Kamakura stroll

Hokai-ji temple and its neighborhood

2010-10-09T10:21:00.000+09:00

Just one block to the east of the main gate of Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine, there is Hokai-ji temple. The temple was built by order of Emperor Godaigo by Ashikaga Takauji in 1335 in order to mourn the spirit of Hojo Takatoki who was the 14th regent of Kamakura shogunate.
In 1333 Nita Yoshisada attacked Hojo Takatoki and conquered.
Thus 140 years of the Kamakura shogunate came to an end. The temple was built on the land where the Hojo family’s residence used to be.
An octagonal shaped stone path leads you to main gate. White Hagi flowers (bush clover) bloom at the both sides of the path on October.
So the temple is called Hagi no Tera and it is very popular in the season.

Hondo (main building)
There are three booths in the Hondo.
In the central booth, Jizo-bosatsu statue that is main image of this temple, called Kosodate-Kyoyomi-jizo stands at center.
Jizo-bosatsu is popularly believed the patron saint of children and travelers.
The statue was made in 1365 by Buddhist sculptor Sanjyo Hoin kenen.
Wakiji-statues (attendant statue of main statue), Taishakuten and Bonten stand at both sides of main statue. They are originally deities in Hinduism. However after introduced into Japan, they became a guardian deity of Buddhism.
They are usually stationed both sides of main statue as symmetrical pair, Bonten is at left side and Taisyakute is at right side.
There are 10 small statues in front of Bonten statue and Taishakute statue. They are called Jyu-O, ten judges of the other world. In the many Japanese Buddhism sects say that after our death, we are supposed to be tried ten times by ten judges to decide life in the hereafter.
The near side on your left, a statue of Mizuko-Jozo is standing. Mizuko means unborn baby, such as miss carriage, stillbirth. Mizuko and dead babies shortly after birth can’t know how to go to Heaven or Paradise. So they lost way and wander in the other world. Mizuko-Jizo rescues them and raises them up to Heaven.

In the left side booth, there is a Jundei Kannon statue in the small sacred cabinet at the center.
Jundei kannon is one of the kannon Bosatu and the one saves souls of suffering people especially about children. The one usually is expressed a statue or picture with three eyes and eight arms.
Three eyes means three point of view, Kutei (空諦), katei (仮諦), Tyutei (中諦).
Eight arms mean Hasyo-do, The Noble Eightfold path.
The standing statue behind Jundei Kannon is a Fudo Myo-o.
Myo-o is another aspect of Buddha and it is said that Fudo Myo-o is an incarnation of Dainichi Buddha. He urges us to practice Buddhism and guards us from evil spirit. Fudo Myo-o is usually portrayed with a scowling expression seated on a rock and is surrounded by fire. He has a sword in his right hand and a coil of rope in the other hand to subjugate the evils. The sword symbolizes wisdom, the rope, pity and the fire, earthly desires. The fire is a picture concealed within another picture. If you look intently at the fire, you can find a bird called “Karura”. Karura eats a flame of people’s earthly desires.
These are very interesting but unfortunately we can’t see it clearly because of darkness.
The statue on the left side of Jundei-kannon is Sho-kannon.
Kannon Bosatsu is listening to the voice of many different people in prayer and is responding to all of them. So he sometimes changes his figure in order to give prayers help with the best way. So there are many variety Kannon forms. Sho Kannon is the regular form of Kannon, which is represented a standing posture or seated on lotus flower.
The statue on the right side of Jundei-kannon is Bishamonten, an alias is Tamonten.
Bishamonten is one of the four guardian deities of Buddhism. He guard north.
He is also a deity of wealth. He is usually represented as a dark blue figure with a pagoda, spear or a halberd in his hand.

In the right side booth a big Enma-Daio statue is sitting.
Enma Daio is one of the ten infernal judge deities. It is said that Enma Daio is a manifestation of Jizo bosastu. He has a record in which all actions in all people’s lifetime are written.
On the base of the record, he decides next world we will reborn.
In most Japanese Buddhism, when we die before we get Satori (spiritual enlightenment), we will all be classified into one of the following six worlds, Tenjyo (heaven), Ningen (human being), Asyura (a scene of bloodshed), Chikusyo (beast), Gaki (hungry devil) and Jigoku (hell).

There are three sub buildings on the right side of the precincts.

The building the nearest side is Taishi-do.
The building enshrines an image of Shotoku Taishi. Shotoku Taishi is one of the greatest persons in Japanese history. He was a regent of Emperor Suiko (took the throne in 593) and formed a centralized system with an Emperor at its center. He also established the first constitution in Japan, 17jo-no-Kenpo that showed the officials what to do.
He was a devout Buddhist and spread Buddhism.
He also built some temples include Horyu-ji temple that was built in 607.
Horyu-ji temple is the oldest wooden building in the world.
He wrote some commentaries of Buddhist sutra.
There is a very interesting episode concerning him.
When he sent an emissary, Ken-zui-shi, he made them carry a letter saying “this is a letter from the land of the rising sun to Emperor of the land of the setting sun. How are you?” It showed his spirit that to establish a relationship of equality to powerful empire, China, even though Japan was a newborn small weak nation.
Incidentally the name of country, Nihon or Nipon came from the phrase in the letter, the land of the rising sun means Hino moto no kuni (日本国).

The building next to Taishi-do is Tokuso Daigongen-do. Though the building is in the temple’s grand, it is a Shinto shrine. Therefore it has Torii-gate, shrine gate.
The small shrine enshrines Hojyo Takatoki, the last regent of Kamakura shogunate.
In Shinto all people become a Shinto deity, Kami after they die and are enshrined in the home altar or shrine.
Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan. On the other hand, Buddhism is a foreign-made one and was introduced to Japan in 538. Nevertheless, about 200 years later, the two religions had coexisted harmoniously with no confrontation. Many temples were built in the shrine grand. These temples were called “Jingu-Ji”, shrine temple. This is based on the theory that “Kami”, Sinto's deities are incarnations of Buddha and Bodhisattva or its reverse. In other words, deity in Shinto and Buddha in Buddhism are the same one that appears with different figures. After Syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism lasted for more than 1000 years, it is abolished once at Meiji Restoration in 1868 but still now the conception is living.

The inmost building is Daisyo Kankiten-do.
Daisyo means an honorific title of one who is in a state of enlightenment.
Kankiten was originally Satan in the Indian myth. However after introduced into Japan, he became a guardian deity of Buddhism. He is also worshiped as a deity of concord of husband and wife and having baby.
He is usually represented as a figure with an elephant-shaped head.
Unfortunately the statue isn’t open in public.

Throughout the garden you can enjoy many flowers such as Ume blossoms (Japanese apricot) from February to Mach, cherry blossoms from end of Mach to early April, especially 108 different species of camellias from November to April.

In Buddhism number of 108 has particular meaning.
According to Buddhist teaching, it seems people have 108 worldly desires.

The sight of Aoto Fujituna’s residence and Tosho-ji bridge.
When you leave Hokai-ji temple, turn left and go ahead about 60m. Then turn left again at the second block. You will reach Toshoji bridge, where Aoto Fujituna’s memorial stone stands on your left side.
Aoto Fujituna was a samurai who worked for Kamakura shogunate. There was an amusing anecdote about him and this bridge. One night he fell some coins (10Mon, today’s currency about 1000 yen) into the river from this bridge. He let him vassal to search for the coins. He paid out 50 Mon (about 5000 yen) for a pine torch. So people laughed him off as a stupid. He argued back against them. He said 50 Mon I paid made a contribution to merchant and the coins picked up will help other one. If I didn’t pick up the coins, those would have been dead in the river forever. So I made the best use of my money.

Present this bridge is an arched bridge that was built in 1924.

The bridge has been designated as one of the best 100 views of Kamakura because of the exquisite contrast between the bridge and the V-shaped valley.

Cross the bridge and go straight about 20m or so, an information board stands on your left. Here is the site of Tosyo-ji temple.
In 1333 when Nita Yoshisada attacked kamakura shogunate, a reader of shogunate, Hojo Takatoki evacuated to Tosso-ji templ. However Nita Yoshisada’s army set fire to the temple and all 870 Hojo folks and their warriors killed themselves by Harakiri. Thus kamakura shogunate was ruined.
Today there is no remains of Tosho-ji temple.

Go straight more 10m or so, there is Takatoki’s gave in the cave called Takatoki hara-kiri Yagura on your left side at the end of paved road.
It is said that a small stone in the center of cave is Hojyo Takatoki’s grave.

Red dragonfly

2010-09-22T19:48:00.000+09:00

In Japan there are about 20 species in the red dragonfly family.
The most popular red dragonfly is an Akiakane dragonfly.
They breed in rice paddies and have coexisted with humans for centuries.
In ancient time Japan was called Mizuho no Kuni or Akitsu Shima.
Mizuho no Kuni means The Land of Rice plants and Akitsu Shima means The Island of Akiakane dragonfly.

Normally Akiakane dragonfly emerges around early July. Newly-emerged Akiakane dragonfly’s body is weak and its color is light orange.

For a while they live around rice paddies where they were born and feed on insects pest on the rice plants.

Then they head for the high mountains.
During mid-summer they live there.

On September they come down to rice paddies in the plains.
At that time their body became firm and the color turned to red.
They usually fly in flocks.

After harvest rice they lay eggs on the wet soil in the rice paddies.
The eggs pass winter in the soil. And next spring when water is drawn in the paddies, eggs become larva. They feed on small underwater creatures. And early July they emerge.
Therefore the periods that we can see Akiakane dragonfly most are July and September.

These time are near the Bon festival and Higan, autumn equinoctial Buddhist ceremony.
The ceremony is memorial service for dead close relatives, ancestor and friends.

And the ceremony is based on a philosophy of never ending cycle of reincarnation.
So lots of Japanese think that Akiakane dragonfly might be the spirits of the dead close relatives that just have come back home.

Any way the sight of Akiakane dragonflies flying in flocks is one of the symbolic sights of Japan and Japanese sprits. So I hope this calm and peaceful sight last forever.

However in reality unfortunately the population of Akiakane dragonfly is decreasing year by year, because of the decline of rice farming, using pesticides, global warning and more.

Where was Kamakura Shogunate House?

2010-09-20T15:47:00.000+09:00

In Kamakura period, from 1192 to 1333, Kamakura was the center of virtual politics.
The seat of kamakura shogunate was moved twice.
The first kamakura shogunate set up at Okura by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1180.
We called it Okura shogunate. Okura shogunate was moved to Utsunomiya by forth shogun Fujiwara Yoritune in 1225. Then it was moved to Wakamiya Oji again in 1236 and it lasted to 1333.
Wakamiya Oji Shogunate was very closer to Utunomiya shogunate. So some researchers say that Utunomiya Shogunate and Wakamiya Oji Shogunate were same. Only the front gate was changed.
Each Shogunate’s House must have been an imposing edifice. However the edifices completely have gone now. There are only stone monuments.

Where was Okura Shogunate House?
It was in and around Seisen elementary school.

A narrow stream runs along the school. This stream is presumed to be from the moat of Shogunate House. And also the name of street in the east side of the school is Higashi(east) Mikado and west side area is Nishi(west) Mikado. Mikado means gate.

Where was Utunomiya Shogunate House?
The stone monument stands at set back slightly from the entrance of Dankazura. There is a small shrine called Utunomiya Inari shrine.

Where was Wakamiya Oji Shogunate House?
The stone monument stands distance from Utunomiya Shougnate about 300m to the east.
Both are in the quiet residential area.

Shirahata Jinjya
Go straight the street that stands Okura Shogunate memorial stone to the north.
You will find a small shrine on your left side at the end of the street.
The shrine is called Shirahata jinjya and dedicated to Minamoto no Yoritomo.
When Minamoto no Yritomo passed away, his body was buried here, Jibutu-do that was built by Yoritomo himself before his death in 1189.
After that Jibutu-do was called Hokkedo temple and it was greatly respected as one of the most important temples in Kamakura. However at the Meiji Restoration, Hokkedo temple was demolished and replaced by a Shintoist shrine called Shirahata jinjya. Shirahata mearns white flag. Color white is symbol color of Minamoto family. Today Minamoto no yoritomo is enshrined as a deity of good luck in competition.

