Introduction to Motsuji Temple
Hiraizumi is the place where, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, one of Japan’s most tragic heroes, came to a sad end. Although Yoshitsune managed to defeat the Heike family with his elder brother Minamoto no Yoritomo, he was chased to this place and put to death by his brother. Hiraizumi, which enjoyed prosperity, was also attacked for favoring Yoshitsune and was overthrown in the end.
Motsu-ji is a temple that retains the memory of the rise and fall of Hiraizumi. When you walk around the Japanese garden surrounding a pond in the precinct, you may feel as if you could hear the commotion of those days in the vastness of the area and in the remains of the numerous halls of the temple. When you compare it with the present quietness, you may feel the vanity of life.
“Natsukusaya Tsuwamonodomoga Yumenoato,” The summer grasses – of brave soldiers’ dreams, the aftermath (translated by Donald Keene) is a haiku poem by the most famous haiku poet in Japan, Basho Matsuo. This haiku is inscribed on a stone haiku monument in the precinct of Motsu-ji.
Shukubo (temple stay)
Motsuji’s shukubo is divided into Japanese style temple lodging and a youth hostel. The youth hostel rooms are shared rooms with a bunk bed. The temple lodging rooms are Japanese style six tatami mat rooms with tables, tea cups, tea pots, electric fans, futon mattresses and duvets and yukata robes.
The hot spring facility is within a five-minute walk, and you can take a bath there.
They don’t serve dinner. There are some restaurants in front of the station, but some close very early. So, you should plan for meals in advance.
Zazen meditation
In the summer they hold a zazen meeting, and the guests can participate. As for the morning zazen meeting I participated in, we gathered at 6:25 in the lobby and walked to the main hall with our hands joined in prayer in a line lead by a priest. There, we sat on a round cushion and started zazen .
First, I was told to shake my body to and fro and left and right to balance out. I sat calmly for half an hour. If you wish to be hit by a stick during the zazen meeting, you join your hands in prayer, and you will be hit on the shoulders.
Many of the participants are in their 20s to 30s with no previous zazen experience. It is said that foreign guests often participate in this zazen meeting.
After the zazen meeting, we lodgers were able to take a leisurely walk in the Japanese garden before the general sightseers arrive. This garden is a typical Japanese garden. It is spacious and I felt refreshed.
