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 | Kyoto Sanjusangen-do Reviews | 1 - 10 of 20 |  |
This place is AWE-some.
Sanjusangendo is one of two places that really left an impression on me in Kyoto.
The official name for the temple is Rengeo-in (Temple of the Lotus King), but it is popularly known as Sanjusangendo for its famous 1001 statues of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. The statues are housed in the main building which from the outside did not look like much except at 390 feet in length, extremely looonnnngggg.......
But wait til you get inside to view the statues.
One giant Kannon sits in the middle, flanked on each side by 500 slightly smaller statues, all of them in neat rows side by side. The smaller statues are as tall as a human.
When one enters the hall, you are struck by the silence even though there are sizable crowds inside admiring the statues. The sight must had been overwhelmingly awe-inspiring. It definitely was for me.
The front row of deities nearest to the visitors are identified individually by plagues naming them with info about them, e.g Wind God, Thunder God, etc. Very interesting history/religious lesson.
There is no photography allowed in the main hall, so the photo on the left is of one of many postcards I bought at their gift corner.
Sanjusangendo is not on the list of UNESCO World Heritage site, but it may be in the future. It is one of Kyoto's gems.
NOTE:
Sanjusangendo means the "Hall of 33 gen", 33 being an auspicious number in Buddhism. It is taught that the Goddess of Mercy will come to the aid of man in times of distress, incarnated as one of 33 different shapes on its mission of mercy.
(Gen is the length between two architectural pillars.)
Entrance Fee: 600 yen
Opening Hours: 8am-4:30pm (9am - 4:30pm in the winter months) Leave a Comment Phone: 075-811-8101Directions: From Kyoto Station, take Bus 100, 206 or 208 to Sanjusangendo-mae stop
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One of my favourite temples. It houses some 31 national treasures which are all statues of buddhist gods and goddesses. This is a Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) Temple.
The statues are :
1 Kannon Bodhisattva (Thousand Armed Kannon)
28 spirits subordinated to Kannon
1 Wind God (Fujin)
1 Thunder God (Raijin)
AND
On each side of Kannon, there are 500 statues, lined neatly in 10 tens rows of 50 statues per row. All the wooden statues are covered with gold leaves.
The main image of Kannon Badhisattva has 11 small faces and 21 pairs of arms which symbolise 1000 arms. Reason being, each arm saves 25 worlds.
Extracted from web-link :
Extending 125 metres from north to south with 33 intervals between the pillars this is the longest wooden structure in the world. Founded in 1164 by order of retired emperor Goshirakawa. The central image is a seated figure of the Kannon with 11 faces and 1000 arms (goddess of mercy: a National Treasure). This is flanked by 28 deities (all National Treasures) that usually accompany the main Kannon image and embody virtues such as exorcism of evil spirits etc. There are also 1000 smaller standing statues of the Thousand-armed Kannon. The temple is further renowned for the Toshiya or Archery Contest that takes place behind the temple in January. Affiliated with the Tendai sect.
Entrance Fee : 600 Yen (As at 15 May 04) Leave a Comment Address: 657 Mawari-cho Sanjusangendo Higashiyama-kuPhone: 075-525-0033Directions: Keihan Rlwy: Shichijo -walk 3 min; City Bus(Numbers 100, 206 or 208: Hakubutsukan- sanjusangendomaeWebsite: http://raku.city.kyoto.jp/sight/new/view_sight.php?InforKindCode=1&ManageCode=1000241 Other Contact: Fax : 075-561-6698
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This temple is just across the Sansumo Art Museum. While we were on the street waiting in line (the line is outrageously long that the line went all the way to the street), I saw the cement walls of the Sandusandengo Temple. It's kind of difficult to pronounce the name but you will get use to it.
The temple is beautiful. It's our first day in Kyoto and our first visit for the day is actually the Sansumo National Art Museum. But this temple is just across the street. We went to check it out but wasn't so much interested to get inside their temple because the fee is expensive.
However, my sisters and I decided to take pictures of the temple outside and visit other temples. Not sure if I could give you more detailed description of the temple except the outside of the temple. Directions: Just across the street of Sansumo National Art Museum.
