Buddhist Monasteries in Japan
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Japanese temples usually follow a naming system which includes "ji" or "tera" or if on a Mountain "dera" or "in". So if one of these is in the word, it is likely to be a temple or monastery. It can be confusing because many temples have more than one name.
In Japan they also have a religion called Shintoism. Sometimes there is overlap between Buddhism and Shintoism. One of the treats of visiting temples in Japan is taking time relaxing in their Asian or Zen gardens.
Buddhism came to Japan about 538 AD. At that time a Korean missionary came to pay homage to the Japanese ruler. This missionary offered the Japanese ruler with a small Buddhist icon and some scriptures.
I'm sure you are aware of the horrible disaster in Japan, please send a donation see links at the bottom of this page. And of course, send prayers.
Source of photo Flickr Creative Commons
This Was the Very First Buddhist Temple in Japan
Prince Taishi, who was 14 at the time, prayed to Four Buddhist Heavenly Guardian Kings for assistance and when he was victorious thus he constructed a temple and named it Shitennoji (the Temple of the Four Heavenly Buddhist Guardians).
Enraku-ji A Monastery in Kyoto, Japan
One of the earliest monasteries in Japan was Enraku-ji which stands on Mount Hiei overlooking Kyoto. This is one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history. That's why I chose this particular one. Enraku-ji served, then and now, as the headquarters of the Tendai sect. The Tendai Buddhist sect was popular among the elite originally and over time became the foundation for a number of later sects such as the Pure Land, Zen, and Nichiren.In every Japanese town you will find monasteries and temples and sometimes out in the back country in isolated places as well. So this is just one example. Monasteries will usually have a lovely entrance gate. Many of these offer a chance to stay there so be sure to ask about accommodations.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
A Feng Shui Crystal Pagoda Would Dress Up Any Alter
Chinese Feng Shui 5 Layer Crystal Pagodas
Amazon Price: $17.54 (as of 06/02/2012)
This crystal pagoda is an essential feng shui cure to lead people prevail over obstacles and ensure success. It also has the power to reduce bad chi. It is used as a symbol to protect against illness. Placing it on your desk or cabinet in your living room will safeguard your house.
Shunkoin Temple is Also in Kyoto, Japan
Vote Or Add Your Own Zen Monastery Reading
The Eight Gates of Zen: Spiritual Training an American Zen Monastery by John Daido Loori
The Eight Gates of Zen offers a matrix of opportunity more...2 points
Waking Up: A Week Inside a Zen Monastery (Week Inside¹series) by Jack Maguire
The notion of spending days at a time in silence and more...1 point
The Zen Monastery Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from a Zen Kitchen by Cheri Huber
This cookbook includes low-fat vegetarian recipes for more...1 point
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visited Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan, on November 8th, 2010.
Schedule Your Japan Trip Today!
One of my favorite quotes:
As much as the soul loves a real home, it also loves to wander. It holds familiar places and things dear, and yet it craves novel sights and new belongings. Quoted from The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life by Thomas Moore.
Do your research and get your visa and passport and then make your travel plans to Japanese monasteries here.
Buddha Ornament with a Buddha Quote
"May all that have life be delivered from suffering." ~Buddha - this is on the back side
Read About Buddhist Pilgrimages in Japan
The Traveler's Guide to Japanese Pilgrimages
Amazon Price: $77.54 (as of 06/03/2012)
Provides background information, history, and photos of 2 popular Buddhist pilgrimage routes in Japan, one of 33 temples (the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage) and another of 88 temples (the Kobo Daishi pilgrimage) on the island of Shikoku. I used this book as my primary guide for my own Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, and found the author's directions accurate and reliable! The author writes with knowledge and respect of these places. Even if you are not contemplating a religious journey, it has great info on sites not on most tourist routes.
