Experience“Heian Period” the time of Peace and Tranquility

 In the olden days, ancient capital Kyoto was called “Heian-kyo” which means the capital of peace and tranquility. Nowadays Kyoto is bustling with a lot of travelers from overseas and it is hard to feel the peaceful atmosphere and tranquility especially in the popular destinations. So today I would write about the place you can experience “Peace and Tranquility” in Kyoto.

 I guided family from Israel to the Sigureden-museum located in Arashiyama where you can enjoy the Japanese aristocrat costumes. The prepared ladies costumes are called “Uchigi” which was worn daily by noblewomen. “Uchigi” literally means clothing that is worn over other clothes. My guests put on it over their T-shirt with the assistance of museum volunteer. She directed us to make the atmosphere of Heian aristocrat court life. Without her help, I couldn’t take such nice pictures.

Father of gust family enjoyed wearing “Kariginu” which literally means hunting suit. It is worn daily by noblemen as casual clothes. Men’s attire here is time consuming work than women’s because you have to put on not only “Kariginu” but aloso the traditional trousers called “Hakama” and ancient coronet called “Eboshi”.

After the Sigureden museum, we headed to Otagi-Nenbutsuji temple by taking taxi. It is located a little bit far from the Togetsu-kyo bridge. There was no visitors except for us as well as in the Reiun-in temple.

Stone statues here are carved by worshipers from all over Japan. They made their original statues, some are playing the traditional flute and some are holding tennis rackets or baseball bat. Those statues brought peace to the hearts of us.

In such tranquil environment, we can talk various topics and that is not always related with sightseeing and culture. I was asked about the Japanese Self Defense Force and we talked the difference of our military system. One of my guest served in military service as officer several years ago and I could hardly image it. Japanese isn’t liable to military service. Compared to their homeland, Japan is definitely peaceful country .

Japanese takes it for granted but "Peace" must be the one of the important factor to attract the foreign visitor.

Relics of the tycoon Hideyoshi

  If I had a time machine, I would go back 400 years ago and visit  the  Great Buddha Hall of Kyoto. It was the building storing a Buddha statue 4 meter lager than the one located in Nara. Although it was totally burned out by the lightning in the late 18th C, you can see it in the following screen painting.
The area in and around the Kyoto city (Funaki-version)

 The Great Buddha was built by the extraordinary warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He took on the project to rebuild the devastated Kyoto city after the long civil war. The Great Buddha Hall of Kyoto was the symbol of the project and his glory as well as the Jurakutei castle which was Hideyoshi's residence and government house in Kyoto.

 Unfortunately Hideyoshi died September 18, 1598 before the completion of the hall.

 (Toyotomi Hideyoshi, February 2, 1536, or March 26, 1537 – September 18, 1598)
He was born in peasant family and finally reached to the top of power. That's the reason his birth record is uncertain.

 Yesterday was anniversary of his death so I guided my guest from Germany to the places related with Hideyoshi.

  The precincts of the  Great Buddha Hall included today's Kyoto National Museum, Chishaku-in temple and part of Sanjusangen-do temple. According to historical records, not only Japanese but also Western people visited the hall and they were overwhelmed by the size of the building and the statue as well as the number of statues in Sanjusangen-do temple. Maybe around there was the most popular tourist destinations in Kyoto in that time.

 Chishaku-in temple is the best place where you can feel the atmosphere of the time of Hideyoshi. You can relax on the tatami mat surrounded by gorgeous paintings and peaceful garden. 

It is said that the garden is reflecting the taste of Rikyu who was the extraordinary tea master served for Hideyoshi.  

The garden was inspired by the area around Mt.Lushan in China. The rain added the mysterious profundity of the garden.

 It was rainy day but we can enjoy sightseeing inside the halls at the destinations.  After visiting Chishaku-in, we visited the shrine dedicated to Hideyoshi. A lot of people including foreigners had already gathered in front of the gate and watching the memorial service for Hideyoshi.

 There are some posters of NHK historical drama of this year in the precinct of the shrine. It is the story of legendary samurai warrior Sanada Yukimura who served for Hideyoshi’s family and fought against the strongest power, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Edo shogunate. You can watch the 5 minutes digest at the NHK youtube channel.





 Screen painting of Jurakudai, Hideyoshi's residence and government house in Kyoto. 

Only the relics of Breat Buddha hall and Jurakudai  remain in Kyoto but the contribution of  Hideyoshi for the development of the ancient capital is remarkable.  That's why he is loved by local people even today. 

Festival held in the Shrine Pond

Kyoto is surrounded by mountain and it’s really hot and humid in summer. I guided several tourists from overseas to temples and shrines in the last week of July but hotness took away our energies to enjoy there…That was the reason why we went to Mitarashi Festival held in Shimogamo Shrine. It was beyond my expectation. 

Shimogamo Shrine is connected to water and people purify themselves at the Mitarashi pond. Late July, the festival is held here and there is a wading ritual in which people walk in the water praying for good health. I was surprised that the water was so clean and cold. Actually it is well water and the pond is cleaned by the priest.

 After enjoying the ritual, we prayed in front of the shrine above the pond called “Inouesha” literally means the shrine above the well. People wrote their wish on the wooden tablet and it is quite common in Japanese shrine. Unique thing here is its shape of the tablet.

 

 Not only in late July but also March 3rd, this shrine holds the ritual at this Mitarashi pond. Praying for good health is common feature of both of them.



 We could encounter one of the famous man of Japanese TV program “Discovery of the World's Mysteries”. Usually it features some mysterious places around Europe or Africa such as　Sphinx of Egyp. But Japan is also treasure of mysteries.
 

 If you visit Kyoto in late July, Shimogamo shrine and its ritual would be one of the must to experience Japanese culture.