Minamoto no Yoritomo's grave.
On the hill behind Shirahata jinjya, there is a tomb of Minamoto no Yoritomo.
He was died in 1199 at his age of 53.
The historical record Azuma Kagami says he was seriously injured by a fall from his horse. However it is hard to be accepted that an experienced warrior could fall off his horse.
So some historians have suspicion about his sudden death. Someone says he might have been assassinated by an avenger or he was killed by ghost of drowned Emperor Antoku and his younger brother Yoshitune who were mercilessly killed by Yoritomo. In fact Yritomo had tormented by nightmares every night.
His tomb originally was in the grand of Hokkedo temple but Simazu Shigehide who was descendant of Yoritomo moved here in 1779.
Yoritomo still now looks down the ancient site of Okura Shogunate House.

Oe hiromoto’s grave.
There is an alley at the right side back of the Yoritomo’s grave.
Go ahead the alley about 100m and you can get to three graves in the stone fence.
The center grave is a grave of Oe Hiromoto.
He was a senior statesman in Kamakura Shogunate. He was an aristocrat and had worked for the Imperial Court. However he was invited to take charge of shogunate’s office work when Yoritomo set up his government in Kamakura.
It is said that the left side one is the grave of Mori Suemitsu who was an Oe Hiromoto’s son and the right side one is the grave of Shimazu Tadahisa who was a descendant of Yritomo.

Kifu style grave stone.
Grave stones or memorial stones on the back of tortoise like this is called Kifu.
Ki means tortoise and Fu means a stand or a pedestal. So Kifu is a tortoise shaped pedestal.
In Asia since ancient time tortoises have been respected as a sacred creature and a symbol of eternal youth and immortality.
So sometimes a great figure’s grave was stood on Kifu style in order to carry on the virtue of the great man forever.

Egara-tenjin-sha shrine.

2010-08-09T19:58:00.000+09:00

This shrine was founded by local people in 1104.
Legend says on August 25 in 1104, thunder rolls suddenly and a picture image of Tenjin descended on the field of Egoma, foundation seed of sesame.
Then local people constructed a small shrine and planted a ginkgo tree as a sacred tree.

The tree has grown still now, you can see it on the right side of precinct.
Today this tree is the oldest ginkgo tree in Kamakura, nearly 900 years old.

Egara-tenjin-sha shrine is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane.
He was born in Kyoto. He was not only a statesman but also a great scholar and calligrapher.
As he had prominent talent, he was promoted to the highest ranking minister quickly.
An influence aristocrat, Fujiwara Takatoki was jealous of Michizane’s success and exiled him to Dazaifu in Fkuoka prefecture. Two years later Michizane died in sorrow there.
After his death, a series of thunderbolts fell on Kyoto and epidemics started and spread. In addition member of the Fjiwara family including Takatoki himself died mysteriously one after anothers.
Then the Imperial Court constructed the shrine at Kitano in Kyoto to calm Michizane’s tortured soul.
Michizane was worshiped as the deity of scholarship and was called Tenjin-sama. And the shrine that dedicates Tenjin-sama is called Tenman-gu shrine.

Nowadays there are about 12,000 Tenman-gu Shrines in Japan and Egara-tenji-sha shrine in Kamakura is one of the top three Tenjin- shrines in Japan.
The other two are Dazaifu Tenman-gu, where Michizane was exiled and Kitano Tenman-gu in Kyoto, where Michizane’ birth place.

In the Honden(main Bilding), two Tenjin statues are enshrined.

One is a seated image and he looks with anger and called Ikari-no-Tenjin.
The other is a standing image. Both statues are disignated as an important property.

In the precincts of most Tenjin- shrine you will see Japanese plum trees.

Michizane loved plum tree.
There is a well-known Michizane's Waka, Japanese traditional stayl poems
“kochi fukaba nioi okoseyo umenohana aruji nashitote haruna wasureso” it means “ Dear my plum tree, when spring wind breathe give off fragrance even though I’m not here”.

Also shrine crest is plum blossoms.

There is a stone monument on the left side of Honden. The monument is called kappa Fudezuka.
In Japan, since early times, people hold a memorial service for worn out pencil or writing brush by burial or cremation. And we call the memorial monument Fudezuka.
Shimizu Kon’s painting blush was buried here.
Shimizu Kon was a well known cartoonist who drew cartoons that main characters are Kappa.
Kappa is an imaginary animal that lives in the water and has a shell on its back and a dish on the top of its head.

A picture of kappa on the front was drawn by Shimizu Kon himself and on the back the words “Kappa Fudezuka” are engraved. The original calligraphy was written by Kawabata Yasunari, the Nobel Prize winning author.

Behind the Kappa Fudezuka there is a paintbrush-shaped monument, called Kappa efude zuka.
The monument was erected by 154 cartoonists who were on friendly with Shimizu Kon to praise his achievements.

On all side of monument we can see 154 different Kappa profiles that each cartoonist drew each one Kappa.

Lotus flower.

2010-07-29T13:48:00.000+09:00

Lotus is associated with Buddhism.
Lotus grows in muddy water but blooms with pure and noble flowers.
This teach us whatever circumstances around us we have to live purely, rightly and beautifully.

Some Buddha, for example, the Grate Buddha in Todai-ji temple in Nara prefecture, Birushana-bustu is in Rengezo-sekai. It means the infinite world that is consisted of lotus.

And also most statue of Buddha and Bodhisattva rest on lotus pedestal.

Mifu-no Renge.
Sometimes Bodhisattva holds a piece of lotus’ bud. This bud isn’t mere bud. One or two petals have opened already.
This means that this bud is a closed-flower after flowering.
It is called Mifu-no-renge(lotus flower).
It has a special meaning.
Generally it is said that Bodhisattva is the one who is on the way to the attainment of the enlightment or future Buddha and Bodhisattva is in second stage in Buddhist world.

Some Buddhist doctrines deny this ideal. Bodhisattva has been Buddha since long.

However Bodhisattva came down to second stage voluntary in order to act as a helper and savior to others who need salvation. Mifu-no-renge represents this fact.

Lotus sculptures in front of Great Buddha in Kamakura offer a topic of great interest.

Withered leaves signify the past, opened leaves signify the present and roll leaves signify the future.
Fruits signify the past, flowers signify the present and buds signify the future.

In a word they teach us the three temporal states of existence and the impermanence of the worldly things.

Hachisu-no-hana.
Sometimes we call lotus flower Hachisu-no-hana. Hachisu means wasp’s nest.
That’s because lotus’s fruit looks like a wasp’s nest.

In Kamakura, popular spots for lotus flower are Genpei ponds in Turugaoka-hachiman- gu shrine and Kisyu-garden in Komyo-ji temple.

In Genpei-pond originally red lotus planted in the Genji-pond and white lotus were planted in the Heishi-pond because red is symbol color of Genji-family and white is Heishi family’s one.
However today, these differences are gone and both colors bloom in both ponds.

Kisyu-garden, lotus flower pond garden in Komyo-ji temple was made by Kobori Ensyu who was an excellent tea ceremony master and gardener in Edo era.

And lotuses here are very special.
They are from 2,000 year old seeds that were found in the ruins of the Yayoi period by an authority of lotus studies, Dr. Oga.
So they are called Nisennen-has or Oga-Has. Color is vivid and elegant and it delights our eyes.

Kakuon-ji temple.

2010-07-22T16:08:00.000+09:00

Kakuon-ji temple.
In 1218, Hojo Yoshitoki who was 2nd regent of Kamakura Shogunate built a small altar house, called Okura Yakusi-do.
Later it was promoted to a temple by 9th regent of Kamakura Shogunate, Hojo Sadatoki in 1296.
He prayed for a stop to the Mongolian invasions.

The monks regularly guide visitors around the temple at a fixed time every day.
There are four interesting places to see, Aizen-do, Yakusi-do, Jyusan-Bustu-yagura and Jizo-do.

In the Aizen-do, two Myo-os and Ashuku Nyorai are enshrined.
Commonly Myo-o has an expression of wrath because Myo-o routs a devil and protects teachings of Buddhism. Myo-o also strongly converts disobedient people and help them.
It is said that Myo-o is an incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai. Nyorai is an honorific of Buddha.
Myo-o is mainly enshrined in the Shingon-shu sect temple and Kakuon-ji temple belongs to Shingon-shu sect.
Aizen Myo-o enshrined on the center of the altar. He is a patron deity of love and marriage and is believed to be able to adjust any trouble between couple. He also converts love and passion to Satori, spiritual enlightenment.
He is represented with six hands and three eyes. The entire body is red. The image usually possesses an arrow and a bow. These are symbols of love. He also has an arm called “Ko” and a bell. These are symbols of alarm to the sinners.

A statue on the right end of the altar is Fudo Myo-o.
Fudo Myo-o is usually portrayed with a scowling expression seated on a rock and surrounded by fire. He has a sword in his right hand and a coil of rope in the other hand, two things to subjugate the evils. The sword symbolizes wisdom, the rope, pity and the fire, earthly desires.
The fire is a picture concealed with in another picture. If you look intently at the fire, you can find a bird called “Karura”. Karura eats a flame of people’s earthly desires.
This statue of Fudo Myo-o is called the statue of Gangyo-shonin’s Kokoromi-no-Fudo.
Gangyo is monk’s name. Shonin means holly monk and Kokoromi means trial. It has a legend.
One day Gangyo asked his reverence that how I can get quintessence of Buddhism.
The reverence hand an iron statue of Amida-Buddha that closed his eyes and said when you can open his eyes, you will get the quintessence of Buddhism.
Gangyo went into Mt. Oyama and continued hard practice. And one day, Fudou Myo-o appeared in dense fog and patted eyes on the iron statue gently. Then eyes on the statue opened and he was aware of the essence of Buddhism. At that moment he seared the figure of Fudo Myo-o into his eyes and later he tried to reenact it. That is this statue.
Later Gangyo-shonin came back to Kamakura and he founded Tairaku-ji temple, Richiko-ji temple and Choraku-ji temple. He also restored Oyama-dera temple in the mid-slope of Mt. Oyama.

The statue on the left side of the altar is Ashuku-Nyorai.
He is a Buddha that lights up everywhere and everything in the world accurately.

Yakushi-do was built by Hojo Yoshitoki who was second regent of Kamakura shougunate on second December in 1218. This has a legend. On January in1218, after the New Year’s ceremony at Turugaoka-Hachimangu shrine, Hojo Yoshitoki had a dream.
In the dream, Inu-shinsyo, one of the twelve shinsyos appeared and said “don’t attendance at next year’s ceremony”.
Yoshitoki thought this is a counsel of Yakushi –nyoriai and Yakushi-nyorai guard him all the time. So he built Yakushi-do and enshrined Yakusi-Sanzon and twelve Shinshos, guardian deities of Yakushi-sanzon. Next New Year he didn’t want to take part in the ceremony but he was forced to attend the ceremony as a sword bearer. When the company of the ceremony go into the main hall of Turugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine, he saw a big white dog. He got feel chills and unwell suddenly. He got another person to change his role and went back home.
In the evening, after finished ceremony Minamoto Sanetomo, the 3rd shogun was assassinated on the stone steppe of shrine by his nephew. The changed bearer was also killed.
Next day when Yoshitoki visited Yakushi-do, a priest told him that the Inu-shinsyo had been disappeared since last night and have come back this morning.

Generally the two Bosatu figures are customarily placed on both sides on Nyorai figure.
We called such form Sanzon form, Trio Images.
In the Yakushi-Sanzon, main statue is Yakushi-nyorai, right side statue is Niko-bosatu and left side statue is Gako-bosatu.
Yakushi –nyorai is commonly known as the deity of medical care and medicine. So he usually holds a bottle of medicine but Ykushi-nyorai here does not.
Niko-bosatu and Gako-bisatu are nurses. Niko means sunlight, Gako means moonlight. So Niko-bosatu is a day shift nurse and Gako-bosatu is a night shift nurse. Then Yakushi-Sanzon provides 24-hour nursing care for us.

There is a statue of Aida-nyorai at the right end of the Yakushi-do.
This Amida statue is called Saya-Amida. Saya mearns sheath in Japanese.
The reason is that this Amida statue holds another small Amida stayue in its belly and this condition looks like sheath sword. This statue also is well known for Domon-decoration.
Domon means pattern made by clay. This mode was flourished in Kamakura period.

