Ryoan-ji
Graceful columns, an upturned roof topped with a high spire, rich colors - this is how Japanese temples generally look. One of the most dear to the hearts of the Japanese is the temple, whose name is Ryoan-ji, which translated means “resting place of the dragon.”
A UNESCO heritage site, it is located in the famous city of Kyoto. Ryoan-ji has become a kind of calling card of his hometown.
The temple was built in the mid-15th century by the famous architect Hosakawa Katsumoto. Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu became its guardians.
Today, Ryoan-ji belongs to the Rinzai-shu school of Zen Buddhism. A difficult fate forced the temple to go through several fires, so the current facade is very different from its original appearance.
But the main charm of the shrine is its garden. There is no usual fragrance of flowers or even wild vegetation here - this is a rock garden. His father was Soami, who built his creation, which is also called the “dry garden,” in 1499.
Rock garden at Ryoan-Ji Temple in Japan
The rock garden is small - it is a rectangle thirty meters long and ten meters wide, completely strewn with fine gravel. The white stone mound was carefully processed with a special rake, which left furrows behind. 15 large black stones, which were not subjected to any processing, were laid on them.
These black blocks contain the main secret. Viewing the garden from the temple veranda, from any point on it, visitors can see only fourteen of the stones, while the last one always remains out of sight.
According to the legend of the Ryoan-tzu Temple, only one who has achieved enlightenment can see all fifteen stones at the same time.
It is believed that contemplating a dry garden helps to achieve harmony, look inside oneself and get closer to a state of bliss. And you can “outwit” the unspoken temple laws only by looking at the garden from above - then all the black blocks will appear to your gaze.
The ensemble with the garden consists of a secluded lake, across which miniature bridges are thrown, and a small plantation of tea trees. Once here, it is easy to let go of all problems and immerse yourself in a world of calm serenity.
Christian churches in Japan
The main temples of Japan, as a rule, preach Buddhism or Shintoism. However, there are also Orthodox churches on the territory of the Land of the Rising Sun. They appeared thanks to Hieromonk Nicholas, who secretly baptized three Japanese who wished to join Orthodoxy. This happened in the second half of the 19th century. And already at the beginning of the 20th century, Orthodox communities numbering 266 appeared in Japan.
Nikorai-do Temple
The Japanese renamed the temple. In fact, its name sounds like the Church of St. Nicholas. The religious building is located at Ochanomizu Station. Due to the peculiarities of the religious movement, the temple building is significantly different from the buildings located in the area. The primate of the temple is the Archbishop of Tokyo Ikuo Nushiro. He is also called the Metropolitan of All Japan.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the temple building was restored, as it was significantly damaged after the earthquake. At the moment, Nikorai-do is the main representative of Orthodox churches in Japan.
Despite the fact that for the most part the temple is very similar to Orthodox buildings in Russia, upon closer examination of the details, it becomes clear that there are still differences. First of all, the difference is noticeable in the atmosphere reigning in the temple.
The decoration of the temple contains a lot of bright accents, demonstrating luxury and a certain pomp. Candles differ in size, and even the aroma emanates from them is completely different.
The service in the church does not miss a single stage, everything happens according to the established algorithm. However, sometimes you can meet Orthodox women who do not cover their heads or come in trousers.
Resurrection Temple in Hakodate
In 1858, the first Russian consulate was opened in Hakodate. Along with this, the first Japanese Orthodox church appeared. The architect of the temple was I. A. Goshkevich, who is the Russian consul. He hoped to resurrect Orthodoxy in Japan, which was once already accepted by society here. It was decided to dedicate the new temple to the Resurrection of Christ.
The Resurrection Temple was built on the highest point in Hakodate. It was made of wood. The building had two floors and a bell tower adjoined it. There was a dome with a cross on the roof.
The first Orthodox community was founded thanks to Nikolai Kasatkin, who began his service in the church in 1861. A language and catechetical school operated at the church. In 1872, the Japanese first heard the ringing of bells, which could not attract them. At first, the Orthodox Church was not accepted by society. They tried to expel people preaching Orthodoxy from the city; the printing house that carried out its work at the church was closed. But already in 1873, Orthodoxy in Japan was officially permitted.
