Nestled within Osaka’s Hirano Ward, Seikou Temple may seem an unlikely portal to the underworld. Yet, tucked within this Jodo Shinshu Buddhist temple is the Jigokudo, the “Hall of Hell”. Senko-ji, also known as Seikou Temple, offers a fascinating, and slightly cheesy, glimpse into Buddhist concepts of hell. Imagine stepping through an unassuming gate within a quiet shopping arcade. Suddenly, you’re confronted by Enma, the King of Hell, a fearsome figure complete with a kanji-stamped hat. Smoke billows, red lights flash, and eerie music fills the air as a video depicts the torments awaiting those with bad karma. Beside Enma lurks Datsue-ba, ready to strip the skin from hapless souls. Seikou Temple’s hell isn’t all fire and brimstone. Cartoonish statues depict over-the-top punishments, like sinners boiling in a wok of peanut oil. You can even test your own karmic balance with a push-button gizmo. But Seikou Temple isn’t just about hell. Descend into a cave bathed in the glow of a giant LED rainbow mandala and find yourself in a serene underground heaven. This hidden gem, dating back to the Edo period, offers a unique blend of the macabre and the meditative. Seikou Temple is a testament to the multifaceted ways Buddhist teachings explore morality, a quirky experience you won’t soon forget.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to