Image search results - "sect" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "sect"

People coming to Takahata Fudoson temple on Feb. 3, Setsubun day.

Belonging to the Shingon Sect's Buzan school, this is one of Tokyo's major temples. The real name is Sojiji (總持寺), but everyone calls it Nishi-Arai Daishi.The temple grounds feature many flowering trees and plants including an unusual species of cherry blossoms which bloom in winter. Daishi-mae Station. Much larger station than I expected. Probably for the New Year's crowds. 大師前駅

Takahata Fudoson temple entrance 高幡不動尊

Daishi-mae Station 大師前駅. Nishi-Arai Daishi Temple was said have been founded by Priest Kobo Daishi in 826. One of the Kanto Region's Big Three Daishi Temples.

The setsubun bean-throwing starts with a memorial service, then a procession of the bean throwers and priests.

The main path to the temple is lined with the usual shops, but it is not aligned with the train station. The path from the train station takes a different route.

Priests in setsubun procession within the temple grounds.

Main path to temple

Priests in setsubun procession within the temple grounds.

Sanmon Gate, the main gate. 山門

Priests in setsubun procession coming through Niomon Gate

Sanmon Gate

Priest blowing a conch shell

Food stalls lead you to the main worship hall.

Priests in setsubun procession coming through Niomon Gate

Dai-Hondo Hall, Nishi-Arai Daishi, Tokyo 大本堂According to legend, when prayers were offered to save villagers from an epidemic, pure water gushed out of a hitherto dried-up well and got rid of the plague. Since the well was on the west side of the temple hall, this area came to be called "Nishi-Arai" (New Well in the West). The temple is famous for warding off fire and misfortune.

Festival beauties included.

Incense burner

Temple priest

Lantern

Names of the bean throwers.

Dai-Hondo Hall 大本堂

Start of setsubun bean throwing (mamemaki) by minor celebrities. 豆まき

Altar inside Dai-Hondo Hall 大本堂

Miss Nippon

View from Dai-Hondo Hall

Miss Nippon throw beans, but not very far.

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms

Kimono beauties and beans do mix well.

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms and Dai-Hondo Hall

Women in kimono is a must on Setsubun day.

Minor female idols also on hand to throw beans.

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms, Nishi-Arai Daishi, Tokyo 寒桜

節分会に吉井怜、三津谷葉子、福下恵美が豆まく

Bikini idols Yoshii Rei, Mitsuya Yoko, and Fukushita Megumi throwing beans on Setsubun

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜

After the first bean-throwing session.

Crowd waits for another bean-throwing session

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜

People crowd in front of the Horinkaku

Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜

Bean throwers make speeches.

Ume plum blossoms

Miss Nippon somethings

Ume plum blossoms

Throw the beans farther!

White plum blossoms

Fuku wa uchi!!

White plum blossoms 白梅

Setsubun bean throwing at Takahata Fudoson temple, Hino, Tokyo

White plum blossoms 白梅

Setsubun bean throwing at Takahata Fudoson temple, Hino, Tokyo

White plum blossoms 白梅

Even Hello Kitty threw beans for Setsubun at Takahata Fudoson temple, Hino, Tokyo

Red plum blossoms

Yoshii Rei and Mitsuya Yoko

In spring, see 4,500 peony plants in 70 varieties bloom. Temple is nicknamed "Botan Daishi" (Peony Daishi).

Bikini idols Yoshii Rei, Mitsuya Yoko, and Fukushita Megumi throw beans a second time.

Red plum blossoms

Sadly, lot of people (especially those way in the back) didn't get any beans.

Red plum blossoms and pagoda

Missed beans get crushed on the ground. These are dried soybeans.

White plum blossoms

Entrance to the daruma fair.

Pond behind the Dai-Hondo Hall

Daruma dolls for sale on the same day as Setsubun

Waterfall

Daruma

Koi

Large daruma at Takahata Fudoson temple, Hino, Tokyo

Benten-do 弁天堂

Daruma

如意輪堂

The path is lined with daruma doll vendors

Side view of Dai-Hondo

Daruma dolls

Side view of Dai-Hondo

13-story pagoda 十三大塔

Chigo Daishi 稚児大師

Daruma

Chigo Daishi 稚児大師

Three-story Treasure Pagoda 三重宝塔

Daruma

水子地蔵

Salt Jizo 塩地蔵

Rokkaku-do 六角堂

水洗地蔵

Temple bell and pond

Koi

Koi. Seems like a sumi painter just painted on this fish.

