Beyond Phoenix Hall at Byodo-in

Looking at other temples in the Byodo-in Complex

Takako Sakamoto Dec 08, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>This restored statue of 'Kuze Funanori Kannon' is displayed inside Jodo-in Temple, part of the Byodo-in Temple Complex</p>

<p>Keisho-in Temple, one of the temples in Byodo-in Temple Complex</p>

<p>The grave of Minamoto-no Yorimasa, who tried to overthrow Heike Clan, lost the Battle in Uji and committed suicide here</p>

<p>Beautiful round-shaped window cut out of a white wall</p>

<p>Back view of the south wing of Phoenix Hall</p>

<p>The Fudo Hall, the main hall of Keisho-in Temple</p>

<p>The view seen from central chamber of Phoenix Hall. On the opposite side of the pond there is a long line of people waiting for their turn to enter the Phoenix Hall</p>

<p>The two phoenixes on the roof were replaced by replicas in 1968, and the genuine ones are safely kept somewhere else.</p>

In late November of 2014, I visited the newly renovated Phoenix Hall at Byodo-in Temple in Uji City, Kyoto.

Many people lined up in the early morning to see the renewed face of Byodo-in's Phoenix Hall, a World Heritage Site. I went early, but still I had to wait for two hours before entering the hall. Every time I see this kind of scene in which people wait in a long line, I am impressed anew how much Japanese people love queuing!

There are other temples in the grounds of Byodo-in Temple besides the Phoenix Hall of course. I also visited Keisho-in and Jodo-in, and prayed in front of the Buddhist statues there before going home.

See also: Face-Lift For Byodo-in Phoenix Hall (Villa of Elite Aristocrats)

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Find out more about Byodo-in Temple.

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...