Camellia Tea Ceremony😇THE TEMPLE OF THE 2 BUDDHAS😇
Nison-in (二尊院) is named after its two statues: Shaka Nyorai (釈迦如来 Buddha) blesses the world's newborns, and Amida Nyorai (阿弥陀如来) greets the dead.
It's unusual for a temple to have two principal images.
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.
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'.
🤫⚰️SMUGGLING HŌNEN'S BODY✨🍁
Hōnen's Mausoleum (法然上人御廟 1133-1212) at Nison-in is one of a handful of places where it is said a portion of Hōnen's ashes were buried.
For a short time the founder of Pure Land Buddhism (浄土宗) lived at the temple, restoring the site with the patronage of Kujō Kanezane.
Even in death Hōnen was not safe from Enryaku-ji's determination to crush rival sects.
In 1227, hearing whisper of a plot to toss Hōnen's remains in the Kamo-gawa, the monk Kaku'a (覺阿) and a small team secretly smuggled his body across the city to Kōryū-ji.
#Japan #Kyoto #京都
In 1227, hearing whisper of a plot to toss Hōnen's remains in the Kamo-gawa, the monk Kaku'a (覺阿) and a small team secretly smuggled his body across the city to Kōryū-ji.
#Japan #Kyoto #京都
When he died at Ōtani-no-Zendō (大谷の禅堂) in 1212 Hōnen was buried on a clifftop east of the hall (now Chion-in's Hōnen-byō).
In 1227, during the Karoku Persecution (嘉禄の法難-suppression of the Pure Land Sect by the Tendai Sect), Enryaku-ji plotted to desecrate the grave.
On 22nd June Hōnen's disciples, Shinkū (信空) & Kaku'a (覚阿/覺阿), risked their lives by moving Hōnen's body to a stone sarcophagus.
Along with the monks Renshō (蓮生) and Ogura Nyūdō (小倉入道), and a small band of disciples and devotees, the group hurried across the city.
#Kyoto
Along with the monks Renshō (蓮生) and Ogura Nyūdō (小倉入道), and a small band of disciples and devotees, the group hurried across the city.
#Kyoto
To evade enemy eyes Shinkū went on a round about route, possibly stopping at the temples of Seiryō-ji (清凉寺) and Nison-in (二尊院) in Sagano, before settling at Saikō-ji (西光寺) around the 28th.
Enkū (円空), attached to Kōryū-ji and founder of Saikō-ji, took charge of the body.
Enkū (円空), attached to Kōryū-ji and founder of Saikō-ji, took charge of the body.
Whilst at Saikō-ji a mysterious light leapt from Hōnen's coffin and shot to a point in the SSW.
Enkū followed the light's path and on the way met a monk called Kōa (幸阿) from Nenbutsu Sanmai-in (念仏三昧院), a temple established in 1198 by Kumagai Naozane in honor of Hōnen.
Enkū followed the light's path and on the way met a monk called Kōa (幸阿) from Nenbutsu Sanmai-in (念仏三昧院), a temple established in 1198 by Kumagai Naozane in honor of Hōnen.
Kōa explained he was following a light shining to the NNE✨
As they were both of the same sect, Enkū shared his story. Together the pair understood a clear message was being delivered...Hōnen wished to go to Nenbutsu Sanmai-in (念仏三昧院).
#folklore #Kyoto #Japan #法然 #浄土宗
As they were both of the same sect, Enkū shared his story. Together the pair understood a clear message was being delivered...Hōnen wished to go to Nenbutsu Sanmai-in (念仏三昧院).
#folklore #Kyoto #Japan #法然 #浄土宗
On January 25th 1228 Hōnen was brought to Nenbutsu Sanmai-in and cremated. It's probable his ashes were divided amongst those present.
After learning of this story, Emperor Shijō (四条天皇) bestowed the new name of Kōmyō-ji (光明寺 'Temple of the Holy Light') on Sanmai-in in 1242.
There is some argument about where Hōnen's ashes were buried, but it seems likely they were, at the very least, divided between Kōmyō-ji, Nison-in and what would become Chion-in.
After Shinkū's death in 1228, Tankū (湛空 1176-1253) was put in charge of his predecessor's portion.
Revived by Hōnen, Nison-in wished to honor the late holy man. Tankū constructed the 'Wild Goose Pagoda' (雁塔 'Gan-tō') as mausoleum (though some argue this was actually Tankū's grave).
The site was destroyed in the Ōnin War and the current structure dates to early Edo times.
The site was destroyed in the Ōnin War and the current structure dates to early Edo times.