A flea market is held monthly in the temple grounds.

光明殿

Hakkaku-do Hall 八角堂

Inside Hakkaku-do Hall. A glass door lets you see inside, but the door is locked. 八角堂

Main entrance to Miidera (Onjoji) temple. It is the headquarters temple of the Tendai Jimon Buddhist Sect (founded by Priest Enchin) and former rival of Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei, also in Shiga. MAP

These photos were taken in both April during cherry blossoms season and in summer.

Daimon Gate (also called Niomon Gate) is the temple's front gate. Built in 1452 and transferred here from Jorakuji temple in Koka by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601. Important Cultural Property. 仁王門

Front of Niomon Gate. The name Miidera literally means "Three-Well Temple." It refers to three Emperors (Tenchi, Temmu, and Jito) who as newborns bathed in the temple's Akaiya well. "Mii" 御井 originally meant "sacred well.

Priest Enchin (Chisho-daishi) also used the sacred well water for a succession ceremony and called the temple, "Miidera" using the kanji for "three wells." The official name of "Onjoji" was given by Emperor Temmu. Back of Nio

Back of Niomon Gate.

Map of Miidera temple showing a variety of structures at the foot of Mt. Nagara (not Mt. Hiei). There are about 40 buildings, but you can enter only a few of them. It's not a huge complex, but allow at least 90 min. to see the major things.

Near the Niomon Gate is the Shaka-do Hall (also called Jiki-do 食堂) which worships the Shaka Nyorai statue. Dating from the early Muromachi Period, an Important Cultural Property. Photography is not allowed inside.

Steps going up to the Kondo Hall.

Kondo Main Hall, a National Treasure and Miidera's largest building. However, it was undergoing roof repairs in June 2008. Completed in fall 2008. 金堂

Kondo Hall

Miidera temple's Kondo Hall, a National Treasure and Miidera's main worship hall built in 1599 in Otsu. 金堂

Kondo Hall and cherry blossoms.

Miidera's Kondo Hall and cherry blossoms in Otsu.

Kondo Hall

Kondo Hall carvings

Kondo Hall

Kondo Hall veranda

Kondo Hall roof

Kondo Hall corner wood beam

Inside Kondo Hall.

Inside Kondo Hall, built in 1599. Miroku Bosatsu statue is the object of worship.

Next to Kondo Hall is a small building called the Onjoji Akaiya, an Important Cultural Property. 閼伽井屋

Inside Onjoji Akaiya is the sacred spring whose water is drawn to be offered in front of the temple altar. The water was also used to bathe the newborn Emperor Tenji, Tenmu, and Jito. The name Miidera (Three Wells) comes from this spring.

This small building houses a temple bell which, according to legend, warrior monk Benkei from Enryakuji stole from Miidera and carried up to Enryakuji on Mt. Hiei.

It's a huge bell. After hearing the sound of the bell on Mt. Hiei, Benkei was disgusted with how it sounded and threw the bell back down the mountain.

Mii Bell Pavilion (Mii-no-Bansho) on the right. The small building on the left is a gift shop where you buy a ticket to ring the bell.

Next to the Kondo hall is the famous Mii Bell Pavilion (Mii-no-Bansho). It is one of the Omi Hakkei (Eight Views of Omi) depicted in ukiyoe woodblock prints. Dating from the Momoyama period, it is an Important Cultural Property.

There is a small opening where you can enter the bell pavilion to ring the gong. 鐘楼

It costs 300 yen to ring this bell once. (Not supposed to ring it more than once unless you pay again.) Also see my YouTube video here. 三井晩鐘

Inside the Miidera Bell Pavilion, the source of the "Evening Bell at Miidera temple."

Lotus pond

Steps going to Issaikyo-zo Hall.

Issaikyo-zo Hall is a storehouse for all of the temple's Buddhist scriptures and valuable books. Built in the Muromachi Period and moved here from Yamaguchi Pref. in 1602 by Lord Mori Terumoto. Important Cultural Property. 一切経蔵

Inside Issaikyo-zo Hall is an octagonal, rotating Rinzo rack where the scriptures are stored.

Inside Issaikyo-zo Hall

Cherry blossoms in April.

Miidera's cherry blossoms are also lit up at night. (See photos at bottom.)

Path to the To-in complex.

