Japanese Sights and Temples

[Señor Sunday Friday]

[glow=turquoise,5,300]Japanese Sights and Temples[/glow]

Contents:

1- Fushimi Inari Taisha
2- Ryôan-ji Temple
3- Daitokuji Temple
4- Kiyomizu-dera
5- Heian Jingu

[Señor Sunday Friday]

[glow=red,2,300]Fushimi Inari Taisha[/glow]

Fushimi Inari Taisha is a shinto jinja (shrine) dedicated to the spirit Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

It is especially well known for the thousands of vermilion torii lining the paths on the hill on which the shrine is located and was feature in the film Memoirs of a Geisha. The torii gates are all donations from individuals, families or companies. The Inari spirit is considered to be the protector of grains, especially rice, and has thus historically been associated with wealth. Companies often make offerings to Inari shrines in the form of barrels of rice wine (sake) or torii gates.

At the bottom of the hill is the Go-Honden Shrine and the Sakura-mon gate. After following the torii lined hiking paths, you can stop at various food stalls that specialize in Kitsune udon, a popular noodle dish named after Kitsune which are regarded as the gods of harvest. Statues of kitsune are often found depicted in Inari shrines with a key (for the rice granary) in their mouths. At the top of the hill is the main shrine. Unlike most Shinto shrines, Fushimi Inari Taisha, like most other Inari shrines has an open view of the main idol object (a mirror).

In addition to the more famous torii lined walking paths going from the "front" of the shrine area, walking paths from the rear do exist. They go through a bamboo forest that offers a far different experience then the main route. The paths start/emerge near the sports fields belonging to Ritsumeikan High School.

The easiest way to get to Fushimi Inari shrine is to take the train. Japan Railway Inari Station (about 5 min. from Kyoto Station on the Nara line, cost 150 yen) is directly across the street from the Sakura-mon gate. The next closest station is Keihan Fushimi-Inari station.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

[glow=red,2,300]Ryōan-ji Temple[/glow]

Ryōan-ji Temple, Famous for its Zen garden, which is considered to be one of the most notable examples of the "dry-landscape" style. Some say it is the quintessence of Zen art, and perhaps the single greatest masterpiece of Japanese culture. Surrounded by low walls, an austere arrangement of fifteen rocks sits on a bed of white gravel. That's it: no trees, no hills, no ponds, and no trickling water. Nothing you could describe as romantic, distracting or pretty.

So what is it all about? Well, it certainly focuses the mind. Unlike Stonehenge, the Pyramids, Angkor Wat, Salisbury Cathedral, or the temples of Luxor, Ryoan-ji can hardly inspire you with technical achievement, religious imperative or sheer scale. But its minimalism inspires something else – contemplation, introspection, and deliberation on the transience of our own humanity.

No one knows who laid out this simple garden, or precisely when, but it is today as it was yesterday, and tomorrow it will be as it is today. Behind the simple temple that overlooks the rock garden is a stone washbasin called Tsukubai said to have been contributed by Tokugawa Mitsukuni in the 17th century. It bears a simple but profound four-character inscription: "I learn only to be contented". The rest of the grounds are worth a look too - particularly the large pond. Open daily 8am-5pm (Mar-Nov), 8.30am-4.30pm (Dec-Feb). Admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Ryōanji-mae.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

[glow=red,2,300]Daitokuji Temple[/glow]

Daitokuji Temple. A small and understated temple complex, boasting several small, secluded subtemples. Daitokuji is the quietest of the temples in north-western Kyoto, and if you visit it at the start of the day, you could virtually have it to yourself. Eight of the twenty-four subtemples open to the public (most days 9am-5pm), and each charges an admission fee (around ¥400). The highlight of the subtemples is Daisen-in, located on the northern side of the temple complex, which has a beautiful Zen garden without the crowds of Ryoanji Temple. Koto-in is particularly noted for its maple trees, which are beautiful in autumn. Nearest bus stop: Daitokuji-mae.*

Daitokuji is the mountain where its complexes are laid out is called by the sacred name of Ryuhozan, lit. dragon treasure mountain. It was established in 1319 by Shohomyocho who is also called Daitokokushi.

Daitokuji was frequented by Emperor Go-Daigo and was counted as one of the five sacred mountains. But after the Ashikaga shogunate was established, it was removed from the list and the shogunate chose to ignore in favor of other temples that had not openly oppose them. It then decided to stay away from meddling in politics and to focus on Buddhist teachings through Zen practices. During Onin War, part of its temples were burned down and it was subsequently rebuilt by rich merchants of Sakai, Osaka. After Ashikaga shogunate fell, many daimyo donated and supported Daitokuji.

