ページの先頭です。 メニューを飛ばして本文へ

本文

Choraku-ji Temple

10 人や国の不平等をなくそう
ページID:0002401 更新日:2022年12月6日更新 印刷ページ表示

(1) Choraku-ji Temple as a “University”

Choraku-ji Temple

Choraku-ji Temple was founded in 1221 and was the first Zen temple in the Kanto region. Priests from all over the country came to study and then returned to their homes with new teachings of Zen Buddhism. In effect, Choraku-ji served as a university.

(2) Three Buddhist Statues

The three Buddhist statues at Choraku-ji Temple, Shaka Nyorai, Amida Nyorai and Miroku Bosatsu, are considered its most important treasures. It is said that they indicate past, present and future.

(3) Miracle of Hasu-ike Pond

Hasu-ike Pond was created in the shape of the Chinese character “heart (心)”. It is said that this pond used to have a special power. If you threw a piece of paper with the thing you desired most written on it into the pond, it would give it to you. However, a long time ago, a monk asked for and received a mosquito net from the pond. But, it was so beautiful that he didn’t want to give it back. The thing was, if you didn’t return to the pond what it had given you, it would lose its special power. Although he knew this, he never returned the mosquito net. And since then, no one has been able to get anything from the pond.

(4) Togetsu-kyo Bridge

Togetsu-kyo Bridge spans the middle of the pond. Togetsu means “the bridge the moon passes over”. People imagined that the moon scribed an ark over the bridge.

(5) Taiko-mon Gate

Taiko-mon “Drum Gate” was built in the 17th century. On the second story of the gate there is a Japanese drum. It was put up there to tell time and it was also used for special events.

(6) The Gate that Never Opens

The “Imperial Messenger Gate” was the main entrance to Choraku-ji temple. It was only opened for officials of the Shogun. Since such visitors seldom came to the temple, it was nicknamed “Akazu no Mon”, which means the gate never opens. Originally a fence surrounded this area but it was blown down by a typhoon.