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3rd Temple: Ryusen-ji (New Year’s Eve)
Lee: And so we arrive on New Year’s Eve in Ryusen-ji, home of the black-eyed fire-god. Our friendly guide leads us through the grand Nio gates, the monstrous horned guardians scowling down at us as we pass. I remember them from yesterday at Senso-ji, but at night, brilliantly illuminated, they are much more menacing. Once … Continue reading 3rd Temple: Ryusen-ji (New Year’s Eve)
3rd Temple: Ryusen-ji (The Lovers)
Lee East meets West where the Samurai meets the Cowboy: Ronin. Sometime in the 17th Century the young Samurai Gonpachi got into an argument with his clansman over who had the better dog. A sword fight ensued and Gonpachi, being handy with his weapon, killed his clansman. Forced to flee, he became a ronin: a … Continue reading 3rd Temple: Ryusen-ji (The Lovers)
2nd Temple: Seisui-ji
Lee Seisui-ji could not be more different than its colossal neighbour, Senso-ji. A modest modernist structure built in 1993, we identify it by the golden dharma wheel on the face of the second floor balcony. Bright prayer flags frame an open window on the balcony. There are no crowds. We ring the doorbell and when … Continue reading 2nd Temple: Seisui-ji
1st Temple: Senso-ji
Lee Even if you’re not on pilgrimage, Senso-ji is an appropriate place to begin a visit to Tokyo. It’s the city’s oldest temple, dating back before the city existed, almost 1400 years to 645 AD. It’s doubtful that anything but the Sumida River remains from that time, aside from the statue of Kannon that the … Continue reading 1st Temple: Senso-ji
