guide to the precincts Visitors' Guide The Looking-back Amida and Eikan

Taho-to (Pagoda) Garyuro In the early hours of February 15, 1082, Ｎ Ihai-do Amida-do in the freezing cold of the morning, the then Kaisan-do Bell Tower chief priest of Eikando, the Abbot Zuishi-den Mie-do Reliquary Eikan(1033-1111), while intoning the Taimenjo Senbutu-do Office Kyoryu-An Nembutsu, was walking around a statue of Shaka-do Ryu to sui Amida. Kakuju dai Vestibule Karamon He suddenly came to as the dawn was Office breaking, Amida came down from his Reception Yokushitsu Gokuraku pedestal, and began walking away, Benten Bridge Hojo Island Seihoukaku Muan Pond Eikando beckoning to Eikan. Eikan could do nothing Souvenir Shop Eikando Kindergarten but stare, speachless and unmoving. Then Kaikan Kangaku Middle Kotobuki Amida looked back at Eikan and called to Gate Gate Bridge Kaede him in a soft voice. "Eikan! Come with me!" Bridge Gasen-do Chifuku-in Library Eikan decided to pass on to others the Parking merciful heart he had received from Amida Shogaku-in Rest room and prayed, "Please, keep that form forever!" North Gate Main Gate South Gate After that, a statue in this form was made.

This, the Turning-back Amida, the main The Headquarters of the Jodo Sect Seizan Zenrin-ji branch icon of present day Eikando. EIKANDO ZENRIN-JI TEMPLE Eikando-cho 48, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Japan In Buddhism, it is thought to attain the highest TEL(075)761-0007 FAX(075)771-4243 that untold Buddhas exist in the enlightenment, Amida http://www.eikando.or.jp/ limitless universe. For example, established 48 vows. Among