There is a statue of Binzuru-Sonjya, alias Obinzuru-Sama on the left of Gako-bosastu statue.
He is one of the 16 Arahats and has supernatural power. If we have an ailing part in our bodies and we touch the same part of the statue, we believe he will cure it.

There are statues Garan-shin on the left side interior in the hall.
Garan means temple’s buildings. So Garan-shin is a deity of temple’s buildings.
They were derived from China to guard temple’s buildings. Therefore they put on old style Chinese clothing.

On the ceiling of Yakushi-do, there are two wood panels. These panels were signed by Ashikaga Takauji, the 1st shougun of the Muromachi Reign, at the restoration of Yakushi-do in 1354.
The content of short piece is that under Emperor rules, people respect Buddha, teachings of Buddhism and Buddhist priest and hope for peace of the country.
And also there is a big painting of a dragon. This dragon was painted by Kano Michinobu at the restoration of Yakushi-do in Edo period.

Jyusan-bustu yagura
There is a cave called Jyusan- bustu Yagura in the corner of garden.
Jyusan-bustu are thirteen Nyorais or Bosastus in the jyusan-bustu belief in Buddhism.
In certain Buddhism teaching, after our death, we are supposed to get trials thirteen times by Jyusan-bustu. Our hereafter is decided there.
First trial hold at sho-nanoka(7days later death), next futa-nanoka(two×7 days=14 days later), ･････istu-nanoka(five×7days=35 days later), this day, Enma daio(left picture) decides next world we will be reborn.
It is said that Enma daio is a manifestation of Jizo bosastu. ･････nana-nanoka(seven×7 dayas=49 days later),･････isyu-ki(One year later),･････sankai-ki(three years later) and so on.

Usually we hold Buddhist ceremony for the soul of the departed at the same time these trials.
These ceremonies are also an act of merit in our life time. That’s because holding the ceremony bring us an easy of hereafter life, therefore anxieties of afterlife disappear and can live in well-filled every days.

In the Jizo-do, a Jizo-Bosatu is enshrined.
This Jizo statue is called Kuro-Jizo. Kuro mearns black. Kuro-jizo is not painted black. It has been cleaned many times but the statue turned back in time. That’ because the jozo is roasted by fire of Hell in substitute for people who are in Hell.
On August 8th, every year, at midnight, many people come to worship Kuro-jizo in the fete day of him. This night Kuro-jizo takes our feeling of yearning to the deceased.

In the garden you can enjoy Japanese apricot blossoms in early spring, hydrangeas in early summer, colored leaves of maple in autumn.

Star Festival (Tanabata Maturi)

2010-07-02T09:28:00.000+09:00

July 7th is the day of Tanabata Maturi, Star festival. In some areas it holds August 7th.
The festival originally come from China and modified into Japanese form.
In 755 the first Tanabata event hold at the imperial palace and then it spread to ordinary people.

People display bamboo with Tanzaku, a colored strip of paper. People write their wishes and romantic aspirations on the Tanzaku especially improving the skill of calligraphy and sewing.

The colors of Tanzaku are five and each color has a particular meaning.
color        virtue                structural element of the earth     direction         season
blue          benevolence                wood                                 east              spring(seisyun)
red           decency                       fire                                    south             summer(syuka)
yellow     faith                              earth                                 center           vernal/autumnal equinox
white        justice                         gold                                  west             autumn(Hakusyu)
black       wisdom                        water                                  north            winter(gento)

Tanabata Maturi is derived from a Chinese legend.
Once upon a time there was the Lord of Heaven. He has a daughter who is named Orihime because she is good at weaving and a hard worker. When she became marriageable, the Lord looked for her husband and he found a man who lives in opposite side of Milky Way.
He is a carboy named Kengu and he is a hard worker too. The Lord made introduction of them.
They fall in love at the first meet and they got marriage. They were living very happily. But soon they grew lazy and they became didn’t work at all.
The Lord was very angry. He tear apart the couple and gave Kengyu back to opposite side of Milky way. The Lord allowed them to meet once a year on Jury 7th. They began to work hard again out of sheer desire to see each other.
One year it was heavy rain. The river level became so high that they couldn’t cross the river.
At the moment many magpies came flew and lined and formed a bridge so that they were able to see successfully.

You can see Orihime and Kengyu at clear night sky in summer.
The star Vega in the Harp is Orihime, the star Altair in the Eagle is Kengyu and the star Deneb in the Swan is the magpies in the Tanabata story.

Go out and look up night sky. If weather is nice, you will see shining tree stars conspicuously near the zenith. The star in the Milky Way is the star Deneb and the star Vega and the star Altair meet face to face at the opposite side of the Milky Way.
When we draw a line between Deneb, Altair and Vega, a big isosceles triangle will appear.
We called it the big triangle of summer. You can’t miss it.

Hydrangea.

2010-06-21T18:26:00.004+09:00

Speaking of June flower, it means hydrangea in Japan.
In kamakura city, there are three well known places for beautiful hydrangea.
They are Meigetu-in temple, Hase-dera temple and Jyojyu-in temple.

Meigetu-in temple.

Hase-dera Temple

Jyojyu-in temple

Do you know that the hydrangea is native to Japan?

In the last days of Edo period, Phipp Franz von Siebold, he was in Nagasaki in Japan as a doctor for Dutch mercantile house. When he went back to Netherland, he brought 14 pieces Japanese hydrangeas and introduced them in his literally work “The flora of Japan”. In the book he named Japanese hydrangea “Hydrangea Otakusa”. Otkusa means his Japanese wife’s name Otakisan.

After that Japanese hydrangeas were improved in Europe especially in England.

Then they have been reverse-imported to Japan. We called it Seiyo Azisai, European hydrangea.

Flower head of Seiyo Azisai is ball-shaped. And it looks one flower but in reality, lots of small flowers come together. And also the small flower is classified two types.
One is a changed sepal and pistil and stamen are atrophied, so it’s sterile.
We called it decoration flower.

The other is a genuine flower. It has a sound pistil and stamen. Of course it’s fertile.
Where are they? Here this is a real flower.
It is inside of flower head.

In this flower head, there are many genuine flowers in the middle and decorated flower in a ring around the edge of flower head. Now we call it Gaku Azisai. This type of Azisai is typical original form of Japanese hydrangea.

This flower head is formed only many genuine flowers, no decoration flowers.
We called this type of hydrangea Koajisai.
They are so graceful and have faint aroma but unfortunately we can’t see them in Kamakura because they grow in the mountain forest.

Alpine gesneria in Tokei-ji temple.

2010-06-12T22:30:00.003+09:00

In Kamakura, speaking of flower in June, most people will mention hydrangea in the first place. However the flower I like most is an alpine gesneria. We called it Iwa-tabako because its leave resembles a leave of tobacco plant and it grows on the rocky cliff. (Iwa means rock, Tabako means tobacco).

Iwa- tabako isn’t so rare species. We can see here and there in the temple’s garden but it in the Tokei-ji temple’ garden is the best. I think･･･

Tokei-ji temple was opened as a nunnery by Kakusan-ni in 1285. Ni means a nun.
Kakusan-ni was a wife of Hojyo Tokimune who was the 8th regent of Kamakura Shogunate.
The temple was well known as a Enkiri-Dera(Temple for divorce). The reason is that Kakusan-ni enacted Enkiri-Jiho (The temple low for divorce) and helped many women who were in trouble of tyranny of her husband. At that time a wife could not divorce her abusive husband without the permission of the husband himself. Women in such trouble were used to run into this temple and if they stayed for three years, they were entitled to a divorce by the temple low.
This low lasted for roughly 580 years. The temple low was abolished in 1871 as the Shogunate ended and in 1903 the temple was converted from a nunnery to a Rinzai sect Zen temple.

There is one more interesting plant in the garden.
It is a climbing hydrangea. We called it Iwa-garami in Japanese because Iwa means rock, karami means creeper climbs.

The flower covered whole surface of the rock wall, you may think there are lots of stumps but amazingly it is only a bind weed.

Zuisen-ji temple

2010-06-05T16:37:00.000+09:00

Zuisen-ji temple’s origin was a hut for practicing Zen Buddhism. It was built by Muso Soseki in 1327. Later Ashikaga Motouji who was the 1st Kamakura Kubo became a follower of Muso Soseki and he extended and reconstructed the hut and named the temple Zuisei-ji.
After his death, he was buried here. Since then the temple became an ancestral temple of Kamakura-Kubo and very flourished in Muromachi period.
The Muromachi shogunate set its capital in Kyoto and set Kamakurafu to rule eastern 10 provinces in Kamakura. The head of Kamakurafu was called Kamakura-Kubo.

Soon after you go through entrance, there are two different slopes. The gentle and new one on the right called Onna-Zaka(slope for women) and the steep and old one, Otoko-Zaka. Let’s take Otoko-Zaka, it has a certain charm of ancient times.

Monument of Yoshida Shoin stands on your left on the end of stairs.
Yoshida Shoin was a patriot in the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
In 1853 when commodore Perry dropped into Uraga and demanded to open Japan, Shoin tried to stow away to America to study overseas situation.
At that time a chief priest of Zuisen-ji temple was Shoin’s uncle.
Therefore he stayed the temple several times.
However his attempt failed and he was jailed. After release from prison, he opened private school, Shoka-son-jyuku. The school had many persons who rendered great service to Meiji Restoration. But unfortunately, most xcellent pupils were killed in the war of Unti-shogunate movement.
A few survivors of pupils, for example, Ito Hirobumi became the 1st Prime Minister in Japan and Kido Yoshitaka(Kastura Kogoro) drafted Gokajyo-no-goseimon( the Charter Oath of Five Articles) and strived for Hanseki-houkan(Daimyo return to Emperor their land and people) and Hai-han-chiken(put an end to Han and newly placed prefecture).

Honndo(the main building of temple). In the Hondo, statue of Shaka-Buddha(Shaka-Nyorai), Senjyu-kannon and Musososeki are enshrined. Buddha’s honorific is called Nyorai. So Shaka-Buddha is sometimes called Shaka-Nyorai.

Syaka-Buddha’ secular name was Siddhartha Gautama, he is a founder of Buddhism, after became Buddha( after achieved spiritual enlightenment) he is called Shaka-Buddha.
According to later doctrines Shaka-Buddha was a manifestation of Eternal Truth on the earth. Therefore in Japanese Buddhism there are several Buddha, Amida-Buddha(Daibutu, Great Buddha in Kamakura is a this kind of Buddha), Yakushi-Buddha, Dainichi-Buddha, Birusyana-Buddha(Daibutu, Great Buddha in Todai-ji temple in Nara is a this kind of Buddha) and more.

Kannon-Bosatu is a sort of Buddha and The Original Vow of Kannon-Bosatu is saving all people in the world. This type of Kannon is called Senjyu- Kannon. The name is an abbreviation of Sengan Senjyu Kannon which means Kannon with one thousand eyes and one thousand hands. This signifies that Kannon is seeing the many different people in prayer and is responding to all of them. But most Senjyu Kannon images possess only 40 hands. But each hand possesses 25 eyes on its palm. 40×25=1000.
One thousand is symbol of Kannon’s immeasurable ability to save all people.

There is an elegant garden at the back of the Hondo. It was designed by Muso Soseki. He was not excellent Buddhist priest but also a prominent garden designer of the time and very well known for designing the gardens of Saiho-ji temple and Tenryu-ji temple in Kyoto. The garden is a typical Zen-Buddhist style garden in Muromati period and now is designated as a national place of scenic.

There is a small hall next to the right hand side of Hondo. It is called Dokomo- ku- Jizo hall.
In the hall, Jizo statue is enshrined. Old times, a Buddhist priest protected this statue and practiced Buddhism but the practice was so hard and he was so poor that he wanted to move other place. Just then, Jizo statue said wherever you go there are lots of pain and anxiety with you. The priest thought over again and stayed here.

Mujina Zuka. There is a mound behind the temple’s bell tower.
In the center of the mound, a stone image of raccoon dog wearing Kesa(stole worn by Buddhist priest) is standing. This mound is called Mujina-Zuka and it has legend.

