"After the Maple Leaves" Eikan-do Temple - More than 3,000 maple leaves in the temple

Eikan-do Temple in Kyoto, Japan is a Buddhist temple with a long history. It was founded in the Heian period and has been famous as the "Eikan-do Temple for Viewing Maple Leaves" since the Heian period. In Eikan-do, you can feel the atmosphere and soul of this era, as well as the essence of art and culture.

Eikan-do Temple has beautiful grounds and meticulously manicured gardens. In autumn, the leaves bloom and the trees and buildings are covered with red leaves, creating an unforgettable scene. In summer, Eikan-do is full of greenery. The green leaves and lotus flowers spread the summer atmosphere throughout the temple, and the cool breeze makes people feel comfortable.

In Eikan-do, you can see many exquisite Buddha statues and murals. The most famous of these is the Statue of Amitabha Looking Back (みかえりAmitabha). The head of this statue is in a posture of looking back, which is different from the other upright and looking forward Buddha statues. Legend has it that when Eikan was meditating on the Buddha and wandering around Amitabha, Amitabha suddenly walked down from the altar and walked with Eikan. Yongguan was frightened by Amitabha and stopped. Seeing that Yongguan was not going to move forward, Amitabha turned around and said, "Yongguan is too slow." From then on, the head of the Buddha was placed in the main hall in a posture of looking back.

In addition to the Buddhist temple, you can walk to the five-story pagoda of Eikan-do on the hillside. From here you can look down, it is a great viewing spot. In addition to the red leaves, you can also take in part of the beautiful scenery of Kyoto.

#Japanese Attractions #Eikan-do #Heian Period #Culture #Art #Red Leaves #Autumn Maple #Buddhism #Buddha Statue

Post by RoadRoamer | Apr 1, 2023