Great Mausoleum of Eiheiji Temple

Eiheiji Guide 14: The place where believers' urns rest

Takako Sakamoto Aug 01, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>Frightening looking wooden statue welcomes you when you enter 'Shidōden'</p>

<p>According to the sign, 'Shidōden' contains thousands of memorial tablets and urns of lay followers and their relatives</p>

<p>The entrance wooden sign of 'Shidōden'. It was dark inside, as this is the place where followers spirits rest in peace</p>

<p>There are many many many memorial tablets of followers lined up on a shelf</p>

<p>View of statues and memorial tablets</p>

<p>Many names are written on one big memorial tablet</p>

<p>Bronze statue of Buddha looks peaceful</p>

<p>Buddhist gold ornaments hanging from high ceiling</p>

<p>The famous giant beads of Eiheiji Temple is here!</p>

<p>Outside corridor of 'Shidōden'. Serene place for spirits to rest in peace</p>

<p>Moss-covered stone monument and green trees viewed from a corridor of 'Shidōden'</p>

This photo story is to guide you step-by-step as you explore Eiheiji Temple in Fukui, the Zen temple of 'Eternal Peace'. The fourteenth, final guide focuses on 'Shidōden', the great mausoleum and memorial hall which contains thousands of memorial tablets and urns of lay followers and their relatives. Memorial services are performed every morning in this hall, which means if your urn of ashes is placed here, rather than in a graveyard somewhere, you can rest in peace forever in this beautiful temple without worrying about who will take care of your grave in the future! Also, don't miss the HUGE Buddhist beads displayed in this hall, which was donated by a fervent believer. It weighs 250 kg and is 18 meter long, hanging on the wall of 'Shidōden'.

For other photos, please see these other photo stories, a detailed history, this article, and the other entries to this guide, the links below.

Complete Guide to Eiheiji Temple Series

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Find out more about Eiheiji Temple.

Eiheiji Temple Guide

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...