Old time, in Zuisen-ji temple, there are two care taking hats. One hat was on the top of the hill and the other was on the foot of the hill. An elderly couple lived in the hat on the top of the hill and an old man lived in the hat on the foot of the hill. The old man often visited to the elderly couple’s hat.
One night, after the old man was served food and drink, he fell into doze. At that moment, a big tail appeared from his buttock. The old couple was so surprised that plunge a heated Hibashi(a chopstick for charcoal) into old man’s stomach in panic. When they came to themselves, there was a big carcass of raccoon dog. The old man was a raccoon dog in the shape of man. They had mercy on the raccoon dog and buried it with all due respect.

This temple is well known as a place for its Ume(Japanese apricot) blossoms.
There are not so many Ume tree in the garden but in early spring, the garden creates refined elegance.
And also the hollow Zuisen-ji temple stands is called Momiji-ga-yastu(the hollow of maple tree).
Therefore in fall you can enjoy beautiful autumn leaves.

Kamakura-gu Shrine.

2010-05-26T20:44:00.000+09:00

Kamakura-gu Shrine is erected to propitiate the spirit of prince Morinaga in 1870 by Emperor Meiji.
The shrine’s alias is Oto-no-miya after the prince’s honorific name is Oto-no miya.

Prince Morinaga is said to be the third child of Emperor Godaigo. As emperor Godaigo had many court ladies who gave birth to 36 children, so when the prince was born is not clear.
In 1331 Emperor Godaigo rose in arms to defeat the kamakura shogunate and tried to return to the government with the Emperor at its center. (Genko-no-ran).
At that time though prince Morinaga was the chief priest of Enryaku-ji temple, he led many monk soldiers and fought against kamakura shogunate. But at first the attempt failed. Emperor Godaigo was exiled to the remote island of Oki. Prince Morinaga escaped to Yosino. And from there he continued his Highness message “defeat kamakura shogunate”.
After that, several powerful samurai leaders such as Ashikaga Takauji, Nita yoshisada, Kusunoki Masasige took Emperor’s side and after much battle, in 1333 at last the kamakura shogunate was ruined.
Emperor Godaigo restored political power and Prince Morinaga became Sei-taisyougun.
The government of Emperor Godaigo is called Kenmu-no-shinsei(New government of Kenmu).
The emperor tried to unify Kuge and Buke under him. However the attempt didn’t go well.
Ashikaga Takauji betrayed the Emperor and banished emperor to Yoshino and captured prince Morinaga. Then prince Morinaga was sent to Kamakura.
He was kept under house-arrest at Toko-ji temple located at the present Kamakura-gu site.
In 1335 Ashikaga Tadayoshi who was Takauji’s younger brother was in Kamakura to defend the city was attacked the Hojo follower survivors. He didn’t know how to deal with the Price Morinaga and ordered to kill him. Prince Morinaga died at the age of 25.

The Meiji Restoration in 1868 was the restoration of imperial rule. The Meiji government established Shinto as the state religion to strengthen Emperor’s authority because Shinto is a religion of Imperial Family. Therefore at that time shrines were supported by the government and new shrines were built. Here Kamakura-gu shrine is one of them.

Murakami-sha.
This small shrine is sacred to Murakami Yoshitel who was a loyalist of price Morinaga.
In Yoshino battlefield, when prince Morinaga was driven into difficult situation, he swapped full armor to evacuate his master and died for his master.

This image is statue of Murakami Yoshiteru. People believed that if we worship his image and touch it or keep his small image, he will be in substitute for us when we were in accident or in bad fortune.

Minamino-kata-sha.
Small shrine stands on the left side of Honden. The shrine is dedicated to Minami-no-kata.
She was a court-lady who served Prince Morinaga.
She was pregnant with the Prince Morinaga’ s baby when the Prince Morinaga was killed.
The son later became a monk of Nichiren- shu sect and held a memorial service for the soul of his parents.

There is a dungeon at right behind Honden. It is said that Prince Morinaga had been confined for nine months in this dungeon. However, in fact, he was not imprisoned in this dungeon but was kept under house arrest instead.

Monument in connection with Emperor Meiji.
The upper part of monument is The Charter of Five Articles(Gokajyo-no goseimon). In 1868 the Meiji government which defeated the Edo shougunate announced the Charter of Five Articles(Gokajyo-no goseimon). It was a new government’s political platform. It says that Refer all state affairs to public opinions, Establish order with all classes of people in perfect, Corrupt bad custom and should be based on universal justice, Search knowledge in all over the world and more.

The lower part of monument is The Imperial Rescript of Education(kyoiku chokugo). The Meiji government also tried to establish the educational system for nation’s wealth and military strength. For that purpose, the Emperor promulgated The Imperial Rescript of Education(kyoiku chokugo). It was based on the instructions of the ancestors of the Imperial Family. It says that Be dutiful to your parents, husband and wife should live in happiness and harmony. Pursue your studies and polish your technique and more.

There is a holy tree at the right side of the stone steps to the hall of warship. It is called Ogatama-no-ki in Japanese, is an evergreen tree in the Magnolia family. Ogatama-no-ki has an interesting legend.
Once upon a time, in the Takamagahara, a heaven world, Amaterasu-Omikami who is a deity of the sun and ancestor of Imperial family got angry and hid in a cave and closed door. As a result the darkness settled all over the world. People held party to lure her out. Some group sang song, some group played musical instruments and others danced with twigs in their hands. The party sounds so merry that Amaterasu-Omikami couldn’t control herself anymore and opened the door of the cave and went out. Like this, bright light recovered in the world. The twigs at that time were twigs of Ogatama-no-ki and it is said that this is the origin of Kagura, a performance of music and dancing as a sacred Shinto rituals.

Graves of prince Morinaga.
There are two prince Morinaga’s graves.
One is at the site of Richiko-ji temple.
When prince Morinaga was killed the chief priest of Rchiko-ji buried his dead body here with full honors. Present pagoda is not original but new one. Now the grave area is administered by the Imperial Household Agency.

The other is in the precinct of Myoho-ji temple.
That is because the temple’s 5th head priest, Nichiei was a prince Morinaga’s son.
He built the grave here and held a memorial service for the soul of his parents.

Myoho-ji temple
This temple is a very important temple in Nichiren-syu sect.
When Nichire came Kamakura from Awa(Chiba prefecture), he lived around here and started his missionary works based here.
The name Myoho come from Nichiren-shu's sutra, Namu Myoho Renge kyo.

Any way most war was done under the just cause of peace and human happiness.
We have had uncountable war.
How many wars we need until we get eternal peace?
Now it’s time we should think if war realizes true peace.

Children's Day

2010-05-05T21:50:00.000+09:00

May 5th is Children’s Day.
Children's Day is the day to respect the dignity of children and to celebrate their growth and to pray for their happiness. It was designated a National holiday by the low in 1948.
But before the low, Children's Day was called "Tango-no-sekku" and it was Boys' festival day.
(Girl’s festival is March 3rd called Momo-no-sekku). And a custom of Tango-no-sekku still now remains, so most annual event of Children’s day is mainly for boys.

On this day, families with boys display a samurai doll or samurai helmet, fly carp streamers in their yards, eat Chimaki or Kashiwamochi and take a bath with Shobu in hope of healthy growth of the boys. Each thing has each ground.

Display Musha-ningyo(samurai doll) and Kabuto.

Families decorate a "kabuto" which is a samurai helmet or a samurai doll inside the house.
It is believed that they drive away evil spirits and help children to grow healthy and strongly.
The custom started in the Kamakura period.

Koinobori (carp streamers).

Families with boys also fly carp streamers outside their houses.
Flying carp streamers came from a Chinese legend.
Carps are believed to swim up the strong current of a waterfall and become a dragon.
They are s symbol of success in life.
The biggest black Koinobori is called "Magoi", which is put up on the top of the pole. The middle one is red and called "Higoi", and the smallest one is blue one called "Kogoi". They represent the image of father, mother, children, namely a peaceful family.

Chimaki and Kashiwamochi(rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or oak leaves).
We usually eat “Chimaki” or “Kashiwa-mochi” on Children's Day.
Chimaki is a rice dumpling wrapped in a bamboo leaves. People believe bamboos have a supernatural power because bamboos sometimes grow up 1m a day. So people eat Chimaki in hope of children’ s rapidly growth and children’s dreams come true.
Kashiwamochi is a rice dumpling wrapped in an oak leaf. Why do we use an oak leaf for Children's day? It is because an old oak leaf doesn't fall until a new sprout appears, so this symbolizes a long lasting family line.
Two types of sweet paste are used inside the rice dumplings, a sweet bean paste or a mixture of Miso and bean paste.

Take a bath with Shobu
On Children's Day, many people take a bath with Shobu leaves.
This is because of the leaf's strong aroma.
It was believed that it removed evil spirits from the body and kept children healthy and strong.

By the way Shobu is different from Hana-shobu.
Shobu is a plant of the Arum family.
This is a Shobu and its flower.

Hana-shobu is a plant of the Iridaceae.
They have variety of beautiful flowers.

Hana-shobu(Iris).
And also Hana-shobu is different from Ayame though both plants are in the same Iridacea.
The base of a Hana-syobu’s tepal has featurless color spot.

Ayame(Iris).
The base of an Ayame’s tepal has checkered pattern spot.

Northeast 2

2010-05-02T10:24:00.000+09:00

Course: Kamakura Station(鎌倉駅)→( by bus )→Jyomyou-Ji bus stop(浄明寺バス停)→Jyomyo-ji temple (浄妙寺)→Hokoku-ji temple(報国寺)→Sugimoto-dera(杉本寺)→Sugimoto-kannon bus stop(杉本観音バス停）→ ( by bus )→Kamakura Station(鎌倉駅）.

Time required: About 3 hours.
Points of interests: three attractive temples.

Jyomyo-ji temple(浄妙寺)
After you get off the bus, go ahead just a few and turn left. The temple is at the end of path.
This temple was founded by Ashikaga Yoshikane and opened Taiko Gyoyu in 1188 as an esoteric Buddhist temple(Shingon-syu sect) called Gokuraku-ji.
Later around 1258, the priest Geppo Ryonen of Kencho-ji took over the temple and changed the name to Jyomyo-ji and at the same time the temple was converted to Zen Buddhism (Rinzai-syu sect). In Muromachi period the temple designated as a temple ranked 5th of the five great temples in Kamakura.

Hon-do(main building) is covered by copper roof.
The main object of worship enshrined in the hall is a statue of Sakyamuni and Awashima Myojin. As you know Sakyamuni is founder of Buddhism and Awashima Myojin is believed to bring an easy childbirth and to cure of women’s diseases. Unfortunately Hon-do is usually not opened to the public.

Kaizan-do
Behind the Hon-do, there is a small building called Kaizan-do.
In the Kaizan-do several interesting statues are enshrined such as a wooden statue of Taiko Gyoyu that is designated an Important Cultural Property, a statue of Sanpokojin that is a guardian deity of kitchen, a statue of Fujiwara Kamatari and more. But we can only see them on special occasions.

Kisen-an and Karesansui garden.
On the left hand side of the Hon-do, a tea ceremony house, called Kisen-an welcomes guests. Visitors can attend the tea ceremony with a view of garden.

The garden is a Zen style Japanese rock garden called Karesansui. It represents the spirit of Zen “Ku“

Grave of Ashikaga Sadauji.
It is said that this tombstone is the Ashikaga Sadauji’s grave.
Ashikaga Sadauji restored this temple in the 14th century. He was also the father of Ashikaga Takauji who was the first shogun of the Muromachi shogunate.

Kamatari Inari Shrine
On the right hand side of temple, there is a path leads to Kamatari Inari Jinjya. This small shrine enshrines Fujiwara Kamatari. He was a politician in 7th century and led the political restoration of Taika in 645. There is a legend about this shrine. When Fujiwara Kamatari passed by this area on the way to Kashima shrine, he had a dream. In his dream, he was told by old man to bury this spear with sickle head in this land for peace and order of this region. When he woke up, there was a spear beside his pillow. Next day a white fox appeared and led him up to the hill. Kamatari buried the spear and built a small shrine there. That is one you are seeing here now. It is also said that the place-name “ kamakura “ originates from this legend. Because sickle means Kama and warehouse means Kra in Japanese.

Go back to the bus road and turn right. And turn left at the first traffic light, about 3minute later you will see the temple on your right.

Hokoku-ji temple(報国寺)
This temple was founded by Ashikaga Ietoki and opened by Tengan Eko in 1334.
Ashikaga Ietoki was the grand farther of Ashikaga Takauji who was the first shogun of Muromachi shogunate. So in Muromachi period the temple was flourished as a family temple of Ashikaga clan and Uesugi clan.