This Is a Lovely Alter Piece
Japanese Buddhist Altar Sandlewood Gilt
Amazon Price: $979.99 (as of 06/02/2012)
* Antique and Collectible 1750-1800
* One Of A Kind Unusual & Exotic Gift
* Special Blessing By Tibetan Lama
* Home or Office Accent
* 9 x 5 x 5 inches TantricBuddhistRelics ***** Rating
Visit the Daikakuji Temple
Daikakuji Temple is in Saga, Kyoto and is the historical home of Saga Goryu, the school of Ikebana flower arranging.Saga Goryu Ikebana has rapidly spread around the world. The Asian Gardens here are particularly known for their rayonnante chrysanthemums which are grown here. The Osawa pond with the Rapids of Nakoso was designated as a place of national scenic beauty, and is also a national historic site.
A Temple in Japan
Bamboo Shoji Screen
They Also Have Zen in America - This One is in Rhode Island
Image courtesy of Flickr
Unusual and Unique Zen Art
Vote for Your Favorite Zen Item
Fine Quality Asian Furniture & Décor - 42" Oriental Red Lacquer Drop Front Secretary Desk
Truly beautiful drop front secretary desk w retrac more...1 point
Unique Zen Décor - 15" Dino Japanese Style Steel & Paper Lantern Bedside Lamp
Unique art deco inspired design creates interest a more...0 points
Zen Meditation Simple Décor - 6ft. Japanese Style Wood & Paper Shoji Lantern Oriental Lamp - Natural
Traditionally crafted shoji style Japanese lantern more...0 points
Gold Leaf Jewelry Chest
Truly beautiful hexagonal shape 8 drawer oriental more...0 points
Asian Garden Zen Home Décor - 84" Double Sided Japanese Sliding Shoji Door Kit ( Natural Pine Finish )
Sturdy, durable, top quality wood sliding doors, e more...0 points
Zen Simple Asian Décor Lighting -1.5ft. Kharbarosk Japanese Paper Lantern Oriental Table Lamp - Honey
Beautifully handcrafted premium quality bent wood more...0 points
Study Buddhism in Kyoto
There is a Student Exchange Program between the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Ca and Ryukoku University in KyotoTo find out more details of this Insititue of Buddhist Studies and Ryukoku University you can phone 510-809-1444 or
visit www.shin-ibs.edu
Japan 2012 Calendar
Sogenji is a Zen Temple in Okayama, Japan
It is usually a good idea to come for a short visit first but the Abbot Shodo Harada Roshi does encourage serious practitioners to come back for a year long stay. If you live in the US now, you might want to start out practicing at the One Drop Zendo Tahoma Monastery
on Whidbey Island near Seattle. The term zendo means a place to practice and revitalize.
The "Dharma Group" at Squidoo is home to many lenses that are Dharma related - click on the Buddhist logo (left) to visit this group and it's lenses or to join the group. If you have a lens that is about Dharma (either Hindu or Buddhist), we would be thrilled to welcome it to this group.
If you are not a member of Squidoo and would like to know more about creating your own lenses, CLICK HERE to join Squidoo and start today. It's absolutely free, I promise.
Not sure what to make a lens about? How about YOU! A short biography of yourself is always a good way to start as a lensmaster. Or your dharma work would make a great topic. That should take about 5 minutes to begin, but you can come back to it and add to it over and over again.
Seiganto-ji
Seiganto-ji is one of the World Heritage Sites Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes
in the Kii Mountain Range. This is a photo showing the falls in the background. These sacred sites include the three prefectures of MIe, Nara and Wakayama. Japanese Buddhists regard these spectacular mountains as 'Jodo (heaven)'.
Stay in Fukuoka City for Your Japan Vacation
Japanese Ryokan Kashima Honkan
We have our own enclosed Japanese traditional garden and here you can feel real and old Japanese atmosphere.