The Church of the Resurrection has undergone restoration several times. At the moment, it is one of the main symbols of Orthodoxy in Japan. A Sunday school continues to operate at the church; adults can attend special courses. The songs of the choir still sound within the walls of the temple. Yielding to newfangled trends, the parish website began to grow and develop.
Church of the Transfiguration in Sapporo
The history of the appearance of the temple on the territory of the city of Sapporo began with the arrival of Mark Abe in 1884, who opened his shop. Mark was a Christian who previously lived in Otaru. First, a prayer house was organized where the Orthodox community gathered. A little later, in 1894, a separate building for Orthodox rites was built. The erected temple was dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord.
The temple experienced both difficult years and periods of prosperity. After the Russian Revolution, the temple ceased to be financed by Russia, completely switching to self-sufficiency. After this, the Orthodox community began to independently publish a newspaper. At the end of the 20th century, the location of the temple changed due to the start of the Olympic Games. The church was moved to another location. Unlike other Orthodox churches in Japan, the Transfiguration Church is crowned with not one, but six domes. Most of the icons located in the temple were painted by Irina Yamashita, a famous icon painter. It is believed that the temple in Sapporo houses a collection of her works.
The architecture of temples is extremely diverse, despite the fact that there are fundamentals that the Japanese try to adhere to. In most cases, the sacred structure has a rectangular shape, framed by a roof with a roof. Modern churches are made of fire-resistant materials for safety purposes. The main building material can be reinforced concrete or brick. And the roof, most often, is made of various metals. Each temple located in Japan has a unique history and deserves attention. Having visited the walls of this or that temple, you have the opportunity to touch the unusual Japanese culture and get acquainted with a hitherto unfamiliar world. Japanese temples were built in harmony with the surrounding nature; every detail of the structure carries a certain meaning, which arouses genuine interest among tourists.
Todai-ji
Another site under the protection of UNESCO is Todai-ji, or Todaiji - both spellings are possible. This is the largest wooden temple, it belongs to the Kegon movement, is located in the city of Nara, and it appeared here for a reason.
When Japan suffered one after another in the form of earthquakes and hurricanes, the ruler of Shomu in the mid-8th century called on local residents to build a statue of Buddha who would protect them from harm. More than two million people were involved in the construction, and the group was headed by Kuninaka-no-Muraji Kimimaro.
In 745, the Todaiji Temple was erected, and six years later - a statue of Buddha Vairochana, created from bronze.
Bronze Buddha statue at Todaiji Temple, Japan
The dimensions of the Buddha, which was assembled in parts, are impressive:
- height (sitting) – 15 m;
- head – 5 m;
- eyelids – 0.5 m;
- nose – 1 m;
- ears – 2.5 m;
- weight – 500 tons.
I wonder what
Almost all the bronze mined in Japan at that time was used to make the bronze Buddha statue.
Over its centuries-old history, the temple has suffered disasters in the form of fires, earthquakes and has repeatedly changed its appearance. In the version in which the monastery appears to visitors now, it was decorated at the beginning of the 18th century.
Now it is a fairly large temple complex. Its main gate is clearly inferior in grandeur to the 25-meter southern entrance, richly strewn with skillful carvings and wooden figurines.
Todaiji Temple, Japan
There is also a smoking room where you can drown in clouds of smoke. They are said to purify the physical body, mind, thoughts and soul.
Behind the walls of one of their buildings are stored real treasures that are fraught with historical value: ancient relics, sacred manuscripts. Incredible treasures were found here only a century ago, walled into the floor under a Buddha statue - these are the Yohoken and Inhoken swords. For more than a thousand years they were considered lost, until in 1907 researchers found sacred engraved swords covered with gold and silver precious coating.
There are many buildings in the Todaiji complex, such as the February - Nigatsudo - and March - Sangatsudo pavilion. But the main asset of the temple area, which can bring all visitors to the heart, is the deer park. The animals quietly roam around the territory - they are considered sacred, so many people want to pet them and feed them.
I wonder what
There are small holes at the bottom where the columns of the main building are located. It is believed that whoever manages to crawl into this passage will be endowed with enlightenment. Children pass there with ease, but an adult stuck in this passage is a common sight.
