Chion-in is the main temple of the Jodo sect of Japanese Buddhism which has millions of
followers throughout the country and 7000 other temples but Chion-in is the main temple
where this branch of Buddhism was created by Honen way back in the 12th century.
The main entrance Sanmon Gate is the largest wooden gate in Japan, 24 meters tall or 79
feet, and dates back to the early 1600s.
The vast temple grounds include 106 buildings and several beautiful gardens we will take
you walking through.
We were fortunate to be able to enter the Miedo, the main building of the temple complex
which is now closed for renovation until early 2019.
Inside, a regular service was taking place with the Shōmyō, which is the melodic chanting
of a Sutra.
We'll show you more of that at the end of the video.
[chanting] There is no charge for walking around in the
temple grounds but if you want to enter the gardens you do pay a small fee -- you can
pay separately for one or for both gardens.
The two gardens that you find at Chion-in are smaller than what you'll find that many
of the other temples of Kyoto but the gardens are quite lovely and we're going to walk you
through them.
The Hojo garden is designated by Kyoto city as a famous scenic spot.
It's a garden designed around the pond.
We're enjoying it with the remains of the autumn foliage of early December -- you can
also come in the spring and see the cherry blossoms or you'll experience the fresh greenery
in the summertime.
It's a very small garden that you could walk around in five minutes and exit but it's so
pretty that it's certainly worth stopping and standing and enjoying each of the views
from its own particular angle, which of course is the way these gardens are designed.
They are strolling gardens, so the idea is to walk along with your eyes open and stop
here and there, look this way, look that way, and enjoy all the different views as they
unfold.
As you stroll quietly along on these curved paths the landscape and scenery in the garden
is revealed to you at each turn, at each curve, and then that same site disappears as you
continue walking -- the reveal, the surprise, linger a moment for appreciation and contemplation,
look around and then move beyond.
It's all part of this magical experience of the strolling garden, much different than
a garden where you're just standing in one spot at a Lookout point, perhaps looking out
at a view.
The strolling garden is a totally immersive experience.
The cemetery on the edge of the gardens is densely packed with burials of ashes of the
faithful.
The central premise of the Jodo sect was that the Buddhist deity Amida had created a paradise
that anyone could enter after death.
One needed only to recite the name of Amida in faith.
Jodo literally means “pure land” and refers to Amida’s paradise, and this new sect of
Buddhism gave common people the same opportunity for salvation as priests or aristocrats, and
that's why it became very popular among the masses.
And a couple of monks head on in for some quiet meditation.
This garden has a rich variety of features ranging from the cemetery, to smaller temple
buildings, staircases -- be careful now, you don't want to be looking at your camera while
you're walking down steps like that.
We will be leaving the temple soon but first appreciating more of the shrines.
One of Japan’s most breathtaking statues is next door in a wooden subtemple -- a serene,
golden Buddha ten feet high, designed for prayer and meditation, one of the prettiest
Buddha statues we've ever seen.
This is part of our series on the temples and gardens of Eastern Kyoto, the Higashiyama
district, and also we’ll take you downtown in some of our other videos.
Be sure to look for them on our YouTube channel.
For the final minute will leave you with the chanting monks inside the main hall
of Chion-in.