This is Setsubun Festival of Daruma-dera Temple in Kyoto.
Daruma-dera Temple is quiet temple usually. However, here is crowded with a lot of people in the Setsubun Festival.
From the first Setsubun means the turn of the season.
In Japan, there are four seasons. Setsubun means boundary between the spring and winter at the present time.
That day is February 3rd.
Tradition says Oni appear in the turn of the season.
Oni is a frightening monster of Japan. Oni is also a symbol of bad things and terrible things and strong ones.
At the Setsubun Festival, Event for drive out the Oni take place in various parts of Japan.
【Setsubun Festival in Daruma-dera Temple】
Red ones that are stuck in a temple gate is old Dharma charm.
Ordinary, Event for drive out the Oni take place at the Setsubun Festival.
However, In the Daruma temple, visitors write a wish to amulets and paste on tha daruma.
Visitors entrust a wish to Daruma.
Darumas received everyone's wishes with their whole body.
On this day Darumas are displayed in the verandah of the main hall.
Folding screens of Daruma which is usually not exhibited to the public are also displayed.
This folding screen is quite interesting.
Facial hair is very long
Old Lady Daruma
Old Lady Daruma2
Woeful face
Like a comic character
Until the very end, Oni does not come out.
No problem about it.
Daruma is the leading role at any time.
That is the Daruma-dera Temple.
In Kyoto, There is the temple called Daruma-dera Temple.
The official name is "Horin-ji Temple" but commonly known as Daruma-dera Temple is even more famous than Horin-ji Temple.
（There is one more "Horin-ji Temple" in Kyoto. That is located in Arashiyama.）
Before introducing the Daruma temple, I'll explain about the Daruma.
This is the Daruma.
It have been popular as a lucky charm or toy.
In Japan, Anyone from adults to a children know the Daruma.
【Origin of Dharma is Dharma】
Daruma was made based on a real person.
The man is the Dharma who is practicing the Zen Buddhism. Dharma was flourished from the second half of the 5th century to the first half of the 6th century.
Dharma was born as a prince of India, but he became a priest.
After the ascetic practices about 40 years around, He went to China. He missioned Zen Buddhism for the first time in China.
A famous anecdote about Dharma was sitting in religious meditation to facing a wall for nine years.
This time, Dharma was wearing a coverlet for cold weather. Picture of Dharma is often drawn in this style.
This figure and legend of Dharma was transmitted to Japan with Zen Buddhism.
It is said that the current round Daruma was born from this figure and legend.
There is another theory.
Dharma has a legend that his arms and legs was rotten and he lost his arms and legs because of the religious meditation for nine years.
It is also said that Origin of Dharma is this Figure.
【Familiar Lucky charm for Japanese】
Why did Daruma became lucky charm?
There is a toy called "Okiagari-Koboshi (tumble doll)" in Japan. It is a toy that put a weight into the doll, and it returns to an upright position even if it tipped over.
Form of Okiagari-Koboshi is similar to the Daruma.
Wobbling was gradually confused with Daruma because Okiagari-Koboshi and Daruma are similar.
In this way, Daruma having a function of Okiagari-Koboshi was finished.
Red and white colors of the Daruma and the figure of Daruma which always get up were a good omen.
(In Japan,The combination of red and white is the color of Auspicious situation)
Thus, Daruma became lucky charm.
【Used in Buddhist prayer】
Then, Daruma came to be also used in Buddhist prayer.
It is act to share of good luck from Dharma's an indomitable spirit.
How to Buddhist prayer.
Draw the eye with your hope. If your wish come true, draw the other eye.
Daruma which both eyes are drawn means someone's wishes come true.
Dharma has such history and has been familiar to many people through the ages.
【Precinct is full of Daruma】
Name as the "Daruma-dera Temple", there is a Daruma everywhere in the precincts of this temple.
Enshrined Daruma seems to more than 8000.
Daruma statue
Around the this Daruma statue, Animals of the twelve Japanese zodiac signs are lined.
Pedestal is cinerarium for pets.
There are various Daruma on the roof.
Window is also Daruma.
Anyway, it is tremendous Daruma density.
【Daruma-do for enshrined Daruma】
This is the Daruma-do.
There is also Darumas at the entrance.
There is also Daruma on the roof.
There is also full of Daruma inside of the building.
These Daruma has been given to this temple when someone's wish come true.
There is also a Daruma on the ceiling!
This is the Daruma statue in the center.
I never get tired of looking at that.
Incidentally, my favorite Daruma is this.
I'll be happy with this smile :)
【Means of Chinese characters in Daruma-do】
There are a few characters at the entrance of the Daruma-do.
I will explain the meaning.
Nanakorobi-yaoki
It means "When you fail many times, get up without giving up"
It is a figure itself of Dharma that survived the ascetic practices.
