By Yuri Yuhara
Zenkoji is the name of two different
temples in Japan: one is Shinano Zenkoji, in Nagano Prefecture, and the other
is Kai Zenkoji, located in Kofu city, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Kai Zenkoji was built by Takeda Shingen,
one of the most famous historical figures in Japan, to host several religious
and art works belonged to Shinano Zenkoji. Takeda Shingen was afraid that
Shinano Zenkoji would be destroyed in the middle of the battle of Kawanakajima
and moved all the Buddhist treasures, including the main statue to Kai.
The main hall of the temple is 27m height
and 59m length, the biggest in the area and is nationally designated as an Important Cultural Property. Besides the impressive architecture, many
Buddhists memorial tablets from Tokugawa clan, who ruled Japan after the
Sengoku Period, are stored there.
One of the main attractions is the dragon
painting in the ceiling of the main hall. By standing in the middle of the hall
and clapping your hands visitors can hear a sound that is said to be similar to
a dragon's roar.
Also, it is
possible to take part on the Kaidan meguri (戒壇廻り), that
takes place in a dark room located in the back of the temple. The kaidan meguri route was shaped on the format of the Chinese
character 心, which means
hear, spirit, and the main goal is to find a key attached to one of the walls,
that is believed to be related to the Buddha Amitabha.
Kai
Zenkoji
400-0806 3-36-1 Zenkoji, Kofu City
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