Yudonosan Shrine (Yamagata Prefecture)
Few places in Japan can rival Yudonosan Shrine for its spiritual significance. This temple is the last stop on a monastic journey called the pilgrimage of rebirth. Pilgrims pass through three sacred mountains known as Dewa Sanzan and reach the Yudonosan Shrine, which, by the way, does not have a central building. Instead, there are gates and ropes that hold the sacred object. To enter, visitors must remove their shoes. Also, photography is prohibited here.
Honmon-ji
This is another interesting temple, also called Ikegami Hondmonji. It owes its appearance to the prominent preacher Nichiren, who even founded his own school of Buddhism.
Image of Nichiren
His life was full of bright events, devoted students and a constant search for truth. But one day Nichiren fell ill and decided to go to hot springs for treatment. Along the way, he stopped with one of his followers.
Here the disease overcame him. Realizing that he was dying, on the advice of his disciple Nichiren decided to found a monastery. Three weeks later, the teacher died, and a temple appeared on this site, which became a monument to his life and teaching.
The construction of the temple was assisted by Ikegami, who provided his land and supervised the construction of the walls. Later, during the Second World War, the temple suffered significant damage due to bombing, but still managed to survive.
Today, everything is the same here, several centuries ago, there are beautiful gates and a red pagoda, which consists of five levels and can withstand even magnitude 7 earthquakes. It was in this pagoda that Nichiren's body was cremated after his death.
Honmon Temple, Tokyo, Japan
Nearby there is a mausoleum, which was erected on the seven hundredth anniversary of the death of the teacher. It is notable for the fact that it was built entirely from cypress wood. And every year, on the memorable date of the death of the founder of the temple, thousands of lanterns light up here.
Izumo Taisha Shrine (Shimane Prefecture)
Izumo Taisha is one of the oldest shrines in all of Japan. This shrine is believed to house the deity Okuninushi, who saved Inaba's white hare. This is probably why the temple is dotted with beautiful statues of rabbits. But the most memorable element is the huge rice straw rope that adorns the entrance.
Only one of the buildings is accessible for visits, but the picturesque grounds of the temple and beautiful architecture make it a more than worthy place to visit. The Japanese believe that every October, all Shinto deities gather here to discuss events that have happened in the mortal world.
Kinkaku-ji
Kinkaku-ji is better known as the Golden Pavilion. Originally, in 1397, it was built in the city of Kyoto as a vacation home for Shogun Ashikaga. When the ruler died, his son turned the place into a Buddhist temple.
I didn’t have to think long about the name - the upper tier of the interior, facade, and roof are completely covered with sheets of pure gold. The temple became a repository of the sacred relics of Buddha - the so-called shariden. There is a figurine of a phoenix on the roof.
Golden Pavilion, Kyoto
An integral part of the complex is its garden, which was created a little later than the temple itself. The splendor of the façade and the surrounding greenery is reflected in the large and deep Lake Kyokoti, the name of which is translated as “mirror lake”. Among the surface of the lake, two islands can be distinguished - a turtle and a crane, which are a symbol of long life.
Kinkaku-ji, like many other monasteries, was subject to trials in the form of natural disasters, wars, and bombings. But in 1950, something strange happened - a religious fanatic claiming to be insane set fire to the building, and as a result, a large part of it was destroyed.
It took five years to restore its former beauty. The writer Yukio Mishima talks about this in his work of the same name, “The Golden Temple,” which was even translated into Russian.
At the end of the last century, a complete restoration of Kinkaku-ji was carried out, the gold sheets were replaced with new ones, even thicker and stronger. Today he really shines, justifying his title and taking him back to the era of the Ashikaga era.
Omiwa Shrine (Nara Prefecture)
Omiwa Shrine, nestled in a beautiful green forest, is another ancient shrine with an interesting history. True to its name, which contains the kanji for three rings, the temple is decorated with stacked Borromean rings as well as triple torii, a rare feature of Shinto shrines.
Another feature of this place is that there is no building for worshiping the deity. This is due to the fact that the temple was built in honor of Mount Miwa, which is located behind the temple.
Jisho-ji
The grandson of Shogun Ashikaga, who built the Golden Pavilion, was so impressed by his grandfather’s creation that he also wanted to build himself a residence in its image and likeness. So in 1784, the Silver Pavilion - Jisho-ji - was built in the same Kyoto.
