“Can you hear it?” a gentle voice asks. It is the sound of prayers rising. The prayers whisper through the air at Zennoji Temple. More specifically at Zennoji Kissho Kaku.
Welcome to Zennoji Kissho Kaku in Kyoto. It is a serene temple with a poignant history.
Zennoji Temple was first established as Nikai Kannon-do. It was located on West 8th Street. In 823 AD, the monk Kukai enshrined Benzaiten. Benzaiten is the goddess of wealth and music. He renamed the temple Zennoji.
Later Emperor Heizei supported the temple. In 1555, Emperor Go-Nara designated Zennoji. It became a sub-temple of Sennyu-ji. It was moved northwest of Imazumano Kannon-ji.
During the Meiji Restoration, Zennoji fell into disrepair. It was relocated to its present site in 1887. Zennoji is said to be the first temple in Japan to enshrine Benzaiten.
The main hall Kissho Kaku was built in 1971. It was built by the bereaved of the Bandai airplane crash. They wished to console the victims. They also wanted to prevent future accidents.
In 1972, the landscape architect Mirei Shigemori designed the Yu-Sen-Tei garden. This pond-style garden evokes a unique atmosphere. It contrasts with Shigemori’s other dry landscape gardens.
Within Zennoji Temple, you will also find the Hakuryu Jinja Shrine. There is also Japan’s oldest Benzaiten Shrine.
Zennoji Kissho Kaku stands as a place of solace. It is a sanctuary. It embodies compassion. The temple also serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of life and remembrance.