Ki ha nagaku, Kokoro ha maruku, Hara wo tatezuni, Hito ha Ookiku, Onore ha chiisaku
Chinese characters are written in the stomach of the Daruma. Character is oriented various directions.
This means
"be patient, have a tender heart, Without angry, be a tolerant person, Without self-assertive"
It seems this is teachings of Dharma.
【The garden is also beautiful】
The garden side of the main hall is not widely. But green moss and trees is very beautiful.
Autumn leaves is also very beautiful in the fall.
Here is not the sightseeing spot of Kyoto.
However, here is a temple where can be spend the time with a smile surrounded by Dharmas.
Speaking of Rokkakudo is doves.
There is the written oracle that is known as "written oracle of dove".
（Pottery birds are arranged in the bottom of the video thumbnail. That is pigeon fortune. So Cute!!）
Real doves is a lot than the number of people who are in the precincts.
They are always running around freely precincts.
When you are praying, doves will flapping noisily or says "po po po po po" in your behind.
It is not uncommon.
When you are praying with your eyes closed, you might be stepped on the foot to doves.
It is not uncommon too. Let's pray without worrying.
Feed to the doves is prohibited in many shrines and temples, but Rokkaku-do is allowed to feed to the doves.
Feed of doves is sold in the precincts.
However, it is not cute feeding such as little birds pecking for feed.
In this way, it will be in the state without the called only with chaos.
However, the momentum of doves seeking feed are far beyond your imagination. Doves will come riding to the top of the head freely.
If you want to fully contact, let's equipped with clothes you can get dirty and mask and cap.
When looking at the plump doves, I am jealous of doves because they looks fun and got the feeding. but....
The feeding too large for the mouth, force to eat → strange face....
Rokkaku-do (Choho-ji Temple) is located in the middle of Kyoto that is lined with buildings.
It is close to the Nishiki market.
Its formal name is Choho-ji.
Than formal name, it is popular in the name of "Rokkakudo" after the hexagonal Hondo (main temple building).
There is the building right beside this temple.
One of the three Elevator in the building is the observation elevator.
This picture is the main temple visible from there.You'll look better that roof is hexagonal.
【Temple that is faith from common people from a long time ago】
The history of Rokkakudo is old.
It is said, this temple was founded by Prince Shotoku in Asuka period.
This temple was encountered 18 times of disaster just can confirm.
However, common people have been revived each time.
There are many traditions about Rokkaku-do.
I will introduce one of the famous tradition.
When Heian-kyo is was built, Rokkakudo was likely to destroy.
At that time, the hall has moved 15 meters on their own.
The reason that there is a lot of traditions, I think this temple has been faith in people from the old days.
【The birthplace of Ikenobo school of flower arrangement】
Rokkaku-do is the birthplace of Ikenobo school of flower arrangement.
Priest of Rokkakudo was equipped with a flower in the morning and evening.
How to arrange flowers is very great, it was spread to people.
This is the beginning of the Japanese flower arrangement.
【Feel free to visit】
It is a temple that you can feel free to visit during break time of work or middle of a walk and other time.
I took a picture of the Kuginukijizou Temple in Nishijin Kyoto.
This temple was founded by Koubou Daishi. The official name of this temple is syakuzou-ji Temple , but It has been known for popular name of Kuginukijizou in Kyoto.
There are images of the large nail pull in front of the main hall,Around the main hall is lined with a lot of the statue of Buddha and the stone statue and thevotive picture of nail pull. This temple have been very faith in the local, a lot of people have always worship.
I took a picture of the Autumn leaves in Kinkaku-ji Temple Kyoto. Speaking of Kinkakuji, golden reliquary hall is too famous. But is the Temple of the Golden Pavilion and famous too golden reliquary hall speaking, autumn leaves of garden was impressive enough not lost the gold.
I took a picture of the Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto. This time, I have put together around the photograph of the garden. In the garden at the back of Kinkaku have planted a lot of maple, we can see the Kinkaku shining through the trees that were colored. When you exit the back of the garden there is a Fudo-do. You worship and lit a fire to candle in accordance with your wish.
I took a picture of the Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto. I took many photos, but this time I have put together around the photograph of Kinkaku. Just garden of autumn leaves at the peak, the contrast of gold, red, green, and blue of the sky was very beautiful. Buddha and Yoshimitsu Ashikaga statue on the first floor of the Kinkaku, you can see the camera zoom or binoculars.
I was shooting up around the Deva gate of Kiyomizu Temple from Ninen-zaka Slope. Around the Kiyomizu Temple is visited by most tourists in Kyoto. Here is lined with shops to roadside, it is a place with views of the temples and towers in the distance. It is one place where you can enjoy the most Kyoto-like atmosphere in Kyoto.
I was shooting the Goedo and Karamon of Nishi Honganji. The colorful and wonderful sculpture of Karamon you forget over time as the nickname of "Higurashi-mon".