Hon-do
A statue of Sakyamuni is enshrined as a principal image in this Hon-do. In the past there were many masterpieces of Buddhist images in this temple but most of them were lost by fire in 1891. Some images escaped from the fire are currently deposited with the Kamakura Museum.

The temple is so famous for its bamboo garden. Visitors can enjoy green tea and Japanese sweets in front of the bamboo garden.

You can find some caves on halfway up the cliff at the end of garden. This kind of cave is called Yagura. Yagura is a sort of burial cave.
Since Kamakura doesn’t have much of flatland, building a tomb in the city was prohibited by the law in those days. Therefore people made caves on the hillside and set up memorial stones to the dead in the cave. In those Yagura, there are many tombstone of Ashikaga family.
The Muromachi shogunate set its capital in Kyoto and set Kamakurafu to rule eastern 10 provinces in Kamakura. The head of Kamakurafu was called Kamakura-Kubo and Ashikaga family took office the post. An assistant of Kamakura-kubo was called Kanto-Kanrei and Uesugi family took the post hereditarily. So in Muromachi period the ruler of Kamakura were Ashikaga and Uesugi families.

Instantly you go out the temple’s gate, go in to the path on your left. There stand a guidepost to Dengakuzushinomichi. After 5 minutu or so you will reach a crossroad, turn left and go straight about 50m. Subimoto-dera temple is in front of you.

Sugimoto-Kannon temple(杉本観音)
This temple is the oldest temple in Kamakura. It was founded by Empress Komyo and opened by Gyoki in734. Gyoki was one of the greatest monks of early Buddhism in Japan. He contributed very much to make popular Buddhism and social welfare oriented faith. He played a key role of the erection of the Great Buddha in Nara prefecture. He also constructed facilities of irrigations, bridges and more on at the front of the people and developed the rice agriculture. People used to call him Gyoki-Bosatu which meant the incarnation of Buddha.

When you go up steep stars, you get to a gate with thatch roof soon.
The gate is called Nio-mon and at both sides of downstairs, statue of the Two Deva Kings(仁王) are arranged. They were originally Hindu deities. But after they have been adopted in Buddhism, their mission is to protect Buddha’s teachings.
These Nio statues were carved by a great sculptor Unkei and one of the masterpieces in the time of the Kamakura era.

The statue on the right opens its mouth and is saying “ah” .

The left one closed its mouth and is saying “un”.
“Ah-Un” is a Buddhist word which represents the beginning and end of all things in the universe.
In Japan, "ah-un" also means mutual understanding with no verbal explanation. It is a very important element of human relation.
Even if nobody says anything, you should understand what people are thinking and want to do. Then you should meet the demands of them appropriately and harmoniously.
Incidentally, Japanese alphabet also the sound of the first letter is “ah” and the sound of the last letter is “un”.

This small shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten which was originally a Hindu goddess of rivers and music. Once introduced to Japan she was blended with Buddhism and Shinto, and became the Goddess of water, fortune, art and learning.
She is usually represented playing a Bia which is a Japanese musical instruments like lute or mandolin. And also she is often shown naked and wind snake around her body. But unfortunately Hon-do is usually not open to the public.

This temple is famous for its beautiful moss-covered stone steps. The stones are called “Kamakura Stone”. These are volcanic sedimentary rocks that were formed about 4 million years ago in the sea bottom. These stones are easy to process and have comparatively moisturizing component so that easy to grow moss.

In the Hon-do you can see many interesting Buddhist statues.
Principal images in the Hon-do are trio Jyuichimen Kannon. The one on the left is the oldest and is said to have been made in 734 by Gyoki himself. The one in the center was made in 851 by the monk Jikan Daishi and the one on the right in 985 by monk Eshin Sozu.
The trio Kannon has a legend. In 1189 the Hon-do was razed by fire. However the trio Kannon escaped from the fire by themselves and waited for help hiding under a big cedar tree in the garden. A cedar tree is called Sugi in Japanese and under means Moto in Japanese. This is origin of the temple’s name.
Maedachi statue, a statue of standing-infront main statue.
In the past the main statue was rarely shown to the public because it is so sacred and precious.
So usually replica or miniature of the main statue is worshipped.
Uncommonly, this Maedachi statue is larger than main statue and was dedicated by Minamoto-no Yoritomo who was the first shogun of the Kamamura shogunate.

Kannon is a sort of Buddha and is believed to save all the people in the world.
This type of Kannon is called Jyuichimen(eleven faced)- Kannon. The statue has 11 faces on the head. The three in front are mercy faces, the three on the left are grief faces and the three on the right are angry faces. The one on the back is laughing. The one on the top is own face or sometimes Nyorai face. This signifies that Kannon is listening to the voice of many different people in prayer and is responding to all of them.

Wakiji-statue, attendant statue of main statue.
Sometimes, attendant statues are arranged on both sides of a main statue one each.
But in this temple unusually several statues set on the both sides.

On the right side of Maedachi statue, there are two large statues and a group of small statues.
The one next to the Maedachi statue, Bisyamonten stands. Bisyamonten is one of the four heavenly kings who are guardian deities of four directions in Buddhist cosmology.
He guards the northern direction and is usually represented as a yellow figure with small pagoda and spear. He is also a deity of fortune. This statue was made by Takuma Hogan who was noted sculptor of Buddhist in Kamakura era.
The one in the center is a statue of Fudo-Myoo. Fudo-Myoo is regarded as a manifestation of Buddha. He is usually portrayed with scowling expression, seated on a rock and surrounded by fire. The fire is an optical illusion of the holy birds, named Karura which eat earthly desires of people. He has a sword in his right hand and a coil of rope in the other hand. Two things are tools of subjugate the evils.
There is a group of small statues on the right end. They are different figures, such as a priest, government official, ordinary woman and monster but all statues are Kannon-Bosatu. Kannon-Bosatu change oneself into 33 different figures to save all people in the most effective way. Have you ever been helped by anybody? He or she may have been Kannon-Bosatu. Therefore next time you become Kannon-Bosatu and should help people. This is a teaching of Kannon-Bosatu.

Next to the left side of Maedate Kannon, New Jyuichimen kannon statue stands. The statue was carved by this temple’s chief priest before last.
On the left the statue, two Jizo-Bosatu statues are set. Leftmost statue was carved by Unkei.
Jizo-Bosatu is a sort of Buddha and he is a patron saint of children and travelers.

At the window, there is a statue of Binzyru-Sonjya, alias Obinzuru-Sama. He is one of the 16 Arahats and has supernatural power. If we have an ailing part in our bodies and we touch the same part of the statue, we believe he will cure it.

In the precinct Six-Jizo Bosatu welcome you.
Jizo-Bosatu is often seen in groups of six. In most Japanese Buddhism it is believed that once we die before we get Satori(spiritual enlightenment), we will all be classified into one of the following six world or stage. Tenjyo(heaven), Ningen(human being), Asyura(a scene of bloodshed), Chikusyo(beast), Gaki(hungry devil) and Jigoku(hell). Each Jizo of six-jizo is assigned to one of the six stages to save our wandering souls in the stages.

At the end of the precinct, there is a small shrine, Hakusan-Jinjya shrine.
Main enshrined deity is Shirayama-Hime.
There is a shrine in the temple’s garden. This shows a remaining of mixture of Buddhism and Shinto.

This temple is frequently visited by pilgrims who are called Ohenro-san. They wear white costumes and carry a staff. In this Kanto region, there is centuries-old customs of pilgrimage that travel around 33 temples enshrined Kannon. Sugimoto Kannon temple is the 1st destination on that pilgrimage.

Sugimoto-kannon bus stop(杉本観音バス停) stands in front of the temple.
You can go back Kamakura station on foot in about 30 minutes.

Buddha’s birthday festival.

2010-04-11T00:13:00.000+09:00

April 8th is the day to celebrate Buddha’s birthday.
On this day, at temple all over Japan, people pour hydrangea tea with ladles over miniature statue of Buddha.

The statue points at heaven with his right hand and the earth with his left hand. This posture is based on a legend. Buddha walked three steps right after his birth and he said “every human being is the one and only and has dignity. But the three realms of existence are filled with anguish, so I want to rescue all people who are suffering.” (天上天下唯我独尊三界皆苦我当度之). When the dragon that lives in the Heaven heard it he was moved and sent sweet rain. And also all flowers that grow on the earth bloomed all at once.

Buddha’ s secular name is Siddartha Guatama. He was born as a prince of the Shakya clan in the area on the India-Nepal border. He was living in comfort but he questioned from where human sufferings and frailty came and why it is the inescapable human fate. At the age of 29, he left the palace and his family and became a monk to search the answer.
After numerous ascetic practices, at the age of 35, at last he had found the path to enlightenments. It was the dawn of December eighth when the morning star appeared in the eastern sky.

Photo: He is in training(near side) and after inlightenmented one(the back).

From this time on the prince Siddhartha was known by different names. Some spoke of him as Buddha, Shakyamuni, Tathagata, others called him the World-honored One. Until passed into Nirvana at the age of 80, Buddha went all over country and preached to the people the matter of his enlightenment.
His teachings are called the Four Noble Truths and it can be summarized briefly as follows.
First, existence and life are suffering. Second, the cause of suffering is craving.
Third, suffering will only cease when craving is removed. Fourth, the way to remove suffering is found by embracing the Noble Eightfold Path: right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
So Buddha is an enlightenment one but not God or the creator of the world.
This point is very important to understand Buddhism.

Buddha didn’t leave any note but his teachings were memorized by his followers and were later compiled in the form of scriptures (sutra). Therefore most Buddhist scriptures start with a phrase "I’m heard that …..".

Buddha also didn’t introduce any idol worship during his life time. Later, when Buddhism met with Hellenism in Gandhara, Buddhism involved in idol worship. Idol warship is regarded as a mere means to spread the teaching among the common people.
As Buddhism spread over Southeast Asia, many schools developed. Thus, in Japan today, we have more than 10 schools and have several Buddhas besides Shakyamuni Buddha such as Rushana Buddha (great Buddha at Todaiji-temple in Nara), Amida Buddha (great Buddha at Kotokuin-temple in Kamakura), Dainichi Buddha, Yakushi Buddha and more.
Unexpectedly, today, there are 117 temples in Kamakura city. Among them, only roughly 20 temples enshrined image of Shakyamuni Buddha as a principal icon.

Cherry blossoms

2010-04-01T15:12:00.000+09:00

In Kamakura, from late March to early April, cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

In the town and hills are covered with splendid pink.

The most popular places are Dankazura, an approach to Turugaoka Hachiman- gu shrine and Genpei pond in the garden of the shrine.

Dankazura walkway was laid by Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1182. He dedicated this walkway to the deity of Hachiman, the main deity of Hachiman-gu shrine. He prayed that his expectant wife Masako would have a safe delivery and a baby boy. It is said that Yoritomo himself directed the construction on site. His prayer was answered. He had a baby boy and the baby became the second shogun.
This walkway has an interesting feature. As we approach to shrine the walkway becomes gradually narrower and narrower and lower and lower. Therefore we can see the shrine is farther on, bigger and solemner than actual it.

Genpei- pond
The right side pond is called Genji pond and the left side pond is called Heike pond. These ponds were made by Hojo Masako, Minamoto no Yoritomo’s wife in order to play for victory of Yoritomo in 1182.

Shortly before Kamakura period, there were two big samurai groups, Heishi family group and Genji family group. Taira no Kiyomori, a head of Heishi family made his daughter marry to emperor and got enormous influence among the Imperial Court as an emperor’s father in low and emperor’s grand farther. All his family took up an important post and lived in great luxury. On the other hand he oppressed other samurai groups and people. So there was increasing disaffection.
In 1180, Minamotono no Yoritomo, a head of Genji family was inspired by many samurai groups and people and raised the flag and took up arms against Heishi family. Genji pond has three islets and Heishi pond has four islets. Tree in Japanese is san(3), four is shi(4). San also means birth or produce and shi also means death. So people say that Masako tried to pray the death of Heishi family’s day and the birth of Genji family’s day.
In 1185, after much bitter fighting, Yoritomo defeated Heishi family group. Then in 1192, he became shogun and set up his government here in Kamakuara. It was the first samurai ruled government in Japan’s history.

