Konpon-chūdō

Step through the grand wooden doors of the Konpon-chūdo and into the heart of Enryaku-ji, a place steeped in Tendai Buddhist tradition. The Konpon-chūdo is the main temple hall of the Enryaku-ji monastery on Mount Hiei, overlooking Kyoto. The monastery was founded by the monk Saichō in 788. This temple hall stands on the very spot where Saichō’s original Ichijō Shikan-in temple once stood. The Konpon-chūdo was not always here, however. The original building was destroyed in 1571 by the warlord Oda Nobunaga, who sought to eliminate the influence of the warrior monks who were loyal to the Tendai sect. The current building, rebuilt after the destruction, is still significant, however. The Konpon-chūdo is a National Treasure and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” The Konpon-chūdo is a long room where the altars are sunken below the floor. There are three lanterns in the room that have remained lit for over 1200 years. There is a statue of Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha), said to have been carved by Saichō himself, enshrined right here in the Konpon-chūdo. The Konpon-chūdo is a place of beauty and mystery, a place of peace and contemplation. It is a place where the past and present meet, where the spiritual and the physical intertwine. It is a place where the story of Tendai Buddhism unfolds before your very eyes. Take a moment to sit and breathe in the incense-filled air. Feel the cool stone floor beneath your feet. Close your eyes and let the weight of history wash over you. Let the Konpon-chūdo transport you back in time, back to the days when this temple hall was a center of learning and power.