{"id":84590,"date":"2021-09-09T18:50:21","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T09:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=84590"},"modified":"2021-11-26T20:51:03","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T11:51:03","slug":"sanjusangendo-temple-kyoto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/sanjusangendo-temple-kyoto\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto and the Thousand and One Statues of Kannon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the eastern area of Kyoto in Higashiyama district, a building full of ancient culture for nearly 800 years<\/strong> goes unnoticed by many travelers. On the outside, it is of simple design and without extra frills, yet what holds inside has completely amazed me. So much so that it remains one of the fondest travel memories of Japan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the Sanjusangendo<\/strong>: A temple<\/a> of the school of Tendai Buddhism, famous for its thousand and one statues of<\/em> Kannon<\/em>, Bodhisattva of mercy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Typical<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The temple interior is considered sacred, and it\u2019s forbidden to take photos. So, why settle for the images that you find online and in this article when you could admire such beauty with your own eyes? Maybe the external structure will not seem particularly charming, but trust me: once you cross the entrance, it will prove to be something incredible that you had never seen before!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sanjusangendo As An Emblem of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The original name of this ancient temple is Renge\u014d-in<\/em><\/strong> (\u84ee \u83ef \u738b \u9662, \u201cHall of the Lotus Flower King\u201d), but it was later nicknamed Sanjusangendo because of its architectural features. This name became increasingly popular over time and now is indicated with this term on maps and tourist guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanj\u016bsangend\u014d<\/em><\/strong> ( \u4e09 \u5341 \u4e09 \u9593 \u5802 ) means “Hall with 33 intervals”<\/strong> (\u4e09 \u5341 \u4e09: thirty-three; \u9593: interval; \u5802: hall) and symbolizes the main hall, built on a series of pillars interspersed with 33 spaces. In traditional Japan, the size of a building is measured by counting the number of intervals between the columns that support it. Thanks to its 120 meters long, Sanjusangendo Temple is now the longest wooden structure in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Outside
Photo by 663highland, Image Source from Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But why was this number chosen? It was certainly not a coincidence: according to Buddhism, 33 is a sacred number<\/strong>. In Japan, it is believed that the Bodhisattva<\/a> Kannon promises to save all sentient beings by appearing in 33 different forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sanjusangendo is, therefore, the emblem of the importance of Kannon<\/strong>. In the center of the main hall is a huge statue representing Kannon with a thousand arms and eleven heads, flanked by five hundred human-sized statues on either side of Kannon<\/strong>. Imagine walking around this hall and seeing the many faces of Kannon, the delicate scent of incense in the air, the silence interrupted only by the sound of your steps, the antiquity, the art, and the sacred element surrounding you. Doesn’t that sound like a sensational sight?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Step Back: The History of the Sanjusangendo Temple<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The foundation of the Sanjusangendo dates back to 1164<\/strong> during the reign of Emperor Go-Shirakawa (at that time seventy-seventh emperor of Japan) with the financial help of Taira no Kiyomori (military leader of the Heian period). Go-Shirakawa was not only a faithful devotee of the Kannon bodhisattva but also a person confident that he could bring back peace to the country by spreading the Buddhist faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Old
The history of <\/strong>Sanjusangendo Temple dates back to 1164. | Photo Source from Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, it\u2019s well known that since many buildings are built primarily of wood, they are easily subject to fire. Renge\u014d-in also met this fate, and in 1249 the main building was burned to the ground<\/strong>. Emperor Go-Saga ordered the building to be rebuilt in the same style as the original.<\/strong> The reconstruction ended in 1266, and the structure we see today dates back to this year. Over the centuries, only four restorations have been carried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kesho Yaneura: The Style of Construction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Renge\u014d-in was built in a traditional construction style known as kesh\u014d<\/em><\/strong> yaneura<\/strong><\/em> (\u5316\u7ca7\u5c4b\u6839\u88cf) and dating from the Nara period (710-794). Yaneura<\/em> means \u201cattic,\u201d and this technique aims to make the lower part of the roof visible. Walk down the main corridor and then look up: you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re in a loft! Initially, the room\u2019s interior was beautifully decorated with a multitude of brightly colored designs such as clouds and flowers, which have now faded into the natural color of the wood today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo Source from Wikipedia,<\/a> Japanese Temples and their Treasures (The Shimbi Shoin 1915)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Bodhisattva Kannon and its 1,001 Representations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The center of the Sanjusangendo houses a massive statue of J\u016bichimen Senju Kannon<\/em><\/strong> (\u5341\u4e00\u9762\u5343\u624b\u89b3\u97f3 – Kannon with eleven faces and a thousand arms). Kannon is represented in a seated position with eleven faces and twenty pairs of arms<\/strong>, which in total, symbolize a thousand arms since each (arm) saves twenty-five worlds. The statue measures about 3.3 meters in height and was made during the reconstruction of the temple by the famous sculptor Tankei<\/strong> (one of the most important of the Kamakura period, XII-XIV century) in Japanese cypress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sculpture
This large statue of Kannon measures about 3.3 meters in height and is carved out of Japanese cypress by famous sculptor Tankei | Photo by Bamse from Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tankei used a technique called Yosegi zukuri<\/em><\/strong> (\u5bc4\u6728\u9020): by joining multiple hollow blocks of wood, he began to carve a rudimentary basic figure. Later, a more detailed surface carving of the body takes place, and, finally, the statue is painted and covered with gold leaves. Today the statue of Kannon is part of the National Treasures of Japan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What enriches this temple even more is that Kannon is flanked by a thousand other statues<\/strong> that represent it in an erect position. Placed on both sides of the main one, they are symmetrically aligned in ten rows and fifty columns<\/strong>: a truly incredible precision!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you remember the fire in 1249? Fortunately, 156 statues were saved and are still on display in the Sanjusangendo, while the remaining 844 statues were built in the XIII century. Their completion took about sixteen years and saw the commitment of over 70 sculptors under the supervision of master Tankei. All statues are similar in size and appearance<\/strong>, but with a closer look, you will notice that each one has some unique facial features<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Old
1,001 statues of Kannon is one of the Temple’s most impressive sights! | Photo Source from Wikipedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This multitude of statues of the Bodhisattva Kannon creates in the visitor a deep sense of intimacy with it<\/strong>. There\u2019s a common belief that it\u2019s possible to see the face of the person we love the most among the various depictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not Only Kannon: Raijin, Fujin, and the Gods of the Guardians<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Behind the central figure of Kannon, you can admire two other wooden statues: Raijin<\/em><\/strong> (\u96f7\u795e – God of Thunder and Lightning) and Fujin<\/em><\/strong> (\u98a8\u795e – God of the Wind), both notable figures of Japanese mythology<\/strong>. Their origins go back to the gratitude and fear that ancient peoples felt towards nature. It was believed, in fact, that Raijin and Fujin controlled the trends of rain and wind, thus helping to obtain good crops for the livelihood of the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n