Gate to the To-in complex, Miidera's most sacred area where Enchin (Chisho-Daishi) is buried and enshrined. All the buildings are Important Cultural Properties. 唐院

In the center of the To-in complex is the Kancho-do Hall. Its a dojo exercise hall for entering the priesthood and conducting Buddhist initiation ceremonies. 潅頂堂

On the left of the Kancho-do is the Chonichi Goma-do Hall. Important Cultural Property. 長日護摩堂

On the right of the Kancho-do is the three-story pagoda (Sanju-no-to). It was moved from Fushimi Castle in Kyoto in 1601 by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Important Cultural Property. 三重塔

Miidera's Three-story pagoda (Sanju-no-to)

Behind the Kancho-do Hall is the Daishi-do Hall where Enchin is interred.

Another building in the To-in area.

When the temple founder was crossing this bridge, a temple in China was ablaze. When he sprinkled water from a well, a mist arose from beneath the bridge and flew to extinguish the burning temple in China. 村雲橋

View from the bridge during cherry blossom season, looking toward the Kondo Hall.

Stone wall and gate to Kangaku-in Hall at Miidera temple (Onjoji), school for priests and a National Treasure but closed to the public. 勧学院

Gate to Kangaku-in Hall, school for priests at Miidera temple in Otsu. Closed to the public.

This is the closest we can get to Kangaku-in Hall, a National Treasure at Miidera temple in Otsu.

About Kangaku-in Hall.

Hydrangea in June

Hydrangea

Going toward the southern precinct of the temple, you see this Bimyoji temple with an 11-faced Kannon statue, an Important Cultural Property. The building was reconstructed in 1776. 微妙寺

Tendai Daishi statue

Shuho Kannon. Worship her and become prosperous. 衆宝観音

Bishamon-do Hall and maple leaves. Should return in fall.

Built in 1616, Bishamon-do Hall is an Important Cultural Property. 毘沙門堂

Bishamon-do Hall. 毘沙門堂

Steps leading to the Kannon-do Hall on a hill in the southern precinct of Miidera.

Side view of Kannon-do Hall.

Bell tower next to Kannon-do Hall.

Bell tower

Inside bell tower

Kannon-do Hall, Miidera temple, Shiga

Kannon-do Hall is the 14th temple in the Saigoku (Western Japan) pilgrimage circuit of 33 temples. Important Cultural Property 観音堂

Inside Kannon-do Hall

Incense burner inside Kannon-do Hall

Inside Kannon-do Hall

Statue inside Kannon-do Hall

Ema tablet

Ema tablet pavilion

In front of the Kannon-do Hall is the water basin for purification.

Otsu-e picture. Details about Otsu-e here.

Moon-viewing stage 勧月舞台

On the left in the back are steps going up to the lookout deck. A must-see vantage point.

On the lookout deck.

The lookout point gives the best views. The Kannon-do is on the left. Central Otsu can be seen in the distance as well as Lake Biwa.

Miidera temple

Vintage postcard view of the same scene in Miidera. Otsu was much less developed.

Kannon-do complex at Miidera temple, Shiga.

Moon-viewing stage 勧月舞台 and cherry blossoms at Miidera with Lake Biwa in the background.

Kannon-do on the left.

View of central Otsu which is experiencing a building boom along the lake shore. This has prompted local residents to seek a building height limit, otherwise the lake would disappear from view.

The lookout point is like a park with various monuments.

The stone marker on the right indicates where Emperor Meiji was when he visited here.

Monument dedicated to Shiga Prefectural police officers.

Soroban (Abacus) Monument

On the fringe of Miidera is Somon Gate 総門

Gate to Goho Zenjin-do Hall

Another gate to Goho Zenjin-do Hall

Goho Zenjin-do Hall worships a guardian deity for children. Pray here for a safe childbirth and healthy growth of your kids. 護法善神堂

Somewhat away from the central area of Miidera is another National Treasure called Kojo-in Kyakuden. Unfortunately, it's closed to the public. All you see is this wall and a roof.

About Kojo-in Kyakuden. It also has a Japanese garden not open to the public. 光浄院客殿

Cherry blossoms and the Niomon Gate at night in April.

Cherry blossoms at Miidera temple, Shiga.

Miidera cherry blossoms at night.

Beautiful cherry blossoms at night.

Cherry blossoms and three-story pagoda at night.

Nagara Jinja Shrine

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