Saidaiji was originally founded by the Empress Shotoku in 765, but the buidlings here have succumbed to fire numerous times, although the current main hall (Hondo, pictured below) and Aizendo Hall have been here since the Edo period - so prior to 1867.
This was my first visit to a temple alone, and also my first visit to a temple that has no english signs anywhere... I was within the temple walls and knew that I should be paying someone the 400 Yen entry fee but couldn't find a soul (I then started to think I was in the wrong place, as I also hadn't seen any foreigners), I followed a red arrow thinking it might be directions to the information centre, but all I found was a public toilet.
Eventually I realised that I actually had to go inside the Hondo, and so I took my shoes off (good move) and inside was the man I needed to see - my japanese phrases came in handy, and I got to see some very beautiful sculptures and lanterns (but you can not take photos inside the temples so you will have to imagine for yourself).
This temple is associated with the Tea Ceremony, and apparently is the home of an 'extreme' tea ceremony where all of the accouterments are seriously oversized (so the tea cup you drink from has a 30cm diameter) - I am yet to find out exactly why, but apparently this event happens only 3 times per year, one being in October, so maybe I will get to see it.
1 comment:
Am very interested in so-called extreme tea ceremony. Is it competitive tea drinking do you think? Can I compete do you think?
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