（３４０） Ｈｙｄｒａｎｇｅａｓ ａｔ Ｋａｎｎｏｎｊｉ Ｔｅｍｐｌｅ
文字数 2,856文字
“Kannonji (観音寺)” is a temple located in Ushiku City and famous for its hydrangea flowers. Dad heard that the hydrangeas there had bloomed, so we visited it.
The hydrangea flowers were beautiful. The information provided by the tourist association said, “During the hydrangea season, the hydrangea flowers bloom so profusely that it is difficult to walk,'' but it was easy to walk. (That means there were not so many hydrangea flowers at the temple). I think the person who wrote the tourist guide had a lot of literary talent.
According to the temple legend, Kannonji was built in 1226 as a hall dedicated to the eleven-faced “Kannon”, the Goddess of Mercy.
The main hall of Kannonji was built in 1525 and was rebuilt in 1707. The Niomon (仁王門) gate was built in 1707 by reusing the pillars of the old main hall. In other words, the wood of Niomon gate was older than that of the rebuilt main hall. However, these old pillars were later replaced during the 1992-1994 renovation work of the Niomon gate.
In 2012, some experts carbon dated the old pillars. As a result, these pillars were found to have been cut before 1525, in the late 13th century or early 14th century, and are presumed to be the same age as the eleven-faced Kannon. It has been revealed that the main hall of Kannonji Temple was first built in the late Kamakura period and was rebuilt in 1525 and 1707 while reusing the original materials.
A 2012 survey also found that the main hall and Niomon gate of Kannonji Temple are the oldest temple buildings in Ibaraki Prefecture dating back to the Kamakura period.
Near the Niomon Gate, there are a giant ginkgo tree and an old kaya tree, estimated to be 300 years old and 400 years old, respectively. Between these giant trees, there is the "Flame Sculpture" carved using the giant trees in the area.
Reference:
Age of Kannonji Temple in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture by carbon 14 dating method Minoru Sakamoto, Mineo Imamura, Fumihiko Isshiki, Yuki Wakasa, Hiroyuki Matsuzaki
file:///C:/Users/oiras/Downloads/kenkyuhokoku_176_06.pdf
① When I got out of the car, there were hydrangea flowers in the parking lot.
② The stairs of the approach and the Niomon gate are now visible. There are hydrangea flowers on both sides of the stairs.
③ These are hydrangea flowers under the stairs.
④ I’ve just climbed the stairs. You can see the path to the temple very well.
⑤ These are hydrangea flowers on the side of the stairs.
⑥ I’m entering the precincts through the Niomon Gate. Here, there are not as many hydrangeas as there are along the approach.
⑦ I am in front of the main hall.
⑧ I am in front of a 300-year-old ginkgo tree next to the Niomon Gate.
⑨ I am in front of the "Flame Sculpture".
⑩ Behind the sculpture, you can see the old Kaya tree estimated to be 400 years old.
⑪ I've made the rounds, so I'm going home.
The hydrangea flowers were beautiful. The information provided by the tourist association said, “During the hydrangea season, the hydrangea flowers bloom so profusely that it is difficult to walk,'' but it was easy to walk. (That means there were not so many hydrangea flowers at the temple). I think the person who wrote the tourist guide had a lot of literary talent.
According to the temple legend, Kannonji was built in 1226 as a hall dedicated to the eleven-faced “Kannon”, the Goddess of Mercy.
The main hall of Kannonji was built in 1525 and was rebuilt in 1707. The Niomon (仁王門) gate was built in 1707 by reusing the pillars of the old main hall. In other words, the wood of Niomon gate was older than that of the rebuilt main hall. However, these old pillars were later replaced during the 1992-1994 renovation work of the Niomon gate.
In 2012, some experts carbon dated the old pillars. As a result, these pillars were found to have been cut before 1525, in the late 13th century or early 14th century, and are presumed to be the same age as the eleven-faced Kannon. It has been revealed that the main hall of Kannonji Temple was first built in the late Kamakura period and was rebuilt in 1525 and 1707 while reusing the original materials.
A 2012 survey also found that the main hall and Niomon gate of Kannonji Temple are the oldest temple buildings in Ibaraki Prefecture dating back to the Kamakura period.
Near the Niomon Gate, there are a giant ginkgo tree and an old kaya tree, estimated to be 300 years old and 400 years old, respectively. Between these giant trees, there is the "Flame Sculpture" carved using the giant trees in the area.
Reference:
Age of Kannonji Temple in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture by carbon 14 dating method Minoru Sakamoto, Mineo Imamura, Fumihiko Isshiki, Yuki Wakasa, Hiroyuki Matsuzaki
file:///C:/Users/oiras/Downloads/kenkyuhokoku_176_06.pdf
① When I got out of the car, there were hydrangea flowers in the parking lot.
② The stairs of the approach and the Niomon gate are now visible. There are hydrangea flowers on both sides of the stairs.
③ These are hydrangea flowers under the stairs.
④ I’ve just climbed the stairs. You can see the path to the temple very well.
⑤ These are hydrangea flowers on the side of the stairs.
⑥ I’m entering the precincts through the Niomon Gate. Here, there are not as many hydrangeas as there are along the approach.
⑦ I am in front of the main hall.
⑧ I am in front of a 300-year-old ginkgo tree next to the Niomon Gate.
⑨ I am in front of the "Flame Sculpture".
⑩ Behind the sculpture, you can see the old Kaya tree estimated to be 400 years old.
⑪ I've made the rounds, so I'm going home.