During the cherry blossom season people go Hanami, flower-viewing and have Hanami parties under the tree. Flower-viewing started as a religious ritual. People believed deities descended to the cherry trees. So people welcomed deities with food and drink.
Nowadays the religious meaning has been lost to many people but people enjoy Hanami.

Cherry blossom is the national flower of Japan. Japanese people are fond of it because cherry blossoms fall in an instant and this fits the Japanese sense of beauty.

Northeast

2010-03-22T10:04:00.000+09:00

Course : JR Ofuna Station(JR大船駅) or Keikyu line Kanazawa HhaKei station(京急金沢八景駅)→( by bus )→Asahina bus stop(朝比奈バス停)→Kumano Shrine(熊野神社)→Asaina Kiridoshi(朝夷奈切通し)→Kajiwara Tachiarai mizu(梶原太刀洗い水)→Juniso shrine(十二所神社)→Kosoku-Ji temple(光触寺)→Myo-o-in(明王院)→ Sensui bashi bus stop(泉水橋バス停）→ ( by bus )→Kamakura Station(鎌倉駅）or Keikyu line Kanazawa HhaKei station(京急金沢八景駅).
Walking time : About 3 hours.
Points of interests: pleasant walking ancient path and interesting historical remains and some attractive temples.

After you got off the bus, go into a narrow street follow the sign.

About 5 minutes later, you will reach a fork. There are several Buddhist statues there. Take right path.

At this time of the year, you will be able to hear lovely birds singing such as bush warbler, titmouse and more.

About 15 minutes later you will reach a fork again.
The path to Kiridoshi is right. But let’s drop in Kumano shrine, so turn left and go about 100m.
Then turn right next fork. Kumano shrine is on the end of the path.
Kumano shrine was built at the same time the cutting works of Kiridoshi in order to play for safety and success of constructions. Enshrined deities are invited from Kumano Sansya(熊野三社), so in a sense, it is a branch shrine of Kumano Sansya. Nowadays the shrine is a tutelary shrine of Asahina area.

Afterwards, return to the fork and take the left path up. In a little while, you will get the top of the Kiridoshi.
There is a Buddha figure caved in the cliff on your left side. Asaina Kiridoshi(朝夷奈切通し).
“Kiridoshi(切通し)”is a road that was cut through the hills. The central part of Kamakura is surrounded by hills on three sides. It’s a good natural fortress. This is one of the reasons “Minamoto no Yoritomo” chose this place to set up his government. On the other hand people in the town needed traveling and transportation of goods to and from the town. For that reason they cut through some places of hills. There are seven “Kiritoshi” in Kamakura. Here“Asahina Kiridoshi”was a main road to the“Kanazawa”region.　It was cut in 1240. At that time, a hero named Asahina-Saburo-Yoshihede cat a ridge open overnight. So here has been called Asahina-Kiridoshi.
All Kiridoshi were constructed in strategically. The roads were narrow barely wide enough for a man on horseback to pass through in order to easy to defend from enemy attack.

From here the path is downward-sloping and this Kiridoshi recall the flavor of the Kamakura period most.

In addition you can see the some early spring wild flower such as violets, archangel, spiketail and so on.

There is a water fall called “Saburo Daki” at the end of Kiridoshi path.

Turn left and go about 50 meter, there is a small spring on your right hand.

This is a Kajiwara Tatiarai mizu(梶原太刀洗い水).
This spring water is counted as one of the Five famed mineral water in Kamakura. But it is called unbecoming name for pure water, “Kajiwara Tachiarai mizu”.
Tachi means sword and mizu, water. Legend says here is the place that Kajiwara Kagetoki killed Kazusanosuke Hirotsune with his sword and washed the sword.
Both person were immediate vassal of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first Shogun of Kamakuta Shogunate. But Kazusanosuke was suspected of rebellion and was killed under the order of Yoritomo.
Lamentably, in Kamakura period, rulers have to spend all their time doing power struggles and there were full of covetousness and plots.
Fore example, Yoritomo killed his cousin and cousin’s son(Kiso Yoshinaka and Yoshitaka), two his younger brother(Minamoto no Yoriie and Yositsune) and his nephew(Shizuka’ s baby boy). They helped Yoritomo and work hard to establish Kamakura shogunate.
Hojyo family killed his master family such as Minamoto no Yoriie and Yoriie’s son(second Shogun and expected third shogun) and also killed almost all co-worker or colleagues of Kamakura shogunate that they set up together, such as Kajiwara, Hiki, Hatakeyama, Wada and Miura family.

Go ahead along the street until you reach main road with traffic light. Juniso shrine (十二所神社) stands catercorner to traffic light on the other side of the road.
This shrine was founded in the courtyard of Kosoku-Ji temple in 1278.
In 1838, the shrine was moved to the present location and enshrined 7 Amatu-Kami(天神) and 5 Kunitu-Kami(国神). 7＋5 = 12. Therefore the shrine is named Juni(12)so-Jinja.

A stone called “Hyakan-ishi” is located on the right side of shrine gate. Hyakan means 100kan, kan is a old unit of weight in Japan. 1Kan=3.75kg. 100kan=375kg. In old time, local men used to compete by lifting this stone at the festival.

After you came back traffic light, go along the road about 400m. There is Jyuniso bus stop. Turn left there, soon you can see the gate of Kosoku-Ji temple(光触寺).

The temple was built in 1279. The principal icon, Amida Buddha statue is called “Hohoyake Amida”(Burnt cheek Amida). This nickname comes from the following legend.
There was a noble woman named Machi-no-tsubone near the temple. She had Amida Budduha made by celebrated sculptor of Buddhist, Unkei. She worshiped it sincerely and chants a prayer to Amida every day.
One day, some valuables were stolen from the Machi-no-tsubone’ s mansion. A monk became the suspect and he was punished by command of Macti-no tsubone. The monk was branded on his cheek. But surprisingly, next day there was no trace on his cheek. So his cheek was branded again. That night in Mache-no-tsubone’s dream Amida Buddha appeared and asked her. Why do you brand on my cheek? She immediately went to Amida statue and found the burnt trace on the statue’ cheek. She realized that Amida Buddha was in place of the monk and Amida Buddha teaches her harsh punishment is disagreeable. Of cause she pardoned the monk but the trace on statue’s cheek never disappeared after that.

On the right hand side of the main building, there are Jizo statues called “Shio-name Jizo” in a small hut. One day, a salt merchant donated his salt to the Jizo on his way to center of Kamakura in the morning. When he passed by again on the way back in the evening, the salt was gone. Since then, people have been offering salt to the Jizo.

After come back Jyuni-so bus stop, cross the road and turn left and go ahead about 130m, you will reach Akashi-bashi bridge. Then turn right on this side of the bridge, don’t across the bridge and go along the river until next bridge, Futatu-bashi. You can see the gate of Myo-o-in on your right.

Myo-o-in(明王院)
This temple was built by forth shogun of Kamakura shogunate, Fujiwara Yoritsune in 1235. Around this area is located “Kimon” of center of Kamakura. “Kimon” is demons gate, it means the direction from devils or disasters come. Therefore, Yoritsune built Myo-o-in here in order to protect the city center from evil spirits.
Main building of the temple enshrines Five Great Myo-o. At the center, there’s Fudo Myo-o, and Gosanze Myo-o in the east, Gundari Myo-o in the south, Daiitoku Myo-o in the west, Kongo- yasha Myo-o in the north.

In Esoteric Buddhism(密教), Myo-o is usually enshrined instead of Buddha(Tathagata) because it is said that Myo-o is another aspect of Buddha. Fudo Myo-o is an incarnation of Dainichi Buddha(Tathagata).

After you leave the temple, cross Futatu bashi bridge, soon you will end up at main road. Turn right and go ahead about 100m. Sensui bashi bridge bus stop(泉水橋バス停) stands there.

There are interesting temples further on the street such as Jyomyo-Ji, Hokoku-ji, and Sugimoto-Dera. But let’s call it a day. You can go back Kanazawa Hhakei station or Kamakura station by bus.

Sacred tree knocked down

2010-03-14T17:31:00.000+09:00

There is a sad news.
A sacred ginkgo tree in the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was knocked down by gusts at dawn on March 10th. A security guard reported hearing thumping sounds "as if lightning had struck" around 4:40 a.m.

The majestic tree was height of 30 meters, 6.8 meters in circumference and estimated 1,000-year-old. It was renowned for its golden leaves each fall. Most people who visited here gave whoop of joy and appeared their photograph with the tree.

The tree was called “Kakure Ityou”. kakure means hide, Ityou means gingko tree. The name is derived from the following.
On January 27 in 1219, in the snowy evening, Minamoto no Sanetomo, the 3rd Shogun was assassinated by his nephew, Minamoto no Kugyo. He hid behind the ginkgo tree and killed Sanetomo when he came out of the Main Hall. No one knows why Kugyo had to kill his uncle. Probably he mistakenly thought that Sanetomo had killed his father, or it might have been a plot by the Hojo family. In fact, later, Kugyo was killed too and the Minamoto family line became extinct. After that, the real power of the Kamakura shogunate fell into the hands of the Hojo family.

The shrine is going to replant the part near the root. They are expecting 90%success. And shrine also wants to investigate breeding plantlet by cutting method and clone technique.

Anyway this sudden incident brought back me that this world is uncertainty,
so we have to treat people with complete sincerity, as though it were a once-in-a-life time opportunity.

Hina Doll Festival

2010-03-01T22:41:00.002+09:00

The Hina Doll Festival, “Hina Maturi”, is heled on March third.
It's a day to celebrate the growth and good health of girls. On this day, families whith girls display Hina Dolls in their homes.
The festival has its roots in the Heian period and spread through the nobles and Samurai class in the middle of the Edo period.

The dolls wear Heian period costumes.
Hina dolls display stand generally has 7 tiers and 15dolls.
Emperor and Empress are on the first tier,
Three court ladys are on the second tier.
Five musical accompanists are on the third tier.
The Minister of the Right and the Minister of Left are on the fourh tier.
Three attendants are on the fifth tier.
Furnishings are on the sixth tier.
An oxcart, an palanquin and other thngs are on the seventh tier.

These days, sometimes people display only the emperor and empress because of housing situation and easiness.

Hina dolls are displayed for 2 to 3 weeks before the festival.
The hinadolls are putaway right after march 3rd end. The reason is that iong ago people believed, if you don’t put them away right away, you won’t be able to get married.

This festival is also called “Momo no Sekku”. Momo means peach and Sekku means seasonal festival. People usually decorate dolls display stand with peach blossom.
Why is it peach? Because peaches have a power of purify things and ward off evil spirits.
It came from old book “Kojiki(古事記)”. Once upon a time, Izanagi went to Yominokuni, nether world to see his dead wife, Izamami. There, he was attacked with lots of demons. When it was a close call, he threw peaches at demons and escaped the danger.

Beach Walk

2010-02-23T22:53:00.007+09:00

Course : Kamakura Station(by bus)→Iijima bus stop(飯島)→Wakaejima(和賀江嶋)→
              Zaimokuza(材木座)beach→Yuigahama(由比ｹ浜)beach→Inamuragasaki Headland(稲村ｹ崎)
             →Shichirigahama(七里ｹ浜)beach→Koyurugi Headland(小動岬)→
             Koshigoe Station(Enoden Line) (腰越駅：江ﾉ島電鉄).
Walking time : About 3 hours.
Points of interests : Excellent views of sea, pleasant beach walking, interesting seaweed, shellfishes
and other sea creatures.

Unexpectedly, under the sea water world in midwinter is the most vigorous time of the year. The reason is that seaweeds need nutrient salts such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium to grow itself. These nutrient salts are ordinarily in the bottom of the sea. So seaweeds can not take in them to seaweed’s body because seaweed’s roots are completely different from land plant’s one. The roots are only for standing and keeping position. They have no function of taking in nutrition and carry it to their body. Ingestion of nutrition do with all over the body (leaves and stems). In the winter, the surface of sea is cool down by the air. Cooled water goes down and bottom water goes up. This circulation of seawater, called “upwelling” kick up nutrient salts and carry around the body of seaweed. So seaweed grow up rapidly at this time.
Forest of seaweed provides foods and hiding places to young fish and other creatures.
Most fish and other creatures lay eggs and hatch at this time. That’s why, sea in midwinter is flourish.

