Ever wonder about a temple that honors needles? Hōrenji Temple is such a place. It stands as a testament to history and artistry. This temple offers a unique blend of Buddhist tradition and cultural reverence.
Hōrenji Temple’s story began about 1300 years ago. In 713 Gyoki Bosatsu started construction by order of Emperor Genmei. Later Dosho a disciple of Koubou Daishi placed the Kokuzo Bosatsu here. This Bodhisattva became the temple’s principal image. Emperor Seiwa gave the temple the name Hōrenji in 874. Sei Shonagon praised it as one of Kyoto’s representative temples in “Makura-no-soshi”. Its auspiciousness appeared in “Konjaku Monogatari” too.
Hōrenji Temple suffered damage during the Onin War in 1467. Toshiie Maeda led its restoration. In 1606 Emperor Go-Yousei gave it the honorific prefix Mt. Chifuku. Keishoin the mother of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa supported the temple. This helped it prosper. However the Kimon Incident of 1864 burned down much of the main hall. The main hall the gate and the pagoda were rebuilt.
Kokuzo Bosatsu is the principal image and is known as “Sagano no Kokuzo-san”. People revere it as a provider of wisdom happiness and prosperity. It is also a guardian for those born in the years of the ox and tiger. Kokuzo Bosatsu has a storehouse of unlimited treasures. It is said to grant wishes.
The Togetsu-kyo Bridge spans the Ooi-gawa River. It offers a celebrated view. Dosho of Hōrenji Temple is said to have built the original bridge. He did this while repairing the river. From the bridge you can see Hōrenji Temple’s pagoda. It is halfway up Arashiyama Mountain.
Near the main gate you will find Dendengu-shrine. This enshrines the guardian deity of electricity and radio waves. At the top of the stone steps is the main hall. To the left stands the pagoda. To the right is the Butai observation deck. From there you can see the Togetsu-kyo Bridge the Sagano area Kyoto and the Higashiyama mountains.
Hōrenji Temple is known for the Jusan Mairi ceremony. This coming-of-age event is for 13-year-olds. They pray to Kokuzo Bosatsu for wisdom happiness and health. After the visit they must not look back until crossing the Togetsu-kyo Bridge. Otherwise they risk losing the wisdom they gained.
Many poets writers and craftsmen once lived here. This makes Hōrenji Temple an auspicious place for artists. Emperor Seiwa built a Hari-to needle memorial pagoda. Each year on December 8th the temple holds a memorial service for needles from the imperial household. Hōrenji Temple is also called ‘the temple of lacquer’. On November 13 people from the lacquer industry gather for a memorial ceremony.
From Hōrenji’s stage you can see the Togetsu Bridge and Sagano. The stage opens to the public during the Daimonji Gozan Okuribi festival. At the temple office you can find a microSD amulet. It contains audio of the Kokuzo Gumonji Method. This temple blends spiritual tradition with unique cultural practices.