in the far west there is the world them, the most important for Kawaramachi-st. Shirakawa-st. Higashioji-st. of the Pure Land Paradise. There our sect is the 18th. This vow is Kawabata-st. it is said that the Buddha Amida that, if anyone says the name of Ｎ preaches the teachings. Amida is Amida from the heart, he will be the Buddha who saves us all. In reborn in the Pure Land Getting there the very distant past, in order Paradise and become a buddha. Take a #5 bus from JR Ginkaku-ji Kyoto Station. A 3-min Imadegawa-st. walk from Nanzen-ji What is Amida ? River Kamo Eikando-michi bus stop. Philosopher's Take a #100 bus from Walk JR Kyoto Station. A 5-min walk from Marutamachi-st. Heian Shrine Higashi-tenno-cho Higashi-Tenno-cho bus stop. Eikando A 15-min walk from Eikando Home Page Nanzenji-Eikando-michiZenrin-ji Keage Station on the Nijo-st. Temple Kyoto Tozai Subway line. Those who want to know more Take a #5 bus from Nanzen-ji Keihan Sanjo Station. A about Eikando, please visit our home 3-min walk from Subway Tozai Line Nanzen-ji Eikando-michi page. Sanjo-st. bus stop. Keage Station http://www.eikando.or.jp/ Keihan-Sanjo Take a #204 or #93 bus Shijo-st. Station from Keihan The Headquarters English: Yasaka Maruta-machi Station. An Shrine 8-min walk from http://www.eikando.or.jp/English/ Maruyama of the Jodo Sect EIKANDO Park Higashi-Tenno-cho bus index_eng.html stop. Seizan Zenrinji Branch ZENRIN-JI TEMPLE 【Taho-to】 【Garyuro】 A two-story pagoda A corridor made by with the upper part joining the wood The History of circular, and the together and running lower square. along the contours of Eikando Zenrin-ji Inside, Shaka the mountain slope. Nyorai and Taho Because it resembles In the early (853 AD), the priest Nyorai are the form of a sleeping Shinjo, a disciple of Kobo Daishi Kukai, built a enshrined. The dragon (garyu) , it layout of Kyoto can was given this name. training hall for the practice of Shingon Buddhism on be seen from the the site of present-day Zenrin-ji. Ten years later, Taho-to. 【Amida-do】 Hall where the Looking-back Shinjo received permission to establish a temple there 【Hiyoke-no-Amida】 Garyuro from Emperor Seiwa and the temple got the name Taho-to（Pagoda） Amida is enshrined. Moved here Priest Shinjo, who opened Amida-do from Osaka in 1607. The Zenrin-ji. Zenrin-ji, enshrined five Sanko-no-matsu Looking-back Amida may be Hiyoke-no-Amida In the latter part of the Heian period, the Abbot statues of the Buddha. Four prayed to from either side. On the of them were destroyed by ceilings, hundreds of flowers are Yokan, commonly known as "Eikan", became the fire during the Onin-no-ran. depicted. Shaka-do chief priest, and Zenrin-ji expanded greatly. Eikan However, this one statue Hidenbai intoned the Nembutsu as many as 60,000 times a day, was miraculously saved and Vestibule has come to be called the Karamon and made great efforts to save poor people. Eikan Fire Protector Amida. Reception 【Sanko-no- received the respect of many people and, at some time Hojo Pond matsu】 Zenrin-ji came to be called Eikando. An old pine tree remarkable for its Later, the priest Johen became the Abbot in the needles which are . He was a follower of the Shingon Gasen-do split into three. Sanko expresses Sect. However, he read the main work of priest Honen knowledge, mercy, (1133-1212), the founder of the Jodo Sect and became Viewpoints and sincerity. If you deeply convinced in the teaching that merely the Main Gate of the Precincts have this needle, it is Rest room said that you will recitation of the Nembutsu was enough to gain receive the three salvation. Then, he invited the highest disciple of 【Shaka-do】 blessings. Honen, Shoku (1177-1242), to become the next chief Ten Feet Square/Chief priest. priest's quarters. Built in 【Karamon】 the , 【Hidenbai】 Shoku, while devoting himself to the strict practice this building is known as a Gate used by Priest Eikan, when the plum of the Nembutsu in the same way as Eikan, explained true example of messengers of the trees of the precincts gave Shoin-zukuri (study-style) emperor when they go fruit, took it and gave it to the importance of reciting the Nembutsu placing all architecture. There are six in and out. The upper the sick. Those trees at some your trust in Amida with a pure heart. Giving this rooms, each decorated part of the Karamon is point came to be called decorated with practice the name "Shiraki-no Nembutsu" he with gorgeous fusuma Hidenbai by the people. The such as the Matsutori-zu openwork carving in a Hi of Hiden means mercy. recommended it to everyone. and the Gunsen-zu. floral pattern. In the Muromachi period, the Onin-no-ran occurred and Kyoto became a burning field. Zenrin-ji was no exception. Many years were spent in reconstruction. Noteworthy points of Eikando Then again, in the period, there was the Haibutu Kishaku, an anti-Buddhism movement, and a further The scenery of the Higashiyama of the foliage of the rock cliffs. original designs and colorings. great blow was suffered. At present, Zenrin-ji has district and the old architecture of Other than the Looking-back You can enjoy the seven wonders completely recovered from this damage, and the name the buildings are in harmony with Amida, you can see many other of Eikando such as the is known throughout Japan as the home temple of the the gardens blessed with water statues like the Fire Protector Sanko-no-matsu and the Hidenbai. Jodo Seizan Zenrin-ji sect with Shoku as founder of and greenery. You can stroll at Amida and Binzuru. your leisure in the broad gardens. At the Shaka-do, you can see ［NOTICE］ the sect. The beauty of the autumn colors masterpieces of mural and fusuma Because this is a religious facility, we Eikando Zenrin-ji, since the distant Heian period, is famous all over Japan. You can art from the Momoyama period ask that you wear suitable clothing. has passed on the merciful heart of Amida as the main enjoy the colors of the precincts of done by Hasegawa Tohaku and his Taking pictures or videos of the statues and paintings is forbidden. temple of the reciting the Nembutsu. course, but also the brilliant colors disciples who were known for their Bamboo Tiger