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6th Day (Friday, June 30)
Free Plan |
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The day before the last day.
It probably rained a lot at night. It was still raining when I left the
bed at 6:00.
Both of us do not feel hungry. So, it is good enough for breakfast with
an apple in half, bread in quarter, and the left yogurt in half.
There are many temples and shrines wanting not to leave unseen. Especially
Ginkakuji Temple and Heian Shrine.
Today we do visit these two spots making use of the free day.
We left the hotel after 9:00 under an umbrella to visit the further spot
Ginkakuji first, and could get on the local bus just near.
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| Ginkakuji Temple |
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The following picture is the evidence that we walked along the Road of
Philosophy last March and stopped at the entrance of this temple near the
end of the road.
That time we did not have time to see the temple. Therefore we passed through
the entrance and only looked at the near sight covered by trees.
We surely have enough time here today.
Ginkakuji is officially named Mount-Tozan Jishoji Temple.
The following is the introduction by Wikipedia.
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Ginkakuji Temple, a Zen temple, was established in 1482 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa,
the eighth Muromachi Shogunate. Yoshimasa, following Kinkakuji Temple built
by his grandfather Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, built Higashiyama-den Villa to
spend his retired life. Ginkakuji is the common name, and formally it was
called Higashiyama Jishoji, taking after Yoshimasa's posthumous title after
his death.
Higashiyama den is the place where Higashiyama culture formed mainly by
Yoshimasa made a start, and is another start of modern life style of the
Japanese.
Even now, the combination of Higashiyama culture and Zen culture can be
seen here. |
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More than anything, what a wonderful view up from the hill. Kinkyochi Pond in the center surrounded by gorgeous temple buildings.
I was totally fascinated.
To my regret, we could not enter Higashiyama-den and other halls this time.
Hopefully next time.
Ginkakuji Temple, Other Pictures
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| Honen-in Temple |
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This is the temple associated with Priest Honen. It comes from the thatched
hut where in early Kamakura period Honen with his apprentices did Rokuji-Raisan,
a Pure Land Sect Buddhist memorial.
This temple is also famous for the grave of Junichiro Tanizaki and the
garden of camellias.
The entrance gate with a thatched roof was elegant.
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It is raining substantially, so Emiko takes a rest under the entrance gate.
I just walked around the precincts, not seeing any guest, and the main
hall was closed.
If there is a chance in the future, hopefully, ..., because of the main
hall with Priest Honen's statue, a painting on a fusuma drawn by Kano Mitsunobu,
and Zenki Water, a noted water. ("fusuma" is a framed and papered
sliding door used as a room partition.)
Honen-in Temple, Other Pictures
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| Heian Shrine |
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After leaving Honen-in temple, I asked a local passer-by the nearest bus-stop
to Heian Shrine. She said "It's here", and the bus came. We were
lucky. And no trouble to the next destination.
We took lunch at a restaurant in the precincts, and then, ...
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In 1895, a partial reproduction of the Heian Palace from Heian-kyo (the
former name of Kyoto) was planned for construction aiming at the 1100th
anniversary of the establishment of Heian-kyo. The industrial exposition
fair (an exhibition of development of Japanese and foreign cultures) was
held in Kyoto that year, where the replica was to be the main monument.
However, due to the failure to buy enough land where the Heian Palace used
to stand, the building was built in Okazaki at 5/8 scale of the original.
The Heian-jingu was built according to the design by Chuta Ito.
After the Exhibition ended, the building was kept as a shrine in memory
of the 50th Emperor Kanmu, who was the Emperor when Heian-kyo became a
capital. In 1940, Emperor Komei was added to the list of dedication.
Kyoto was depressed after the capital was moved to Tokyo. Later, the citizens
came together to build a new city after World War 2. The construction of
Heian Shrine was a symbol of the city.
The revival consisted of the new Kyoto in education, culture, industry
and daily life, where at the same time the "good old" Kyoto was
maintained.
In 1976, the Shrine was set on fire, and nine of the buildings, including
the honden or main sanctuary, were burned down. Three years later, the
burned buildings were reconstructed with money collected from donations. |
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I have an attachment of my own to Heian Shrine, because Chuta Ito, later
the giant of architecture, was deeply involved in the construction of this
shrine during the student days at Tokyo Imperial University.
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The JTB gudebook describes as follows, too.
"..., Chuta Ito, doctor of engineering, was in charge of the design, and at first 12 halls with Daigokuden Hall in the center were planned to rebuild, ..."
I will write the story related to Chuta Ito in Chapter 8.
I know the original plan was considerably reduced due to Sino-Japanese
War, etc., but I was overwhelmed by the grand scale in the precincts even
in the present appearance.
Various red-painted buildings were, as someone said, like a picture scroll
of Heian period. The four ponds, the white sand and the gardens were very
graceful.
Daigokuden Hall in the center, Soryuro Hall to the right and Byakkoro to
the left, which made me associate with some temple with Shaka-nyorai in
the center, Monju-bosatsu and Fugen-bosatsu to the both sides.
Heian Shrine, Other Pictures
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