Horinji
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TEL :075-841-7878 Address :457 Yukuecho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto Access :Sanin Main Line Enmachi Station > 10 minutes walk Parking :Parking available for 10 cars |
Introduction to Horinji Temple
Horinji Temple is a Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1727. The temple enshrines Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, as its principal deity, and many Dharma doll statues are enshrined on the temple grounds.
The entrance fee is 300 yen.
8,000 Dharma dolls
Upon entering the temple, I first paid my respects at the Daruma Hall. A framed sign with the words “Fall seven times, stand up eight” was hanging at the entrance. This is a Japanese proverb that expresses an indomitable spirit of getting back up no matter how many times you fall.
Bodhidharma was a monk who meditated in a cave for nine years. It is also said that he lost his arms and legs because he sat for so long.
For this reason, in Japan, it became a lucky charm in the form of a red doll without arms or legs. Some Dharma dolls automatically stand up even if they fall over, and the phrase “Fall seven times, stand up eight” has become a way to describe these Daruma dolls.
Inside the Dharma Hall, there were over 8,000 Dharma dolls of various sizes enshrined.
There were also many Dharma dolls in the Syuseido hall across the street.
A large painting of Dharma was displayed on the ceiling.
There was also a Dharma dolls with many paper slips of paper attached to it, each bearing a wish.
Next to it was the main hall. Here, I was able to see sliding screen paintings depicting Bodhidharma.
This scene depicts the moment when Eka asked to become a disciple of Bodhidharma, who was practicing Zen meditation. When Eka was rejected, he cut off his own left arm, and in return, he was accepted as a disciple.
Other highlights
The main hall housed a reclining Buddha statue, which is said to have been donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He rose from a peasant to unify Japan, and is one of the most famous warlords in Japanese history.
There was a garden in front of the main hall. Stones shaped like cattle, which are considered symbols of enlightenment, were placed throughout the site. There was also a statue of a cattle on the veranda.
On the second floor, 800 people involved in the Japanese film industry were enshrined. Among them were famous people such as Hibari Misora, Yujiro Ishihara, Ken Takakura, Mitsuko Mori, and Kiyoshi Atsumi.
There was a bell on the temple grounds that anyone could ring. I hit it, and the sound resonated nicely.