The bus stop you got off is on the corner of the fork. Though bus goes left, but you go straight about 50m and soon after you pass under the road, turn right. There is a monument of Wakaejima on your right.

Wakaejima is the oldest constructed port ruin in Japan. It was constructed in 1232, and it was the first reclaimed port in Japan. Late of Kamakura era, the port prospered in many ships entering and leaving from various districts include Sung(China).

The port continued to function until end of the Edo era. But now, we can see it on the waves when the tide is low.

The beach which between Wakaejima and Namerikawa river(滑川) is called Zaimoku-Za beach.
Zaimoku means lumber, Za means trade union.
In kamakura era, many lumber merchants gathered here and organized union and held market.
That’s why, this area is called Zaimokuza.

Drying Wakame-seaweed in the sun give a poetic touch to this time of year.

Can you see small balls?
these are floats. A stem of seaweed is thin and weak. So seaweed stand up with the help of floast.
Seaweeds grow by photosynthesis so that they need to get sun light. They need to reach near the surface of the sea.

The mouth of Namerikawa river.
Namerikawa river is the longest river in center of Kamakura city.
Left side of river is called Zaimokuza beach and right side of river is called Yuigahama beach.

The beach between Namerikawa and Sakanosita is called Yuigahama beach.
In Kamakura era, various ceremony such as horseback archery, release creatueres for their soul(放生会) and more.

Nowdays, the beach is thronged with sea bathers.in summer. And also Display of fireworks is very popular especially fireworks which are set off unnder the sea water is worth seeing.

At west end of the beach, we go up to the road and walk promenade until Inamuragasaki.
You can see amarvelous view of sea.
Many cormorants rested wings on the tetrapods.

Inamuragasaki headland.

There is interesting historical story here.
In 1333, Nitta Yoshisada tried to carry the attack to Kamakura along the beach of Inamuragasaki.
However at shore, billow washed and at offshore, many enemy fit an arrow to the bowstring on the war ships.
He gets together his troops, then stands on the top of the headland and pray for divine protection and throw gold sword which was given by Emperor Godaigo into the sea. Just then, the tid ebb away, appered tideland and enemy’s war ships were carried away far offshore.

The monument of M.D Kock Robelt.
He was a German bacteriologist. He visited near here and loved a view of from there.

The memorial monument of boat capsize accident.
In 1910, the boat capsized at offshore of Shichirigahama. In this accident, 12 students of Zushi-Kaisei high school were killed. The most pitiful sight was that elder brother hugged younger brother who was a elementary school student. The monument expresses call for help as he protects his brother. Later mourning song “Shitirigahama-aika” was made. And still now, the song has been singing.

The beach between Inamuragasaki headland and Koyurugi headland is called Shichirigahama beach.

Offshore of Shichirigahama is belt of sunken rochs.

So in this area, various seaweeds grow thickly.

Arane-seaweed is very similar to Kajime-seaweed.

Arame-seaweed's upper part of stem is forked.

But Kajime-seaweed's upper part of stem is one, doesn't fork.

Some other things

When you get to the west end of the beach, you go up to a road and go ahead about 50m. There is an entrance of Koyurugi shrine. The shrine is on the top of the Koyurugi headland.

Koyurugi headland.

Koyurugi shrine was built by Sasaki Moritsune in 1185-1190.

The shrine enshrines Hachioji-gu(八王子宮) and Sanjin(三神).

Hachioji-gu means deity of Susano's eight children.

Sanjin means Susano, Yamatotakeru and Toshitokujin.

Nowdays, the shrine is a tutery deity of Koshigoe area.

There is an observation terrace. There you can see Koshigoe fishing port, Enosima Island, Hakone mountain range and The Izu penirsulal.

After you retern to entrance of shrine, go ahead about 100m. Turn right first trafic light and go straight along the river until a street with streetcar rail. Kosigoe station is on your right.

National Founding Day

2010-02-13T10:00:00.001+09:00

February 11th is National Founding Day. This is a national holiday.
According to myth, on this day, the first emperor, Jinmu, ascended to the throne.

Genealogy of emperor based on mythology.
Once upon a time, before the creation of the world there was chaos. This chaos was like a great ocean of oil. From this ocean, several deities were born. Two of them, Izanagi and Izamami got married and gave birth to tree worlds. Amatukuni: heavenly world, Nakatukuni: Japan islands and Nenokuni: nether land. They also gave birth to tree children, Amaterasu, Oyamazumi and Susanoo. Then they made their daughter, Amaterasu rule Amatukuni, their son, Oyamazumi rule Nakatukuni, and their son Susanoo rule Nenokuni.

Later Amarerasu’s grand son Niniginomikoto descended from Amatukuni to Nakatukuni by order of Amaterasu in order to develop Nakatukuni. He stepped down on the top of the Mt. Takachiho. Then he met Konohanasakuyamime who is daughter of Ooyamazumi and they got married.
Their great-grandchild, Jinmu acceded to the first emperor of Japan at the request of many local clans. It was in BC 660. This day became National Founding Day.
Present Emperor Akihito is the 125th emperor and Japan is 2670 years old now.
(photo: Mt. Takachiho and its summit in Miyazaki prefecture).
What is the real early history of Japan?
Unfortunately as Japan had no written records earlier than fifth century, so we can probably learn from Chinese and Koreans texts.

In first century BC, Kanshochirishi(漢書地理誌) described,
There are Wa-people(Japanese people). There are about 100 small states.

In 59, Gokanshotoiden(後漢書東夷伝) described,
The king of Na-state in Wa(Japan) dispatched a mission to Later Han Dynasty(後漢) an present an tribute. The mission got gold seal(金印) as a make return call. Later in 1784, this gold seal was found out Shikanosima island in Fukuoka prefecture.

In 239 Gishiwajinden(魏誌倭人伝) described,
A queen named Himiko of Yamataikoku send mission to Wei(魏) and was given the title of “pro-Wei king of Wa”. The mission also got gold seal and some copper mirrors.
At that time Himiko ruled over about 30 states in Wa. She was good at magic and fortune-telling.

In 391, koutaiohibun(好太王碑文) described,
Wa(Japan) defeated kudara(百済), Koma(加羅) and Shiragi(新羅).

In 487, Sojowakokuden(宋書倭国伝) described,
Five kings of Wa sent emissaries to the Southern Court of China(宋). Five kings tried to be allowed to rule the southern part of the Korean peninsula.
Who were five kings of Wa ? It is thought that San(讃), Chin(珍), Sei(済:19th emperor of Japan), Kou(興: 20th emperor) and Bu(武:21th emperor). Bu was given a title of “Anton Daishougun” by the Southern Court of China.

In 607, Zuisyowakakuden(随書倭国伝) described,
Regent Shotokutaishi sent an emissary to Sui(隋) with a letter saying “ this is a letter from the emperor of land of land of the setting sun. How are you”. The Emperor of Sui, Yang-di got angry to read this.

In 593, Empress Suiko took the throne and then her nephew, Prince Shotoku served as regent. Prince Shotoku formed to a centralized system with an emperor at its center. He also made the system of Kani 12 kai(12 levels in official ranking) and established the constitution, 17 jo Kenpo(17条憲法).

Amaterasu Omikami(天照大神) in Kamakura.
Amaterasu Omikami is the highest ranking deity in the Japanese myth and also has two characters as deity of the sun and as deity of emperor’s ancestor.
Unexpectedly, there are only two shrines which enshrine Amaterasu Omikami as the main deity.
One is Amanawasinnmei-gu(甘縄神明宮).
Thi is the oldest shrine in Kamakiua. It was buit in 710. The srhrine has five poles are placed on top of the roof horizontally(katuogi: 鰹木) and also has corossed boards extending above the gables(chigi: 千木) at the both end of roof. Thi is a typical shrine architecture style called "Shinmei-Zukuri).

The other is Shinmei-Jinjya(神明神社).
It is unkown that when shrine was buit. But plesent bilding was reconstracted in 1654.
Shrine are named "Shinmei-Jinjya or Gu" ordinaly enshrine Amaterasu Omikami becase shinmei-jinjya is a detached shrine of Ise Jingu(伊勢神宮). So local people call the shrine "Oisesan".

Plum blossoms at Joryu-Ji temple(常立寺)

2010-02-01T19:43:00.002+09:00

February is the best season for plum blossoms.
Today I’ll introduce the sights of plum blossoms that is located near the Enoshima Station(Enoden line).

It is Joryu-Ji temple, where is not well-known until recently but has wonderful plume trees.
Plum blossoms here are weeping plum trees and they are elegance and gorgeous.

Temple also has interesting historic episode.
In 1274 Khubilai Khan who was the fifth emperor of the Mongol Empire attacked Japan with his 30000 warriors. They landed on Hakata in Kyushu. Weaponry and tactics of Mongol were much advanced than Japan’s them so that Japan faced big crisis. However, a typhoon had come and sank many Mongolian battleships and more than 15000 Mongolian soldiers drowned. They barely run away with their life.

The next year, in 1275, Khubilai Khan sent a delegation made up of five envoys to Japan. They arrived in Kamakura and they demanded to surrender and obedience.
Hojo Tokimune, virtual ruler of Japan in those days ordered them kill without any send a reply to Mongol because Hojo Tokimune had decided to fight the Mongol again decisively. September 7, the five envoys were executed at Tatunokuti-scaffold(竜の口刑場)(now Ryukou-Ji:竜口寺). Later a memorial cenotaph was built in Joryu-Ji temple to mourn the Mongolian.

In 1281 Khubilai Khan attacked Japan again with 4400 worships and 140000 soldiers. The fight was not going in Japan’s favor same as last time. At the critical moment, Mongolian large army was struck by typhoon again. It is said that only less than 30000 soldiers were able to go back Mongol. In this way the Mongol invasions ended in failure.
Since then we called the strong wind at this time divine wind(神風) and it made a conceptual thinking that Japan is special country protected by deity(神国).

The memorial cenotaph in the precinct of Joryu-Ji was not well-known for long time. However, recently it is getting into the limelight because Mongolian Sumo wrestlers such as grand champion Asasyoryu, Hakuho have visited this temple to attend the annual memorial service. In a sense, Mongolians at last conquered a part of Japan, Sumo wrestling world.

It is said that these five storied stone pagoda(五輪塔) are graves of five envoys who executed at Tatunokuti. They were dressed Mongolian stole that someone dedicated.

The monument of the delegation is their farewell poems are inscribed. One of them Toseichyu(杜世忠) says “ when I left home, my wife and children saw me at the gate.

And they gave me an outfit for cold weather and asked me when are you going to back home? But…., why…..”. It’s mournful poem.

Whatever country, whenever time, ordinary people will not want war. Nevertheless, there is so much strife in our world today. War is escalating. Why…..?

Please dear God, every deity help us to take the initiative. Let there be peace in this world soon.

Temple's gate

2010-01-23T15:33:00.002+09:00

The main gate of Buddhist temple is called “Sanmon(山門or三門)”.
“San” means a mountain(山) or numeral 3 (三). “mon(門)” means gate.
About the term “Sanmon”, there are two sources.
One is derived from mountain’s name gate(山門).
Old time most temples were built at the foothills of mountains. So the temples are called its mountain's name. Later, the temples that were built at flatland have a title of mountain, too.

The other is derived from tree gates(三門).
The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to attain enlightenment or nirvana.
For that purpose, we have to pass through three gates, “ku(空) gate”, “muso(無相) gate” and “musa(無作) gate”.

Normally “Sanmon” is a two-storied gate and statue of Shaka Buddha(釈迦) or sixteen arhats(十六羅漢) placed on upper floor.

Zuirokuzan Engaku-Ji(瑞鹿山円覚寺)

Kinpozan Jyochi-Ji(金宝山浄智寺）
there is a temple's bell in the upper story.

Kaikozan Hase-Dera(海光山長谷寺)　
The strong point of this gate is a red paper lantern.

And at both sides of downstairs, statue of the Two Deva Kings(仁王) are arranged. They were originally Hindu deities. But after they have been adopted in Buddhism, their mission is to protect Buddha’s teachings.

Taizozan Sugimoto-Dera(大蔵山杉本寺)

The statue on the left opens its mouth and is saying “ah” and the right one closed its mouth and is saying “un”.
“Ah-Un” is a Buddhist word which represents the beginning and end of all things in the universe.
In Japan, "ah-un" also means mutual understanding with no verbal explanation. It is a very important element of human relation.
Even if nobody say anything, you should understand what people are thinking and want to do. Then you should meet the demands of them appropriately and harmoniously.
Incidentally, Japanese alphabet also the sound of the first letter is “ah” and the sound of the last letter is “un”.

