japan68 kyoto10 nishi honganji temple
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Nishi Honganji Temple is a large temple compound located north west of Kyoto Station with many beautiful buildings of historical and architectural significance. It is one of two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism in Kyoto. Both of these temples are called Honganji, and so are distinguished by their location: Nishi Honganji being the western temple, and Higashi Honganji being the eastern temple. The Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism was founded by the monk Shinran who lived from 1173 to 1263
The Karamon is a gate of
Nishi Hongan-ji
Nishi Honganji’s outer walls
The Goeido-mon is the main entrance to Nishi Honganji
The Goeido-mon
Toro is a hexagonal lantern usually hung from the temple ceiling. Normally the name of the member who donated these lanterns is engraved on them
A dragon hiding under the Toro hexagonal lantern
The Goeido-mon details
The Goeido-mon
The Amidado-mon
The Amidado-mon is situated further to the north of the main entrance
The Amidado-mon
The Amidado-mon
The Amidado-monDetails
© Michael Swerdlyk
Kyoto Nishi Honganji is designated an UNESCO world heritage site
The Amida-do or Amida Hall was completed in 1760
The Amida-do or Amida Hall is the main worship hall, or hondo, of the temple
The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall, was completed in 1636
The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall Four little imps are supporting the stone rain barrel
The wooden walkway that connects the Founder’s Hall and the Amida Hall
The Goei-do, or Founder’s Hall is a registered Japan National Treaure
Though not as big as the Founder’s Hall at nearby Higashi Honganji Temple, the Goei-do is still a huge building measuring 62 meters long by 48 meters wide with a height of 29 meters
This ornate Shoro, or bell tower, is situated in the south east corner of the temple compound. It was built in 1620, but the bell predates that, and was originally the bell of Koryuji Temple in western Kyoto
The Drum Tower
The Kyōzō or Scripture Repository
The Drum Tower
The Kyōzō or
Scripture Repository
The Kyōzō or Scripture Repository was completed in 1678 and holds a huge collection of Buddhist scriptural texts compiled by the monk Tenkai. Nishi Honganji bought the collection from the Tokugawa government in 1648 for 100 kilograms of silver
Nishi Honganji
Nishi Honganji’s roofs
The fountain and Ginko Biloba tree
The Shoin, a building that houses the abbot’s rooms
The Hiunkaku Pavilion
The reason there are now two Honganji temples in Kyoto is simply political. In the early 17th century, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Shogun who ruled Japan, encouraged a schism between two rival factions of the Honganji lineage, so that the group as a whole would not become too powerful
There are 2 gigantic gingo trees in the courtyard in front of the halls
The huge gingko tree that is estimated to be over 400 years old. Also known as the maidenhair tree is a prominent tree for autumn colors. Its leaves with a unique fan-shaped with veins radiating out into the leaf blade and sometimes splitting turns to deep saffron yellow during autumn
There is a legend that when the temple caught fire, the tree actually showered the buildings with water from its leaves and saved the temple from the flames. If you are lucky enough to visit the temple in mid to late November, then you can see the tree in its full autumn glory bearing a wonderful crown of golden leaves
Nishi Honganji’s roofs details
Nishi Honganji’s roofs details
Text: InternetPictures: Internet Nicoleta LeuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors
Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda
Sound: Japan Instrumental Music 2016