Mastodawn

Camellia Tea Ceremony

1) THE LOOKING BACK AMIDA🤨

Eikan-dō is perhaps best known for its 77cm tall statue of Amida looking back over his shoulder ('Mikaeri-Amida' 見返り阿弥陀).
Having been locked away from the public in Tōdai-ji's treasure house, when he left the temple Yōkan took the image with him.

Yōkan later explained that he had heard Amida calling to him, chastising those that had hidden the statue away, where it could not bring salvation.
Tōdai-ji monks tried to pull the image away from Yōkan, but it mysteriously stuck to his back, and eventually they gave up.
#Japan

At this time the statue was like most images of Amida, depicted facing forward. This changed on a freezing February 15th 1082.
As was his routine, Yōkan (then 50) was circling the statue whilst chanting the nenbutsu (calling out Amida's name).

Cold and tired, his pace grew slow.

Quite suddenly the statue of Amida climbed down from his pedestal and began circling the room with Yōkan. Astonished, the abbot all but stopped.
Amida turned, looked over his left shoulder, and said "Yōkan, don't dawdle!".
Yōkan quickened his pace, & worshipped with the real Amida!

After prayer Amida returned to statue form, but with his head forever glancing over his shoulder.

To Yōkan the looking back gesture confirmed that Amida would take care of everyone that called upon him, regardless of their faith, circumstance, or status in life.
#Kyoto #永観堂

2) THE RECLINING DRAGON🐉
The 'Garyū-rō' (臥龍廊 'Reclining Dragon Corridor') curls gently from the Kaizan-dō (開山堂) up the hillside, like the spine of a dragon.
Constructed in 1504 without the use of a single nail, the roofed staircase was repaired in the Shōwa period.
#Kyoto

Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji (永観堂禅林寺) traces its history to Shinshō (真紹 797–873), a pupil of Kūkai. Aspiring to found a temple for worship of the 'Five Wisdom Buddhas' (五智如来), in 853 he was gifted the mansion of Fujiwara-no-Sekio (藤原関雄) to realise his dream.
#Japan #永観堂

At the base of the Garyū-rō (臥龍廊) is a basin known as a 'suikin-kutsu' (水琴窟 lit. 'water koto grotto').
When water is poured into the small opening the sound of trickling echoes melodiously within.

The design is simple...an upside pot sits above a basin of water.
#Kyoto

3) THE MISSING SPARROW (抜け雀)🪶
Kanō Tan'yū's (狩野探幽 1602-74) paintings of sparrows on the transom of the Kohōjō (小方丈) were so lifelike that one escaped. In place of the 10th (missing sparrow) Kanō drew a mouse.
Originally the room had images of 10 sparrows & 10 swallows.

4) THE WOOD BLOCK FROGS (木魚蛙)🐸
Mokugyo are wooden blocks, often vaguely fish-shaped, struck whilst chanting sutras (to help keep a steady rhythm or to emphasize the Bodhisattva being hailed).

It is said the frogs, never seen, that live behind the Miei-dō sound like mokugyo.

'Rain's falling!'
in trees they cheer...
frogs
ふるや雨なくやはやしの蛙哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1794.
Trans. David Lanoue.

praising Buddha
mouths gaping wide...
frogs
なむなむと口を明たる蛙かな
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1816.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #frog #蛙 #haiku #Issa #小林一茶 #Eikando #永観堂 #木魚蛙

5) FIRE-PROOF AMIDA (火除けの阿弥陀如来)🔥
The principal image of the Zuishi-den is the last of '5 Wisdom Buddhas' enshrined by Shinshō (真紹) when he established the temple.
As it is the only one of the statues to have survived the Ōnin War it's worshipped as a fire protector.

6) AMIDA IN THE PINE (来迎の松)🙏

Legend has it that Amida was a common visitor to Eikan-dō as he enjoyed listening to Yōkan's (永観) beautiful chanting (see the 1st wonder). He would rest on a tree known as the 'Coming of Amida Bodhisattva Pine' (来迎の松 'Raigō-no-matsu').

7) TRIDENT VAJRA PINE (三鈷の松)🔱

Growing beside the Garyū-rō is a rare pine ('Sanko-no-matsu' 三鈷の松) that produces needles in groups of 3 (up to 30cm long). Likened to the ritual Buddhist vajra, the 3 needles (representing wisdom, compassion & devotion) are gifted for luck.

#Eikando #永観堂 #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #三鈷の松 #luckyday

As she was leaving, one of the staff at Eikan-dō ran up to Nao-san and handed her a rare grouping of 4 needles😲
Just like 4-leaf clovers, these are very lucky indeed!🍀
I wonder what good fortune will befall Nao-san🙏🤲

8) THE WALL OF MAPLES (岩垣もみじ)🍁
To the east grounds cliffs rise up, and clinging to the rock are a grove of maple trees that transform the area into a 'wall' of red during the autumn.
It's unusual for maples to grow in such a manner.
#Kyoto #京都

9) THE LUMINOUS SAND (勅使門前の光る砂)🌝

Behind the 'kara-mon' (唐門) is a moulded pile of sand. Symbolically, imperial messengers would step through the sand to purify their feet, but additionally the white sand cleverly reflected light from full moons to illuminate the garden.

10) PLUM MEDICINE🏥

In 1097 Yōkan established Yakuō-in (薬王院), an early form of hospital that cared for the ill and gave to the needy.
He also planted orchards of plum for use in medicine (the trees were thus known as 'Hidenbai' 悲田梅, 'plums from the field of compassion').

11) THE CROOKED BAMBOO🎋
One mystery I don't have much information about is the painting of bamboo on the temple's sliding screens (真っすぐに描かれた金の竹が, 歪んでしまった).
Originally drawn with straight strokes, monks discovered a little later the bamboo had 'grown' crooked.