“Stele? What’s a Stele?” I hear you ask. Well, right here we have the \u53f2\u8e5f\u4ec1\u548c\u5bfa\u5fa1\u6240\u5740 Stele. It marks a place of great historical significance. Let’s journey back in time.
The \u53f2\u8e5f\u4ec1\u548c\u5bfa\u5fa1\u6240\u5740 Stele commemorates the site of Ninnaji Temple’s historic residence. Ninnaji Temple is a significant temple with close ties to the Imperial family. Emperor Uda founded the temple in 888.
After Emperor Uda abdicated, he became a monk. He built a monastic residence within the temple. This residence was called the “Omuro Gosho”. Omuro Gosho became another name for Ninnaji Temple. Therefore, the stele marks the location of the Omuro Gosho within Ninnaji Temple.
Ninnaji Temple has a rich history. The temple has links to the imperial family. It was customary for members of the imperial family to serve as head priests. This tradition continued until recent times.
During the Onin War many buildings were destroyed. Rebuilding took place during the Edo period. The Golden Hall is a national treasure. It was moved from Kyoto Gosho at that time. This preserved the palace architecture of that era.
Ninnaji Temple is renowned for its late-blooming cherry blossoms. These are known as Omuro cherry blossoms. Unlike other cherry trees, the Omuro blossoms are short. Their blossoms start from the top to the bottom. The blossoms bloom later than other varieties in Kyoto. The temple grounds have about 550 cherry trees. Around 130 of them are the famous Omuro cherry trees.
Ninnaji Temple has beautiful gardens. The South Garden has white sand. It is designed after the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The North Garden features ponds and artificial hills. These gardens create a three-dimensional space.
The temple was registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. It is part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto”.
The Ni-o gate is very famous. It is one of Kyoto’s three major gates. The gate features imposing statues of Kongo Rikishi.
The \u53f2\u8e5f\u4ec1\u548c\u5bfa\u5fa1\u6240\u5740 Stele stands as a reminder. It connects us to Emperor Uda. It connects us to the imperial family’s legacy at Ninnaji. It’s a place where history and spirituality intertwine.