Many of Daitokuji's temples were constructed before and early Edo period. Karamon (唐門) of Daitokuji is believed to be a remain of a Hideyoshi Toyotomi's richly decorated palace called Jurakudai and is a national treasure of Korea. The first of three gates was constructed in 1526. The temple has such national treasures as Kan'non Enkakuzu and Daitokokushi Gazo to name a few.

There are also six temples constructed by various daimyo and patrons.

Obai'in - Constructed by Takakage Kobayakawa
Shinju'an - Believed to be constructed by Ikkyu. The garden by Tamamitsu Murata and wall paintings by Dasoku Soga and Hasegawa Tohaku
Daisei'in - The main temple is a national treasure. Also with a rock garden
Juko'in - The wall painting by Kano Eitoku
Ryoko'in - Constructed by Nagamasa Kuroda. The tea room Mittan (密庵) is widely known
Koho'an - Constructed by Kobori Enshu. The tea room Bosen is widely known
Ikkyu and Sen no Rikyu are two of many famous people who had been influenced by Daitokuji. A rumour has it that Sen no Rikyu completed two of Daitokuji's three gates in 1589 and this was his undoing. It is said that he chose to have statue of himself on top of the second gate. Hideyoshi Toyotomi who also frequented Daitokuji realized that he and everyone else who pass the gate to enter will be looked down by the statue. He ordered that the offending statue be removed and is reported to have ordered Sen no Rikyu commit seppuku. While it is true that Sen no Rikyu did commit seppuku, the reason for it is not known.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

[glow=red,2,300]
Kiyomizu-dera[/glow]

Kiyomizu-dera (or Kiyomizudera) refers to several Buddhist temples but most commonly to Otowasan Kiyomizudera in Eastern Kyoto, and one of the best known sights of the city. The temple dates back to 798, but the present buildings were constructed in 1633. The temple takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills - kiyoi mizu literally means pure water.

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera is notable for its vast veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars, which juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the Kyoto city. The expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge". This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive jumping from the stage, one's wish would be granted.

This appears plausible: the lush vegetation below the platform might cushion the fall of a lucky pilgrim, though the practice is now prohibited. 234 jumps were recorded in Edo period and of those, 85.4 percent survived. The fall is indeed only 13 metres, which remains impressive for a wooden construction.

Beneath the main hall is the waterfall Otowa-no-taki, where three channels of water drop into a pond. Visitors to the temple collect the water, which is believed to have therapeutic properties, from the waterfall in metal cups. It is said that drinking the water of the three streams confers health, longevity, and success in studies.

The temple complex contains several other shrines, notably Jishu-jinja, decidated to Okuninushino-Mikoto, a god of love and "good matches". Jishu-jinja possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 18 metres apart, which lonely visitors attempt to walk between with their eyes closed. Success in reaching the other stone, eyes closed, is taken as a presage that the pilgrim will find love. One can be assisted in the crossing, but this is taken to mean that an intermediary will be needed. The persons romantic interest can assist them as well.

The complex also includes all the fixtures of a popular temple, being one of the most-visited attractions of the city: hawkers offering various talismans, incense, and o-mikuji (paper fortunes ranging from "great fortune" to "great ill") abound. Indeed the high popularity of the place means that tourists will find it difficult to take pictures on the main temple's platform.

[Señor Sunday Friday]

[glow=red,2,300]Heian Jingu[/glow]

Heian Jingu is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, Japan. Heian Jingu is famous for having the largest torii in Japan. The main building, or shaden , is designed to imitate the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

The Heian Jingû was built in 1895 for the 1100th anniversary of the establishment of Heiankyô (the old name of Kyoto). The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kammu and Emperor Kômei. The former moved the capital to Heian, and the latter was the last before Emperor Meiji, who moved the capital to Tokyo.

The Heian Jingû is the destination of the Jidai Matsuri, one of the three most important festivals of Kyoto. The procession of this festival begins at the old Imperial palace, and includes carrying the mikoshi (portable shrines) of Emperors Kammu and Komei to the Heian Jingû.

[hannah montana]

Suzume...you'd be better off in Japan...T_T It's ridiculous the amount of crap you know!!

[Kim-la]

She luvs Japinees stuffy...

[hannah montana]

I do too...but yeah...I don't know it all. XD

[Señor Sunday Friday]

(*looks around* Hear that!! I know everything about Japan!!!)