Myougonzan Hongaku-Ji(妙巌山本覚寺)

Cyokozan Myohon-Ji(長興山妙本寺).

The gate here has two-devas(二天), Bisyamonten(毘沙門天) and Jikokute(持国天) instead of “Nio”. So it’s called “Nitenmon(二天門)” not “Niomon(仁王門)”.

Niten are two of the four guardian deities(四天王) of Buddhism. Bisyamonten guards the north. Jikokuten guards the east. Zotyoutenj(増長天) guards the south. Koumokuten(広目天) guard the west. Normally, they are arranged in a set.
If we make do with two statues, we sure to place on Bishamonten and Jikokuten who guard the north and the east because north-east is called “kimon(鬼門)”. It is said that ogres or evil sprits come in to our world through kimono.

Mt. Kinubari Hiking

2010-01-12T19:19:00.010+09:00

There are several hiking courses in Kamakura.
One of my favorite courses is “Kinubari Yama(衣張山)” course.
In winter, it’s the best season to visit there because a view of Mt. Fuji and Sagami bay is spectacular.

Course : Kamakura Station ( by bus )→Sugimoto Kannon(杉本観音)→Kinubari Yama(衣張山)→Kodomo Fureai Sizen no Mori(子供ふれあい自然の森)→Panoramadai(パノラマ台)→OKirigishi(大切岸)→Hossho-Ji(法性寺)→Mandarado Ato(まんだら堂跡)→Nagoe Kiridoshi(名越切通し)→Chosho-Ji(長勝寺) ( by bus )→Kamakura Station.

Walking time : About 2 hours.
Points of interests : Excellent views of Mt. Fuji, good sea from a pleasant ridge path and interesting historical remains.

Your hiking starts from crossing bridge in front of Sugimoto Kannon Temple.

A while, you go along the river.
Probably, you can see a school of black and red carps in the water.
In Buddhism, releasing creatures is a good conduct. So there are lots of carps in the streams and ponds in the town.

In about 3 or 4 minutes, you will reach a junction and go straight on. After 5 minutes or so, residences area ends suddenly and you will be led in to the beautiful artificial cedar forest.

The trail begins to up. About 15 minutes later you will reach the top of the Mt. Kinubari(衣張山).

There is a story about the origin of the mountain name. Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate and his wife Masako were live in Okura residence. One hot summer day, they have their vassals cover a white silk lace curtain on the top of this mountain. They liken it to a snow capped mountain and enjoyed cool.
The altitude is 120.6 m. It’s the forth highest mountain in Kamakura.
The view from here is spectacular. You can see Tanzawa mountains, Mt. Fuji, Hakone mountains, the mountain range in Izu peninsula, Sagami bay and Oshima island.

The tail goes in to the natural forest. About 5 minutes later you will reach another peak called “Sengen-Yama”. The view from here is superb as same as the top of “Kinubari-Yama”. This is a good place to rest or have lunch.

From here the path wanders steeply down to the forest. On the way, you will see bushy cherry trees here and there. Originally, cherry trees have one trunk. Busy trunks are abnormal. In the parst cherry trees were cut and used as a charcoal. People cut many trees alternately. The cut tree has a tiller and 10 or 20 years later the tiller get thick trunk. But these days people aren’t cut tillers anymore, so all tillers have grew up. Nowadays Japan’s technology is admired in the world especially electrical appliances. But we don’t have to forget that until about 50 years ago we were cooking and warmed in ourselves with firewood or charcoal.

After about 10 minutes down, you will reach “Kodomo Fureai Shizen no Mori(子供ふれあい自然の森)” park. Go straight and pass through the park. You will be abele to see pretty narcissus, read fruit of Japanese laurel and some wild birds.

At the end of the park there is a signpost to “Panorama-Dai(パノラマ台)”. It means observation terrace. You can see “Kinubari-Yama” you got over a little while ago, Mt. Fuji, Sagami bay and Oshima island. After enjoyed the view, go back to the signpost then go ahead. Within 1 or 2 minute you will reach a fork again.

Take the right path. Soon after, the path goes on a ridge. Expressly your left side is a cliff. The cliff around here is called “O Kirigishi(大切岸)”. It’s a ruin of a quarry.

The stones that were cut and carried out here were called “Kamakura Stone”. These are volcanic sedimentary rocks that formed about 4 million years ago in the sea bottom. These stones are easy to process and have comparatively durable. So they were used as temple’s stairs, stone lanterns, five-stories pagoda(五輪塔) and so on. These stone also have rich retention of water so that easy to take moss and lichens and produce elegant taste.

The trail continues along the ridge. Soon you will meet a roadside Western-style house. A signpost to “Hossho-Ji(法性寺)” is standing there. Hossho-Ji is in a quiet different world. You must go and return there. It takes about 5 minutes down.

This temple is a Nichiren-related temple. Nichiren was a one of the representative Buddhist priest in Kamakura era. He was the founder of “Nichiren sect”.

Legend tells us that on august 27 in 1260, when Jodo-shu fanatic mobs set fire to Nichiren’s shack in “Mastuba ga yatsu”, tree white apes appeared and guided Nichiren to an old shrine’s cave here. The shrine was “Sanno Gongen” and tree apes were divine envoys of “Sanno

Gongen”.

You can see a “Torii” in the temple’s grand. “Torii” is a gate for Sinto shrines. So this represents the syncretism of Sinto and Buddhism. Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan. On the other hand, Buddhism is a foreign-made one and was introduced to Japan in 538. Nevertheless, about 200 years later, the two religions had coexisted harmoniously with no confrontation. Many temples were built in the grand of shrines. These temples were called “Jingu-Ji”: shrine temple. This is based on the theory that “Kami”: deities of Shinto are incarnations of Buddha and Bodhisattva or its reverse. In other words, deity in Shinto and Buddha in Buddhism are the same one that appear with different figures. Syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism lasted until in 1868 for more than 1000 years. These days, whenever I hear confrontation between Christian Country and Islamic country, my heart is filled with grief.

Afterwards, return to the fork and go up ahead.
And after walk for 100 meter or so, you will go out a bit wide place. You will see two old tombstones.

And the whole area on your left side is the ruins of “Manndara-do(まんだら堂跡)”.

Here is well known as one of the largest place of “Yagura”. “Yagura” is a sort of burial cave. It’s peculiar to Kamakura region. In 1242, the Kamakura shogunate forbade the construction of large graveyards at flat

land because flat land was scarce in Kamakura. Therefore higher ranking people built their tomb in cave in hillside cliffs.
A report of research says there are about 150 yaguras and about 560 five stories stone pagodas here.

Unfortunately you can’t go in to the area because of under investigation now.

Soon later, this pass meets T-junction: “Nagoe-Kiritoushi(名越切通し)”.

“Kiridoshi(切通し)” is a road that was cut through the hills.
The central part of Kamakura is surrounded by hills on three sides. It’s a good natural fortress. This is one of the reasons “Minamoto no Yoritomo” chose this place to set up his government. On the other hand people in the town needed traveling and transportation of goods to and from the town. For that reason they cut through some places of hills. There are seven “Kiritoshi” in Kamakura.
Here “Nagoe Kiridoshi” was a main road to the “Miura” region.　
All Kiridoshi were constructed in strategically. The roads were narrow barely wide enough for a man on horseback to pass through in order to easy to defend from enemy attack.

Turn right at T-junction(Nagoe kiridoshi) and go down slope in the forest. Within 10 minutes you will reach the side of railroad track then walk along the track until first railroad crossing.
Cross the railroad crossing and turn right. Walk on for about 5 minutes you will reach a main road. “Chosyo-Ji(長勝寺)” bus stop is on the opposite side of the road. You can’t miss it. You can go back to the Kamakura Station on foot. It takes about 30 minutes.

"Hatumoude"

2010-01-01T00:01:00.002+09:00

Generally, we call January first “Gantan” or “Ganjitu” and the first seven days of the year “Shougatu”. Most Japanese visit shrines and temples at “Shougatu”. We call it “Hatumoude”. There, we pray for good health and happiness for the year.

Originally, people visited shrines and temples that lie to the “Ehou” or the “Kyipou”.
“Ehou” means a general lucky direction for the year and “Kyipou” means an individual lucky direction for the year. Both based on the twelve animal signs of the Oriental zodiac. For example this year is the Year of the Tiger. So general lucky direction : “Ehou” in this year is West-Southwest. And I was born in the Year of the Serpent. That’s why my individual lucky directions in this year are East, Southeast and Northwest. Therefore people didn’t concentrate at the same shrines or temples.

But recently, a large number of people have been going to famous shrines and temples.

The most popular destination of “Hatumode” in Kamakura and its environs is “Turugaoka Hachiman-Gu shrine : “鶴岡八幡宮". Last year, about 2 million and 510 thousand people visited there for only the first three days of year. This is the fifth largest number of visitor in Japan. Incidentally, Japan has around 80 thousand shrines.

People buy amulets and “Hamaya”.
“Hamaya” is an arrow to ward off evils.

Happy New Year !

I wish much peace, love and joy to you all in 2010.

New Year's Eve bell "jyoya-no-kane"

2009-12-24T15:10:00.005+09:00

Around 12 midnight, New Year’s Eve bells ring at temples throughout the country.
We called it “jyoya no kane”.

We ring these bells 108 times.
According to Buddhist teaching, it seems people have 108 worldly desires.
So we ring the bell to remove these worldly desires.

As listen to the sound of the bell, we say farewell to the passing of the year and welcome the New Year.

The temple bells are different from western bells at church.
People hit one huge bell with a long bar one stroke by one stoke slowly.

There are two temple bells that have been designated as a notional treasure in Kamakura city.

One is Engaku-ji (円覚寺)’s temple bell. It was cast in 1301.

The other is Kencho-ji (建長寺)’s temple bell.
It was cast in 1255.

Can you see little bumps on the upper part of bell ?
These little bumps are called "shou nyu (鐘乳).
It represent worldly desires. So there are one handred and eight.

Some people enjoy numerical play on words.
In Buddhism, it is said that there are four sufferings (四苦=4苦) or eight sufferings (八苦=8苦).
“shiku hattuku” (四苦八苦).
In Japanese, suffering is often pronounced “ku”. “ku” also means numeral 9.
So four sufferings = 4×9 = 36. eight sufferings = 8×9 = 72. 36 + 72 = 108.
Worldly desires and sufferings are two sides on the same coin.
That’s why number of suffering is equal number of worldly desire.

Camellia blossom

2009-12-19T19:57:00.008+09:00

The camellia blossoms have bloomed in a temple’s garden beautifully.
The chief priest of the temple cut a twig with two gracefully-shaped colored blossoms and he asked a young student monk to take the wing to his friend who is a tea master.
On the way to the tea master’s house, the young student monk fell over stone. Two blossoms had come off the twig. The young student monk was dismayed but he got to the tea master’ house with two blossoms and a twig. He talked what happened honestly and apologized to tea master. The tea master shows the young student monk in his tea arbor with gracious smile.
He arranged the twig in a vase on the wall and put two blossoms on "tatami" mat below the vase to display taste of fallen blossoms.
Then he saved a cup of tea and let the young student monk went home.
When he came back to the temple, he made a full and detailed report to the chief priest. The chief priest only said “thank you for every thing” with affectionate looks.

In Zen Buddhism, there’s a important idea called “Ku”. When I asked what “Ku” is? , I usually introduce this story.
This story is nothing special but each person in the story is grate. I think….

They are in the spirit of no constraint. They take a circumstance as it is. They try to take advantage of the circumstance they are in. I whish I behaved like this in every days life.

Autumn Leaves

2009-12-07T19:27:00.040+09:00

Since long ago, Japanese people have been sensitive to changing of seasons. As fall deepens, we go to hills and fields and enjoy the the changing scennery of colrs. We called it "momijigari"

Autumn leaves in Kamakura is breathtaking beauty.
You can see autumn leaves until end of December because climate in Kamakura is very mild. So we called it "fuyu momiji" : red and yellow leaves in winter.

Genjiyama Park：源氏山公園

Kaizouji Temple ：海蔵寺