Sanjusangen-do |
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14:59 /
05.02.2007
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If you ever end up in Japan, and Kyoto in particular, a good antidote to the information overload is to rise early and see a temple. That way you will avoid the tourists and get some peace. I remember waking up about five o' clock in the morning not completely convinced that a trip to yet another temple justified interupting my already exquiste hangover, but my wife insisted. We crossed a bridge across the wide Kamo river and made up a steep incline past the many collapsing wood and corrugated iron dwellings that fell into view. Turning the corner we were presented with an imposing 11th century structure, although keen I was becoming a touch jaded. A capilary down from the main artery of Buddhism this temple reveres the Sahasrabhuja-arya-avalokiteśvara deity or the Thousand Armed Kannon, who vowed "to never rest until he had freed all sentient beings from samsara. Despite strenuous effort, he realizes that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, his head splits into eleven pieces. Amitabha Buddha, seeing his plight, gives him eleven heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokiteśvara attempts to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that his two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha comes to his aid and invests him with a thousand arms with which to aid the suffering multitudes." |
I found myself placing my shoes on the empty racks and sweaked across creaking floor boards into the main hall. I expected maybe a single gold Buddha, maybe a real big elongated one judging by the length of the hall but I didn't understand the intricacies of this particular sect. I smelt insence, heard drumming and slowly processed past the 28 guardian deities standing along the long path to the end of the hall, I also tried to comprehend the 1000 individual statues of the Kannon carved in cypress in 10 rows of 50 columns. Officially no photography is allowed within the temple, however Hiroshi Sugimoto was allowed to take some snaps. |
Statue of the rain god Raijin with drums to make thunder.
Hiroshi Sugimoto.
this particular temple is at the top of my list as well - living in Japan for over 4 years and seeking out new and interesting visuals - san jusan gendo is striking - when you're there make sure you walk around to the back as well - nice suprises - and if you're lucky you'll also catch some traditional archery
Posted by scott stensland
12:36 / 17/04/2007
12:36 / 17/04/2007
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