Seiryo-ji, also known as Saga Shakado, is one of the main temples in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. Its main hall was built in 945 by order of the imperial princess and offered to the Fujiwara clan, then the most influential noble family. After many wars, fires and reconstructions, the current main hall was built in 1701.
Seiryo-ji has an important statue of Buddha that was brought to Japan in 985. This was actually a copy of an earlier statue that was made in India, then brought to China and revered there. In 1953, analysis of the statue revealed that some silk objects were mimicking internal organs inside the statue, which was apparently also the case of the original statue. It also appears that the same group of nuns designed the silk organs for the original and the copy.
Seiryo-ji also has two interesting zen gardens that can be accessed from its main hall. The booth where you can get the tickets is immediately on the right in the main hall. After visiting the main hall itself, a bridge leaves at the back of the building. In the corner of the bridge you can see a nice pond with a stone lantern and a stone pagoda (you cannot stroll in this garden). Continuing on the wooden bridge you reach a second (moss) garden. Both gardens are best viewed in autumn. Recommended for: Access: Nearby: Hōkyō-in 宝筺院 (180m), Enri-an 厭離庵 (330m), the Rakushisha 落柿舎 (490m), Nison-in 二尊院 (610m), Furoan フロアン (630m), Nonomiya-jinja 野宮神社 (660m), Shōkaku-ji 正覚寺 (670m), Giyō-ji 祇王寺 (670m), Jōjakkō-ji 常寂光寺 (680m), Takiguchi-dera 滝口寺 (710m),... External links: ウィキペディア, Wikipedia, Wikipédia, Kyoto Navi, Kyoto Design, 京都風光, Marutake, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, arashiyama, 嵐山, 清涼寺, Seiryo-ji, temple, 寺院, 仏閣 Statistics: visited on 5 occasions, id 139, 8 photos (10 extra photos can be found in the archive). |
