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ホームステイ

三十三間堂

Although it has not been designated by UNESCO as a World heritage site (yet), Sanjusangen-do is one of Kyoto's absolute gems. It is sad in a way that Sanjusangendo is often overlooked, though this is also an advantagge. Even on weekends, it isn't very crowded. On a week day in the off season, you can experience one of the most outstanding cultural treasures of Japanese Buddhism virtually alone.

Sanjusangendo houses more than 1,030 standing Buddhist statues in its main hall. Sanjusangen-do contains a main hall (hondo), great south gate and great east gate, and now serves as an annex to Myoho-in. It belongs to the Tendai sect of Buddhism. Although it is officially called Rengeo-in (temple of the Lotus King), it is better known as Sanjusangen-do. Sanjusangen-do (Hall of Thirty-three Bays) refers to the thirty-three bays or spaces between the pillars in front of the main altar. The number thirty-three is derived from the belief that, in order to save man from danger and distress and bestow prosperity and happiness, the Bodhisattva Kannon can transform him/herself into one of thirty-three different forms, assuming whichever one is most appropriate for a particular time and place.

History

This building was founded in 1164 A.D. at the demand of the Emperor Goshirakawa, who was not only a pious devotee to Kannon Bodhisattva, but also has the reputation of being an earnest sovereign in his attempt to bring about peace by propagating the Buddhist faith throughout the country.

The original temple had several buildings, including a five-storey pagoda and Fudo hall, but were all destroyed by fire and earthquakes. In 1249, the hall was burnt down, and the then Emperor Gosaga issued immediately an order to reconstruct another in the very same style as the original building and the arrangement of 1,001 Kannons (Goddess of Mercy). The new building and 1,032 statues as seen today was completed in 1266 A.D.

The Main Hall

The one-storey main hall of this temple was reconstructed in 1266, and has been rennovated four times in the last 700 years; it is the only original building of the temple that remains today. It has a clay-tile roof, which is typical of the irimoya style (a kind of roof layered one over the other) of architecture.

Sanjusangen means "hall of 33 ken" and in Buddhism, the number "33" is of symbolic importance, and the Kannon Bosatsu (Goddess of Mercy), it is taught, incarnates in 33 different shapes in its missions of mercy. There are open verandas along both sides of the hall. Inside is a corridor of observation, where visitors can walk all the way around the kannon sculptures displayed at this temple. Twenty-eight attendent figures stand in the front row. The passage behind the images is filled with sculptures of the guardian kings.

Kannon Images

The central, gigantic seated image in the main hall is of the Buddhist deity Kannon or Goddess of Mercy. It has 1,000 hands on 42 arms, is about 3.4 mteres in height and is made of hollow multiblock construction, which is covered with gold leaf on a lacquered ground. Flanking each side of this image are 1,000 more life-size (about 1.6 meters tall) cypress kannon statues standing on bleachers, each one also with a thousand hands.

These statues were made by the famous sculptor Tankei and his apprentices in the Kamakura period. It is said that the expression of the eyes and face of each image is slightly different from all the rest, and many Japanese believe it is possible to find one that resembles a deceased relative. Altogether the 1,001 Kannon can be seen as 33,033, since each Kannon can incarnate in 33 different ways. All these statues were carved in earnest devotion to Kannon so that the sick would recover quickly and the people would live in peace.

These 1032 carvings, such as the two powerful dynamic statues of the God of Wind and Thunder, along with the building, are unique and priceless national treasures.

Toshiya

Toshiya archery contest was held on the west veranda of the Sanjusangen-do. This annual event is held on the second Sunday of every January in conjunction with the temple festival, Yanagi-no-okaji. Yanagi-no-okaji is a festival where water is splashed on worshippers with willow branches. The ceremony has its origins when retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa was cured of a headache with water. The lucky people who get splashed are believed to receive divine blessings. On the Toshiya archery contest, many women join the contest wearing colorful hakama dress they have prepared for Coming-of-Age day (Seijin-no-Hi). Hakama is a pleated, skirt-like garment worn over a kimono and it is usually worn on formal occasions.

General Information
Opening Hours: 8 am - 4.30pm (9am to 4.30pm from 16 Nov to 31st Mar)
Cost: 600 yen

From Kyoto JR station, take the city bus to National musuem at Shichijo-dori. Sanjusangen-do is located just right in front of the museum. For enquires, please call 075-811-8101.

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