（４６３） Ｄａｒｕｍａ－ｓａｍａ ｏｆ Ｈｏｄａｉ－ｉｎ Ｔｅｍｐｌｅ
文字数 2,080文字
Hodai-in (鳳台院) in Kasama City is a temple of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism(禅宗曹洞宗).
I heard that this temple has the tallest bronze statue of Daruma Daishi in Japan (10 meters tall), so we went to see it.
In the precincts of Hodai-in, there are the main hall, guest hall, main gate (which is designated as a cultural property by Kasama City), a seated statue of Daruma Daishi, a five-story pagoda for enshrining the Buddha's relics, and the Kannon-do Hall.
Hodai-in is a famous place for rhododendrons that bloom in early May, but when we visited it, there were no flowers.
When I heard that it was the best Daruma-san in Japan, I imagined a jumbo-sized Daruma doll.
Daruma Daishi became known in Japan during the Kamakura period, when Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan. During the Edo period, “Okiagarikoboshi (self-righting daruma dolls)” were created.
There are two types of Daruma dolls: those for "decoration" and those for "making wishes". The former have black eyes painted on them, but the latter have white eyes drawn on them.
To use Daruma dolls for “making wishes”, first, make a wish and paint the left eye black, and when your wish comes true, paint the right eye black.
Daruma dolls are very popular in Japan, but it seems that they are not available in China.
① This is a zelkova wood gate built in 1736. You can see the main hall on the right.
② We’ve arrived in front of the main hall. There is a Daruma stone, a large stone with the face of Daruma Daishi carved into it.
③ I am in front of the stone.
④ At the back of the main hall, you can see a bronze Shaka Nyorai statue with a height of 10 meters. Now, we’ll climb the slope.
⑤ At the top of the slope, you can see the tallest seated statue of Daruma Daishi in Japan with a height of 10 meters.
⑥ I look small.
⑦ If you go further, you’ll see the Kannon-do Hall and the five-story pagoda.
⑧ This is the five-story pagoda.
⑨ This is a close-up photo.
※ Daruma dolls are traditional Japanese dolls that have been worshiped as a symbol of good fortune, success, and perseverance for centuries in Japan.
I heard that this temple has the tallest bronze statue of Daruma Daishi in Japan (10 meters tall), so we went to see it.
In the precincts of Hodai-in, there are the main hall, guest hall, main gate (which is designated as a cultural property by Kasama City), a seated statue of Daruma Daishi, a five-story pagoda for enshrining the Buddha's relics, and the Kannon-do Hall.
Hodai-in is a famous place for rhododendrons that bloom in early May, but when we visited it, there were no flowers.
When I heard that it was the best Daruma-san in Japan, I imagined a jumbo-sized Daruma doll.
Daruma Daishi became known in Japan during the Kamakura period, when Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan. During the Edo period, “Okiagarikoboshi (self-righting daruma dolls)” were created.
There are two types of Daruma dolls: those for "decoration" and those for "making wishes". The former have black eyes painted on them, but the latter have white eyes drawn on them.
To use Daruma dolls for “making wishes”, first, make a wish and paint the left eye black, and when your wish comes true, paint the right eye black.
Daruma dolls are very popular in Japan, but it seems that they are not available in China.
① This is a zelkova wood gate built in 1736. You can see the main hall on the right.
② We’ve arrived in front of the main hall. There is a Daruma stone, a large stone with the face of Daruma Daishi carved into it.
③ I am in front of the stone.
④ At the back of the main hall, you can see a bronze Shaka Nyorai statue with a height of 10 meters. Now, we’ll climb the slope.
⑤ At the top of the slope, you can see the tallest seated statue of Daruma Daishi in Japan with a height of 10 meters.
⑥ I look small.
⑦ If you go further, you’ll see the Kannon-do Hall and the five-story pagoda.
⑧ This is the five-story pagoda.
⑨ This is a close-up photo.
※ Daruma dolls are traditional Japanese dolls that have been worshiped as a symbol of good fortune, success, and perseverance for centuries in Japan.
