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

Image search results - "shinshu"

Established in 1617, Tsukiji Hongwanji temple is the Tokyo headquarters of the Nishi Hongwanji Jodo Shinshu sect. The present temple, based on Indian architecture, was built in the 1930s.The temple is the only one in Japan which is under the direct control of the sect. Its head priest is the Monshu Abbot himself. April 8 is observed as Buddha's birthday, called Hana Matsuri ("Flower Festival) in Japan.

Tsukiji Hongwanji temple gate with wisteria crest.The emblem is a wisteria flower and symbol of the Jodo Shinshu sect.

Temple gate and flag

Play room for kids on Hanamatsuri

Hanamatsuri altar

Pouring sweet tea over the BuddhaWhen the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden in Nepal, sweet rain is said to have fallen. Thus, sweet tea is poured over the baby Buddha statue in the Hanamatsuri altar.

Hanamatsuri celebrates the Buddha's birthday on April 8. This is Tsukiji Honganji in Tokyo.The flowers symbolize Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal.

Baby Buddha statueLadles are provided for pouring the sweet tea over the Buddha. Sweet tea is also provided to worshippers. It symbolizes the sweet rain that fell when the Buddha was born.

Children dressed for the chigo parade, Tsukiji Hongwanji, TokyoIt took a long time before they could get all the kids to settle down for the picture and to get all the mothers out of the picture.

Children dressed for the chigo parade (photo session), Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo

Going to the chigo parade's starting point

White elephant to anchor the parade. Notice the Buddha altar riding on the top. Before she gave birth to the Buddha, Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant.

Start of the Hanamatsuri parade which also promotes traffic safety.The starting point was a nearby park.

Parade starts...

Baton-twirling club from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Junior/Senior High School followed by the elephant千代田女学院

Chigo children

On the road in front of the temple

Baton-twirling club, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo 千代田女学院バトン部千代田女学院

Female schoolmates of the baton twirlers block the cameras of unrelated photographers when the baton twirlers passed. カメラ小僧を妨害するバトン部の先輩たち。This was the first time for me in Japan to see people blocking photographers from taking pictures at a festival. They did it to me as well. If they don't want to be photographed, why do they appear in this public festival??

妨害しても無駄だと思いますが。撮られるのがいやでしたら、まつりに出ない方がいいですよ。

Band from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Girls Junior/Senior High SchoolNo problem photographing them.

Nagahama's most famous temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu sect, Otani school. Omotesando path to Daitsuji.

The elephant follows the band.

Omotesando is lined with shops.

Entering the temple gate

Red paper umbrellas decorate the path.

Final performance

The parade was over after 30 min. (11:30 - 12 pm).

Chigo kids enter the temple

Sandal store

Hanamatsuri service inside the templeNotice the Hanamatsuri altar at the center.

Getting closer to the Sanmon Gate

Hanamatsuri service inside the Tsukiji Hongwanji temple

Omotesando as seen from Sanmon Gate.

Hanami-do housing a statue of the baby Buddha on which sweet tea is poured. When the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden, flowers bloomed.

Daitsuji temple Sanmon Gate 山門

Praying to the Hanamatsuri altar

2006 NHK Taiga Drama "Komyo ga Tsuji" Exhibition banner and gate entrance.

Pipe organs

2006 NHK Taiga Drama "Komyo ga Tsuji" Exhibition mapThe temple was one of the venues for the special exhibition held for the NHK Taiga Drama "Komyo ga Tsuji" in 2006.

Outdoor food court

Daitsuji temple Hondo main hall and belfry

Statue of St. Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu sect.

Daitsuji temple Hondo main hall 大通寺本堂 MAP

Statue of St. Shinran (1173-1263), founder of the Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhist Sect.

Daitsuji temple Hondo main hall 大通寺本堂

Cherry blossoms and the temple

Large Hall 大広間. This is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed. The sleepover scene.

Large Hall 大広間

Playroom for kids

Komyo ga Tsuji exhibit showing Chiyo and Yamauchi Kazutoyo

Temple hall exterior

Entrance hall and palanquin 玄関

The white elephant

Corridor to main hall

Taiko drum performance by Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. 大江戸助六太鼓Their Web site: http://www.oedosukerokutaiko.com/

大江戸助六太鼓

Main hall roof

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe大江戸助六太鼓

Corridor to main hall

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe. They were all girls and super good!大江戸助六太鼓