Ashikaga Yoshimatsu wanted to cover the walls with pure silver, but the collapse of war and ruin prevented this from happening. The ruler himself became a Zen monk, and therefore decided to turn the palace into a Buddhist monastery. The main building was the temple of the goddess Kannon.
Jisho-ji Temple, Kyoto
To this day, this is the only building preserved in the complex. It is surrounded by a modest but wonderful garden, the atmosphere of which invites reflection and contemplation of its inner space.
How to visit the temple
Be calm and respectful. Show your respect by tossing a coin in the offering box. Then recite (pretend to) a short prayer in front of the sacred object.
In some temples, visitors burn incense (Osenko) in large incense burners. Buy a pack, light them, let them burn for a few seconds, and then put out the flame by waving your hand rather than blowing it out. Finally, place the incense in the incense burner and hold some of the smoke near you, as the smoke is believed to have healing powers. For example, if you have an injured shoulder, apply some smoke to your shoulder.
You may be required to remove your shoes when entering temple buildings. Leave your shoes on the shelves at the entrance; if you are concerned about their safety, take them with you in a plastic bag provided in some temples. Wear nice, intact socks. Remove your headdress.
Photography is usually permitted on temple grounds, but is often prohibited inside buildings. Follow the explanatory signs.
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Why Tsurugaoka Hachimangu?
As already mentioned, there are many shrines throughout Japan. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the main place of Shinto worship in the ancient capital of the samurai. Historically, warriors preferred the Buddhist tradition over the Zen branch. But they made the sanctuary of the ancient Japanese faith the religious center of their capital, and, despite many contradictions, both faiths intertwined throughout Japan. They continue to coexist now, when not a trace remains of the samurai. Evidence of this is the sacred place under the patronage of the god of war Hachiman.
In Japan it is very easy to tell when you are in front of a shrine. Typically, the main entrance is equipped with a red torii, Shinto gate. At Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, there is a circular imperial bridge directly behind them. And then along the way you will come across lakes, sweet sellers and squirrels. You will also see several small shrines and a hall for wedding ceremonies. It is located right in the open air, and everyone can watch the traditional ceremony.
When you get up the stairs to the main building, look in your wallet for a 10 yen coin. Having thrown it into the donation box, bow twice to the altar, clap your hands twice and stand still for a moment, closing your eyes. Listen to yourself... After all this, you can go further to explore Japan.
How to get to Kiyomizudera Temple
Address : 605-0862, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Higashiyama Ward, Kiyomizu 1-chome, 294
Telephone: 075-551-1234
It takes 10 minutes on foot from the Higashiyama-Gojo stop. You also always have the opportunity to travel around Japan comfortably in a rented car. You can select and order a suitable car using this link.
Opening hours: from 6:00 to 18:00, daily.
Ticket price: adults 300 yen, students 200 yen (except high school students).
Otowa waterfall, but still
Near the main building of the temple is the so-called Otowa-no-taki waterfall (Japanese name 音羽の滝, which literally means “waterfall of the sound of wings”). The water from the waterfall flows through three gutters (Japanese name 筧 / かけい) into the pond. Visitors to the temple scoop up the flowing water with metal scoops (Japanese name 柄杓 / ひしゃく) and drink it for health, longevity and wisdom. It is believed that everyone can drink from only two sources. It is prohibited to be greedy and drink from three sources. By the way, water from a mountain spring has been flowing here since the founding of the temple. In fact, the presence of a mountain spring gave the name to the temple itself. And the mountain spring itself was found by the founder of the Kiyomizu-dera temple, monk Entin, to whom the goddess of mercy Kannon once appeared in a dream, telling him to settle next to the waterfall.
Where to see Shinto traditions?
In Tokyo you will find many religious sites. Often, Shinto shrines are found within the grounds of Buddhist temple complexes, as is the case at Jishujinja, located in Kiyomizudera. But, if time permits, go to Kamakura in Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Experience one of the most iconic monuments of the local religion, which is also influenced by Buddhism. And if you're lucky, you might even see a real traditional Japanese wedding. After a busy day in Kamakura, stop for a rest at one of the local hotels.
Choose a hotel in Kamakura
