Camellia Tea CeremonyThe early bird catches the empty moss garden🙌
#Kyoto #京都 #Saihoji #西芳寺 #Kokedera #苔寺 #mosstemple #moss #苔 #Arashiyama #嵐山
🌊🪨THE TEMPLE OF MOSS🌿✨
Although moss was never really a great consideration for the creators of Saihō-ji's (西芳寺) gardens, ruination and a series of devastating floods by chance created Japan's greatest moss garden.
So much so that the temple is better known as 'Koke-dera'.
#Kyoto #京都 #Saihoji #西芳寺 #Kokedera #苔寺 #mosstemple #moss #苔 #Arashiyama #嵐山
Over 120 species of moss grow like an unbroken carpet of green across much of Saihō-ji's garden.
In order to protect this mossy paradise, since 1977 guests need to apply for admission. Before entering the garden, visitors first hand copy a sutra excerpt (写経 'shakyō').
A history of Saihō-ji, written in 1400, suggests that the temple stands on the site of a cottage (enshrining Amida) built by Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子 574-622).
Shōtoku also had a hand in the creation of Kōryū-ji (広隆寺), Rokkaku-dō (六角堂) and Hōkan-ji (法観寺/Yasaka Pagoda).
On the ruins of Shōtoku's hermitage the great Buddhist priest Gyōki (行基 668-749), sponsored by Emperor Shōmu (聖武天皇), established Saihō-ji (西方寺).
Enshrining Amida, the Hossō sect temple was named after 'Saihō Jōdo' (西方浄土), the Bodhisattva's 'Western Paradise'.
In 806 Prince Shinnō, 3rd son of Emperor Heizei, built a hermitage for his ascetic practices.
For brief periods (806-10/824-34) Kūkai (空海) resided at the temple and it is said he began the practice of Hōjō-e (放生会 'ritual of releasing captive animals') at Ōgon Pond (黄金池).