Sanmon Gate as seen from the Hondo main hall

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe大江戸助六太鼓

Sanmon Gate as seen from the Hondo main hall

Oedo Sukeroku Taiko troupe

Main hall

Beating backward: Oedo Sukeroku Taiko drummers大江戸助六太鼓

Hondo main hall altar 大通寺　本堂阿弥陀堂

Hanamatsuri in the old days (lot more children and people). 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 子供の数が大多かった。

Hondo main hall altar, Important Cultural Property 大通寺　本堂阿弥陀堂

Many little kids held a long rope to pull the white elephant. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Main hall veranda

Chigo children. They have two black dots on the forehead and a white stripe on the nose. They don't paint the white stripe today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 鼻に白い線が塗っている。今は、塗らない。

Belfry

Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Belfry

Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Belfry surrounded by a pond

Chigo children. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Tree

昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Straw blind

昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 日大のバトン部か

A very long hanamatsuri parade leaves the temple. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: 集合は別院内、これは出発。

昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Look at all those Cub Scouts. They don't participate today. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

The chigo parade of bygone days was much longer with a lot more kids. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり: かなり長い行列でした。

Buddhist flag. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Nihon University college band was part of the parade. 昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

昔の築地本願寺の花まつり

Path leading to the entrance of Takehana Betsuin temple.

Takehana Betsuin temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu Sect's Otani School (Higashi Hongwanji).

Takehana Betsuin temple's wisteria is over 300 years old.

Inside Takehana Betsuin. Very impressive for a rural area.

Cemetery next to the main hall.

View from the Hondo main hall.

Approaching Nishi Hongwanji, the headquarters temple of the Jodo Shinshu Sect (Hongwanji school) in Kyoto. A short walk from Kyoto Station. This is New Year's Day, Jan 1, 2010.

Goeido-mon Gate is one of the main gates to enter Nishi Hongwanji. The temple gates are open from 5:30 am to 5:30 pm (or till 6 pm in summer).

Goeido-mon Gate leads to the Goeido Founder's Hall. 御影堂門

Another main gate is this Amidado-mon Gate which leads to Amida-do Hall. 阿弥陀堂門

About Nishi Hongwanji in English.

Large flags outside the temple gates.

New Year observance schedule.

Directional sign

Goeido Founder's Hall. For several years, the Nishi Hongwanji buildings were hidden by construction scaffolding as they underwent major renovations. Finally, we get to see all the buildings unobstructed. 御影堂

Goeido Founder's Hall at Nishi Hongwanji, Kyoto. The building is an Important Cultural Property. 御影堂

Goeido Founder's Hall

Roof of Goeido Founder's Hall

Side of Goeido Founder's Hall.

Panoramic view of Nishi Hongwanji temple, Kyoto. The layout of the buildings is almost the same as Higashi Hongwanji.

Next to the Goeido Founder's Hall is this modern Ryukoden Hall which is like a reception counter for worshippers. 龍虎殿

Hiunkaku Pavilion is a National Treasure. Unfortunately, it is not open for public viewing. One of Kyoto's Three Best Pavilions along with Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji Pavilions. 飛雲閣

Bell tower at Nishi Hongwanji

Bell tower carvings

Corridor connecting the Goeido (left) and Amida-do (right) Halls.

Amida-do Hall

Corridor connecting the Goeido (left) and Amida-do (right) Halls.

Amida-do Hall is an Important Cultural Property at Nishi Hongwanji, Kyoto. 阿弥陀堂（本堂）

Amida-do Hall is the main hall or temple, also called the Hondo Hall. 阿弥陀堂（本堂）

Roof of Amida-do Hall

Goeido Hall and Amida-do Hall

Goeido Hall

Next to the Amida-do Hall is this modern building housing a gift shop, restaurant, and temple offices. 宗務総合庁舎

Momdo Kaikan Hall is a lodging facility. 聞法会館

Kyozo or Scripture Repository. It houses the Daizokyo or the entire collection of Buddhist texts published by Tenkai. There are 6,323 scrolls and books stored in 665 boxes. They were purchased from the Tokugawa government and received in 1648. 経蔵

Amida-domon Gate

Water fountain

Inside the Goeido Hall. You have to take off your shoes to enter. This was on Jan. 1, 2010. 御影堂

Altar inside Goeido Hall

Altar inside Goeido Hall, Nishi Hongwanji, Kyoto. 御影堂

Goeido Hall

Corridor connecting Goeido Hall and Amida-do Hall.

View from corridor.

Amida-do Hall veranda.

Inside Amida-do (Hondo) Hall on Jan. 1, 2010. Not as crowded as Shinto shrines on New Year's Day, but there was a crowd inside the temple as a minister preached. 阿弥陀堂（本堂）