By JIRO TSUTSUI/ Staff Writer
November 18, 2021 at 07:00 JST
The interior of the Kaidan-in hall at Enryakuji temple (Provided by Enryakuji)
OTSU, Shiga Prefecture--For the first time in its 1,200-year history, Enryakuji temple on Mount Hieizan here is allowing the general public to enter its fabled Kaidan-in main hall.
This exceptional opportunity lasts until Dec. 12 and is part of “Daionki” (great celebrations) to mark the death of the temple’s founding monk, Saicho, in the 9th century.
Enryakuji’s Hokke Soji-in Todo pagoda is also open to the public during this limited period.
Kaidan-in, designated by the central government as an important cultural property, is where an annual ritual is held to formally recognize members of the Tendai school of Buddhism as priests. Even monks are only allowed to enter inside the building once in their lifetime.
On the day before he died 1,200 years ago, the monk Saicho received a charter from the Imperial Court to build Kaidan-in. The hall was completed after his death.
But it was destroyed by fire along with other Buddhist temples during the Siege of Hieizan by warlord Oda Nobunaga in 1571, only to be rebuilt in 1678.
Even today, the Hokke Soji-in Todo plays the central role among six pagodas founded by Saicho across the country.
It, too, was also destroyed by fire during the siege but rebuilt in 1980 based on drawings of its original shape created during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333).
“Kaidan-in is a particularly important hall, and it may be the last opportunity to open it to the public,” said Gyokai Imadegawa, Enryakuji’s worship director. “We hope visitors feel the thoughts of the great master on the occasion of the Daionki anniversary.”
The venues are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in December).
Visitors are required to purchase a special ticket that also provides access to a special exhibition held at the Kokuhoden hall. Tickets cost 500 yen ($4.40) for adults, 300 yen for junior and senior high school students and 100 yen for elementary school students.
An exclusive “goshuin” stamp is also offered.
For inquiries, visit the official website at (https://www.hieizan.or.jp/)
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