upper stories of the pavilion. Statues of the Shaka Buddha (historical Buddha) and Yoshimitsu are stored in the first floor. Although it is not possible to enter the pavilion, the statues can be viewed from across the pond if you look closely, as the front windows of the first floor are usually kept open.

The second floor is built in the Bukke style used in samurai residences, and has its exterior completely covered in gold leaf. Inside is a seated Kannon Bodhisattva surrounded by statues of the Four Heavenly Kings; however, the statues are not shown to the public. Finally, the third and uppermost floor is built in the style of

What is Truth.

Truth is still truth, even if no one believes it.

A lie is still a lie, even if everyone believes it.

a Chinese Zen Hall, is gilded inside and out, and is capped with a golden phoenix.

Nanzen-ji Temple

Standing in the foothills of the eastern hills, Nanzen-ji Temple is one of Kyoto's most important temples.

Its massive front gate drives this point home yet the structures and gardens on the grounds contain much that is sublime and beautiful.

It is the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, and although it was originally built as an Imperial villa in 1264, it is famous for its gardens. The dry landscape rock garden of the main hall and the moss and rock garden of the sub-temple Nanzen-in are gorgeously accented by the changing leaves of autumn. The temple also contains precious artifacts, most notably the sliding screens of the main hall which bear lavish paintings by artists of the 17th century Kano School.

There are twelve sub-temples on the grounds, shade trees, and part of the Lake Biwa aqueduct which dates from 1890. The grounds stretch right to the base of the neighboring mountain and from there a trail leads a short way to ancient shrines secluded in stands of tall cedar trees. The American poet Gary Snyder underwent Zen training at Nanzen-ji Temple, and one of his poems graces a plaque in a sub-temple garden. A visit to Nanzen-ji Temple is one of the best ways to let your own spirit be touched by the sublime aesthetic of Japanese Zen, and to witness how this aesthetic can accommodate seemingly diverse elements, blending them into a unified whole.

Arashiyama and Sagano

The best and most beautiful things in the world can not be seen or even touched, they must be felt with heart.

Sagano Romantic Train

Kyoto Gyoen National Park

Yamada-Matsu Monko Course History Sasaki Doyo, a feudal lord in the Nanboku-cho period known for his flamboyant behavior, owned many Incense woods and put names to them. Meanwhile, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th shogun of the Muromachi period, is said to have spent his days at his villa in the eastern hills of Kyoto appreciating the Incense woods that he collected by himself or inherited from Doyo.

Yoshimasa saw the necessity to organize his enormous collection of Incense wood, and appointed the experts of incense at that time, Sanjonishi Sanetaka (founder of Oie School) and Shino Soshin (founder of Shino School), to establish the system of classifying incense called "Rikkoku Gomi (six countries, five tastes)". Tools and manners for listening to incense developed as well, and gradually formed Kodo. (*Rikkoku refers to the characteristics of fragrance and consists of Kyara, Rakoku, Manaban, Manaka, Sumondara, and Sasora. Gomi is five tastes describing the fragrance, sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter.)

Procedure

Tools

The Interesting course We made a little mountain to smell Incense woods. First round, teacher picked Kyara up, I felt the smell is a little be salty. Second, we can choose which we like by ourselves, so I took Manaban. Its smell sweet which I prefer. Third, I try my mom's Sumondara which

is smelling spicy. Fourth, teacher's Sasora is a little be sour and bitter. Lastly, Techer asked us which one we favorite. Manaban, I said. The teacher is the same as.

By the way, my mom love this course though she said no interesting before, so I think you can take your family to visit.

Go To Koyasan I think you must be interested why I visited Koyasan. Just a simple idea, Someday,I was listening a disc which name is Koyasan by Deuter. Then, I felt I was sleeping but I know I'm not. In the moment, I went to none place. I was very curious so I wanted find some answers which will be in the Koyasan.

When I left, there is no answer, just I slept well with Koyasan in the Koyasan.

However,I think the answers is in this book and I grow up again.

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