Koshoji Temple

As I wrote in my last post, I have started writing again after almost 3.5 years. Today I will write about Koshoji Temple we visited in July.

In the beginning of July, I saw an update from a friend on Facebook regarding her trip to Koshoji Temple. It seemed interesting and so on 21st July, hubby and I visited the temple. The temple is located in Yagoto area of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. It is a Shingon Buddhist temple and its precincts cover two hills, Nishiyama and Higashiyama. The temple was founded by monk Tenzui is 1686. It was favored by the Owari branch of the Tokugawa Shogunate family. The temple complex consists of a number of wooden buildings and retains a number of elegant historical structures. We loved walking inside the temple premises surrounded by trees in the peaceful setting of the woodland and rolling hills.

On 21st July, a fair was held along the walkway leading to the main gate of the temple. Many stalls were put up and there was good turnout of people for the fair. While walking along the approach, we could see a gate and a pagoda in the background.

After walking along the walkway, we saw a wooden gate named Chumon Gate. In the olden times, the temple complex was divided into Higashiyama and Nishiyama hill sides. Religious training was carried out on the Higashiyama hill and women were forbidden to enter this side. The earlier version of the gate used to separate Higashiyama hill side from Nishiyama hill. The present gate was rebuilt in 1954 in front of the pagoda.

All buildings and structures I will talk about henceforth, unless mentioned otherwise, are located in the Nishiyama hill side. After passing through the Chumon Gate, we saw a five-storied wooden pagoda and a huge statue of Daibutsu (Buddha) right in front of us. The huge statue is that of Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni in Hindi). The statue was erected in 2014 and is made up of copper. It is 6.1 meters tall and has become a landmark of this temple.

Kazuo and Shaka Nyorai along with the pagoda in the background

Shaka Nyorai and I

A prayer ceremony was underway in front of Shaka Nyorai.

I am praying.

A Goma (Homa, Havan in Hindi) fire ceremony was going on when we visited the temple.

This is the backside of the magnificent five-storied pagoda. The pagoda was built in 1808 and is 26 meters high. It was designated as a national important cultural asset in 1982. We loved looking at the elegant flowing lines of the curved eaves and roofs of the pagoda. It is the only wooden pagoda in the whole Tokai region, and is the oldest pagoda remaining in Aichi prefecture.

North of the wooden pagoda, we saw the Hondo Main Hall of the temple. The hall was built in 1750 and a principal statue of Amida Nyorai is enshrined inside. The main hall also includes a special shrine where visitors can pray for a painless death (Pokkuri). We loved looking at the hall architecture and prayed for peace and well being.

Kazuo in front of Hondo Main Hall

A statue of Amida Nyorai is enshrined inside the Main Hall.

Next, we saw many steps leading to the buildings and various structures further up in the Nishiyama hill side. It was a very hot and humid day, so we decided to explore those structures some other day.

Next, we saw the backside of a white and vermilion building named Enshoudo Hall located towards the eastern side of the temple complex.

We climbed up a few steps to see the front side of Enshoudo Hall. It is an ossuary overlooking the five storied pagoda.

The architecture of Enshoudo Hall with its golden spire is eye catching.

There is a graveyard adjoining Enshoudo Hall.

Five storied pagoda and the Main Hall as viewed from Enshoudo Hall area.

Gorgeous five storied pagoda.

Pagoda and I

We saw a Shinto shrine while strolling inside the temple premises. We loved the co-existence of Buddhism and Shinto religions.

We enjoyed walking inside the temples premises and loved looking at the architecture of various historical temple buildings. It was a great way to spend the day.