Today I went to Yoshino to the Cherry Blossom Festival. It took a long train ride to get there and the train was packed so I had to stand up the entire way. This is the most famous place in Japan for viewing cherry blossoms. The Japanese people are crazy about cherry blossoms so it was very crowded. I was told that the Japanese government promoted the love of the cherry blossoms especially during the period before and during WWII. It was viewed as honorable to live like a cherry blossom – reach your peak and then pass on. This feeling was promoted to young men serving their country. I took a bus up the mountain and walked down. Along the way I stopped at Yoshimizu Shrine. This shrine was formerly called Yoshimizu-in and was established by the priest Ennogyojya about 1300 years ago in the Hakuho period as the living quarters for the Yoshino Shugen priests. It was around through historical events including the development of Shugendo (a kind of physical and religious training) until the beginning of the Meiji period. However, in 1875 (the 8th year of the Meiji period), it was converted into a shrine at the time of the separation of Shintoism and Buddhism. In 1336 (the 1st year of the Engen period), Emperor Godaigo escaped from Kazanin, Kyoto and hid in Yoshino with the help of Soushin Yoshimizu-in and he designated this shrine as the Imperial Palace of the Emperor of the Southern Court. Thus, after the Emperor came to the shrine, the sad history of Yoshino started and continued for 57 years spanning the reign of four emperors. It was the beginning of the confrontation of the Northern and the Southern Court. The Emperor spent several years in this isolated place and finally he became ill due to sorrow and passed away. This shrine was the main Palace of the Southern Court and is now considered as the only tentative palace of the Emperor of the Southern Court. Below are some pictures of the cherry blossoms and shrine.
Next I took the train to Nara the first capitol of Japan. Here I visited Todaiji Temple. This temple was built in the Nara Period (710-794 AD) at the behest of Emperor Shomu (r.724-749). The temple was officially positioned as one of many state-established provincial temples. However, since the chief object of worship of the temple is Vairocana Buddha (Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun), a magnificent temple was built to reflect this importance. Todaiji Temple serves both as a place of prayer for peace and affluence on earth, as well as a center of Buddhist doctrinal research. Over the centuries, Todaiji has produced many famous scholar priests. Todaiji Temple was founded by Bishop Roben, and is to this day the Head Temple of the Kegon Sect of Buddhism. The chief object of worship is Vairocana Buddha, who is also the central Buddha in the Kegon Sutra. The statue of Vairocana Buddha is made from cast bronze, which was then plated in gold. The statue was consecrated in 752, but was damaged and repaired several times in the following centuries. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama period (1568-1615), and the head was made in the Edo period (1615-1867). The Great Buddha Hall was burned in the fires of war in 1180 and 1567, and the current building is actually the third generation structure, which was built in the Edo period. The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than that of the original structure, but it still ranks as the largest wooden structure in the world. Below is a picture of the Temple. The park surrounding the shrine is known for the large number of deer that live there, they are considered creatures sent by god. I have also included a picture of some kids feeding a couple of them.
Next I took the train to Nara the first capitol of Japan. Here I visited Todaiji Temple. This temple was built in the Nara Period (710-794 AD) at the behest of Emperor Shomu (r.724-749). The temple was officially positioned as one of many state-established provincial temples. However, since the chief object of worship of the temple is Vairocana Buddha (Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun), a magnificent temple was built to reflect this importance. Todaiji Temple serves both as a place of prayer for peace and affluence on earth, as well as a center of Buddhist doctrinal research. Over the centuries, Todaiji has produced many famous scholar priests. Todaiji Temple was founded by Bishop Roben, and is to this day the Head Temple of the Kegon Sect of Buddhism. The chief object of worship is Vairocana Buddha, who is also the central Buddha in the Kegon Sutra. The statue of Vairocana Buddha is made from cast bronze, which was then plated in gold. The statue was consecrated in 752, but was damaged and repaired several times in the following centuries. The current hands of the statue were made in the Momoyama period (1568-1615), and the head was made in the Edo period (1615-1867). The Great Buddha Hall was burned in the fires of war in 1180 and 1567, and the current building is actually the third generation structure, which was built in the Edo period. The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than that of the original structure, but it still ranks as the largest wooden structure in the world. Below is a picture of the Temple. The park surrounding the shrine is known for the large number of deer that live there, they are considered creatures sent by god. I have also included a picture of some kids feeding a couple of them.
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