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The official name of this temple is Rengeo-in. But the popular name Sanju-sangen-do is coming from the form of the main hall. It means a hall with 33 spaces between columns. If that was all it was it was not worth visiting. But inside the hall you will find 1001 images of Kannon, a buddhist deity. A Thjousand standing Kannon and one gigantic sitting image. The statues are made of Japanese cypress and painted. 124 statues are from the 12th century and the others from the 13th century when the hall was renovated. In front of the Kannon are even more statues. There are 30 guardian deities, at one side the god of thunder and at the other side the god of wind. Both gods were worshipped as deities who controlled weather and brought good harvest. The statues are from the Kamakura period (12th-14th century)
The temple was established by a powerfull warrior-politician Taira-no-Kiyomori in 1164. The original building was destroyed by fire, but was reconstructed in 1266. Since then it underwent 4 major reconstructions. The hall is 120 meter long.
It is open from 9:00 to 16:00.
Admission fee is 600 Yen Leave a Comment Directions: bus 100, 206, 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangen-do mae. or station Keihan Nanajo
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It features 1,001 statues of the Goddess of Mercy: the main one carved by the master sculptor Tankei at age 82. First built in 1664; rebuilt in 1266. The rear archery field is still used for special occasions. Unfortantely, we can't take any photos when we were inside the temple, so this is a picture taken outside the temple. The pictures in my travelogue are from the brochue.
1,001 statues of Goddess of Mercy! Each one of them have different faces & unique in their own way! Leave a Comment
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Buddhist Temple founded in 1164 with the present stucture from 1266. Over 100 meters long . Entry fee 600 yen , and open 8 am to 5 pm. Not exceptionally crowded .
Shoes off to entre. No photos inside.Length of temple makes for diifficult photography anyway.
What's inside see Photo # 3.
One large Kannon ( Goddess of Mercy ) flanked on either side by 500 times two smaller Kannons. In addition there are 24 Buddhist Dieties. All dating from the 12th or 13th century.
Thie is not a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Leave a Comment Directions: Opposite the Kyoto National Museum. If the group is three or four take a taxi from Kyoto station
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Translate"hall with thirty-three spaces between the columns."
Considered one of Kyoto most well preserved temple.
Reason why you should go:
1. Contained 1001 Kannon Statue of Goddes of Mercy which all made from wood carving.
(Unfortunately photography is prohibited in this temple; but it looks amazing)
2. Red Striking colour of the exterior Temple creating a wonderful perspective if looking the corridors. Leave a Comment
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This temple is home to 1001 statues of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Kannon. Each one is subtly unique and, lined up in ranks, brings to mind the Terracotta Army. The statues were first commissioned in 1164, mostly destroyed in a fire in 1249 but rebuilt by 1266 and put in a new building.
The western veranda was popular for samurais to practice archery. In a competition known as 'Toshiya' the object was to fire an arrow down the 100+ metre length of the building without hitting a pillar. This is re-enacted annually every January 15th. Leave a Comment
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Sanjusangen-do temple is a very long building! And in it, there exsist more than thousand religious statues!! Leave a Comment Address: Kyoto city
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SANJUSANGEN-DO TEMPLE (RENGEO-IN): Houses 1001 (Oh, Yes! 1001 of them!) images of Kannon (goddess of mercy) in its elongated main hall. This temple is also the LONGEST WOODEN STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD. The main image of Kannon (with 1000 arms) was carved by the 82-year old Tankai in 1254. The other 1000 images are of smaller size. The goddess of mercy was believed to have 33 manifestations. Hence, the believers & the faithful would have invoked the mercy of 33033 Kannons!
Sanjusangen-do derived its name from the sanjusan (meaning 33 in Japanese) spaces between the building's pillars. Why 33 precisely? Anyone?
Leave a Comment Directions: Keihan Nanajo Station. Alternatively, take bus 100, 206 or 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangen-do-mae. If you take the bus, try to get the bus-driver to signal to you for the stop. You can't really seOther Contact: Tel: (075) 525 0033.
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