It is said that in this place were discarded all the unknown deads. During 810-824, the priest Kukai put a stone image of Buddha for every soul. There are over 8000 stones! Now most of them are covered by moss. On 811 Kukai established the first temple, belonging to Shingon sect, and an image of Gochi Nyorai (Buddha of the Five Wisdoms) was put inside. On 1712 the temple was reconstructed and then another image was added, that of Amithabha Tathagata. The temple now belongs to Pure Land sect of Buddhism.
Sento Kuyo Festival, held yearly on August, 23-24 brings here the believers who lit a candle to every statue. It’s something similar with what is our European celebration at November, 1, only this is addressed to unknown souls.
Somehow, this place remained in my mind with its mute rows of the souls’ army.
Unul dintre cele mai interesante temple mi s-a parut a fi Adashino Nenbutsu-ji, la care am ajuns urcand o straduta in panta, marginita de case traditionale cu o multime de pravalioare, asezate in calea turistilor.
Sus, la capatul strazii, doua imagini in piatra ale lui Buddha si cateva trepte marcheaza intrarea in templu. Imediat, privirea se opreste pe cele peste 8000 de statui din piatra, reprezentand sufletele celor morti, intr-un nu mare dar dens cimitir! Se spune ca aici erau aruncati mortii necunoscuti. Si se mai spune ca marele preot Kukai ar fi pus aici, intre 810-824, cate o statuie pentru fiecare. El a infiintat si un templu al sectei Shingon (811), unde a plasat statuia Gochi Nyorai sau Buddha Celor Cinci Intelepciuni. Acel templu este baza celui de astazi, apartinand sectei Pure Land (Tara Pura) a budhismului.
Templul a fost reconstruit in 1712, ocazie cu care a fost pusa in altarul principal statuia lui Amithabha Tathagata. In fiecare an, in zilele de 23-24 august, are loc aici Festivalul Sento Kuyo (adica sarbatoarea celor 10000 de lumini), cand la fiecare statuie se aprinde o lumanare. Ceva asemanator cu Ziua mortilor la noi (1 noiembrie), doar ca aici ofranda de lumina se aduce celor necunoscuti. Stiti ca si la noi, exista in cimitir un loc unde poti pune o lumanare pentru cei care nu mai au pe nimeni in viata, sa le lumineze drumul? Sau ca se obisnuieste sa se puna o lumanare pe mormintele abandonate?
Templul, in sine, este foarte mic dar are o curte minunata, invadata de flori de cires. Muntele din fundal, face ca si toamna locul sa fie apreciat de turisti, fiindca atunci se aprind culorile frunzelor. Prin ineditul sau, locul acesta mi-a ramas in minte, cu sirurile mute ale armatei de suflete.
Ce frumos trebuie sa arate cand lumanarile sunt aprinse.
Nu stiam de obicei dar de regila cand merg la ai mei pe 1 Noiembrie am acest obicei de a aprinde o lumanare la un mormant la care nu vad nimic aprins.Cred ca mi se trage acest obicei de pe vremea cand eram copil si mergeam la cimitirul parohial din Frayttelia si aprindeam cate o lumanare la mormintele soldatilor nemti cazuti in razboi. Tin minte ca erau niste morminte mici cu cruci din lemn , pe unele scria “Hans:” sau alt nume , altele erau goale….
Multumesc pentru comentariu, cartim!
I love these photos!
I’ve never been to Adashino yet,but thanks to your photos,I want to visit there some day.
You should go, Kumiko! The little street is also lovely. I think in autumn is also very nice there.
My first time to see these armies of sculptures. Jawdropping.
Yes, Rizalenio! It’s an amazing view.
I also see many small shops and souvenirs. What is that picture 6? Is that someone’s hair? These stones of the unknown dead have deep impression on me. I have the pictures job even a few times to look back.
In the 6th photo, Helma, it ia a so-called Dharma doll. These are sold as souvenirs, to bring luck. They are named after the founder of Zen Buddhism, who is the Indian monk Bodhidarma. These dolls are usually red, as the robes of the high rank priests.