In February 2007 I had a chance to visit Japan and I spend 2 night on Mt Koya. It is a world heritage site with over 100 ancient temples in a small valley surrounded by mountains. I visited in the winter and Koyasan was covered in snow and is quite a magical place. It is a peaceful place where you can escape the rush of an overly complicated life. I visited in the winter wich made the experience more authentic because there were not many tourists as one might find during the warmer seasons. I spent 2 nights at a temple -all are welcome to stay and I met people ranging from buddhist pilgrims travelling on foot to 83 temples to other people like myself who just wanted some peace and quiet. I was presented my first set of chopsticks at breakfast on the second day and I was so flattered. I did a bit of exploring and had a great guide named Kaori Kodama who gave me a tour of many of the highlights. Here is the guide report she created for our visit. Walking through the Okunoin was an experience I'll never forget. Crossing the 3 bridges to the the temple was a great experience and the sun came out and warmed me up. Admiring the screen doors at Kongonuji on my knees was a completely different experience for me.
Map of Koyasan
Interpreter Guide Club
History:
Koyasan is an alpine basin located about 1,000m above sea level in Japan. Surrounded by mountain peaks on all sides, it is 5.5 km east-west and 2.3 km north-south. Kukai, known as Kobodaishi through his posthumous honorific name, sailed to China at the age of 31 in the year 804. In the ancient capital of Chang'am, he studied Tantric Buddhism under Priest Keika and was granted a master title. After returning from China in 806, he had been spreading the Shingon (True Word) Sect of Buddhism.
He founded Koyasan as a religious retreat in 816, when the Emperor Saga granted him the land. It is said that this was the start of the Kongobuji Temple. Kobodaishi started his eternal meditation in the cave of Okunoin on March 21, 835 at the ae of 62.
Today there are 117 sub-temples besides two monasteries and Okunion Temple that collectively a fantastic atmosphere.
Koyasan is a treasure house of esoteric culture. There are over 40,000 which are recognized as cultural properties including 200 National Treasures and 40 Prefectural Cultural Properties.
Map of Koyasan
Interpreter Guide Club
History:
Koyasan is an alpine basin located about 1,000m above sea level in Japan. Surrounded by mountain peaks on all sides, it is 5.5 km east-west and 2.3 km north-south. Kukai, known as Kobodaishi through his posthumous honorific name, sailed to China at the age of 31 in the year 804. In the ancient capital of Chang'am, he studied Tantric Buddhism under Priest Keika and was granted a master title. After returning from China in 806, he had been spreading the Shingon (True Word) Sect of Buddhism.
He founded Koyasan as a religious retreat in 816, when the Emperor Saga granted him the land. It is said that this was the start of the Kongobuji Temple. Kobodaishi started his eternal meditation in the cave of Okunoin on March 21, 835 at the ae of 62.
Today there are 117 sub-temples besides two monasteries and Okunion Temple that collectively a fantastic atmosphere.
Koyasan is a treasure house of esoteric culture. There are over 40,000 which are recognized as cultural properties including 200 National Treasures and 40 Prefectural Cultural Properties.
