Unable to refuse an imperial request, but not wanting to 'demote' either of the images, Ennin decided to enshrine both statues of as principal objects of worship.

The name Kedai-ji was dropped in favour of the more fitting Nison-in (二尊院), 'Temple of the 2 Revered Images'.

#Arashiyama #Sagano

In 834 Ennin (円仁), head of Enryaku-ji (延暦寺), was constructing a new temple in Sagano (嵯峨野) dedicated to Amida.
Before work was completed on Kedai-ji (華台寺), Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇 786-842) asked if Ennin would also enshrine an image of Buddha he had commissioned.

#Kyoto #京都 #Sagano #嵯峨野

Right up until the Edo period small Buddhist statues were erected in Adashino (化野) to act as both grave markers and as silent guardians to watch over the dead.

By the 20thC many of these statues were forgotten, half-buried, or lost in wild undergrowth.

#Sagano #嵯峨野 #Kyoto

One of the loveliest features of the hut is a small box, 'tōku-bako' (投句箱), for posting your poems...keeping the original purpose of the thatched cottage alive.

#Kyoto #京都 #嵐山 #嵯峨野 #Arashiyama #Sagano #松尾芭蕉 #Japan #落柿舎

The rain goes by many names at this time of year...

🌧️Saikau (催花雨) = spring rain that hastens the blooming of flowers
🌧️Kokū (穀雨 April 20ish) = "grain rain"
🌧️Zuiu (瑞雨) = rain that helps grain crops sprout
🌧️Kanu (甘雨) = rain that falls at the right time to moisten plants

#rain #spring #Arashiyama #Sagano #嵐山 #嵯峨野 #Japan