Starting at US $37 Per Night
>> Click For Details & Pictures
RealAdventures | Fukuoka City, Japan Hotels & Resorts | Japan Hotels & Resorts | Japan Vacations | Hotels & Resorts | Fukuoka City, Japan
This is a Journal of One Pilgrim's Trip to Japan
Tales of a Summer Henro
Amazon Price: $25.89 (as of 06/02/2012)
Pilgrims, or henro as they are known in Japanese, have been walking clockwise around Shikoku, Japan's fourth largest island, for well over one thousand years. They follow in the footsteps of the great Buddhist saint Kobodaishi, searching for the ever elusive enlightenment that he found there. They visit the 88 sacred temples, and in overcoming the hardships of the journey they become better for it. Or so the theory goes! Nowadays nearly all henro travel in cars, taxis or buses, and physical hardship doesn't come into it! I was a henro in the sweltering summer of 1995 and this book contains the tales of my journey.
Kinkaku-Ji - The Golden Pavilion
Also in Kyoto
Buddhist Dudds
Vintage Om Mani Padme Hum Ash Grey T-Shirt
Price: $20.99
Om Mani Padme Hum Black Cap
Price: $18.99
Retro Buddha Hooded Sweatshirt
Price: $44.99
Dharma Ash Grey T-Shirt
Price: $20.99
Some Of My Other Lenses
Can't Go to Japan? Create An Alter in Your Home for Now
ZEN | Feng Shui | Meditation | Buddha Incense Burner
Amazon Price: (as of 06/02/2012)
A History of Japanese Buddhism
A History of Japanese Buddhism
This first major study in English on Japanese Buddhism by one of Japan's most distinguished scholars in the field of Religious Studies is to be widely welcomed. The main focus of the work is on the tradition of the monk (o-bo-san) as the main agent of Buddhism, together with the historical processes by which monks have developed Japanese Buddhism as it appears in the present day.
Kenji Matsuo has taught the history of Japanese Buddhism at Princeton University, Beijing Foreign Language University, London University and the State University of New York. He has published sixteen books on this and related subjects in Japanese; this is his first in English. He is currently professor at Yamagata University, Japan.
Buddhist Temple Print
Buddhist temple Japan by nedgey
make money as an artist using Zazzle.
Japanese Calligraphy
Shuri Kannondo Temple in Naha, Japan Has a Praying Chihuahua Named Conan
This photo is courtesy of the Huffington Post. This dog has increased the tourist traffic at Shuri Kannondo Temple. This Lens Has Received Five Angel Blessings!
This lens was awarded Angel Blessings in December 2010 by Michey and on March 17th by prosperity66 and again on December 1, 2011 by JoshK47, by sponias on January 30th, 2012 and most recently by Poddys on April 4, 2012. The giant squid organizers here at Squidoo award Angel Blessings to their favorite lenses created by all-star Giant Squids. To learn more about the Angel Blessing Program, click here.Thanks to you all for the acknowledgment!
This angel is a pendant - click then search for necklace.
Guest Comments Are Welcome
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poddys
Apr 4, 2012 @ 8:51 am | delete
- I would love to visit Japan and to visit some of these. The architecture is so peaceful and oozes tranquility. Nicely done.
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sponias
Jan 30, 2012 @ 6:30 pm | delete
- This lens gives us inspiration and motivation to visit Japan. Blessed!
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kimark421
Jan 16, 2012 @ 7:18 pm | delete
- Beautiful temples and photos. And I LOVE the zen art photo behind the couch.
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JoshK47
Dec 1, 2011 @ 1:11 pm | delete
- These look like beautiful, serene places to visit - blessed by a SquidAngel!
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AdaptiveConcierge
Oct 19, 2011 @ 10:35 pm | delete
- Love this lens! Didn't see Kinkaku-ji (the golden pavilion though). It's one of my favorites! Do you have more information about the Rhode Island one?
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Donations to Give Shelter to Displaced Japanese
After the tsunami many more people in the world are considering Are you prepared? Would you like to be self-sufficient, especially with your food?
Headquartered in Indianapolis, The Salvation Army Indiana Division is committed to Doing the Most Good for our neighbors in need, right here in central Indiana and beyond. The hungry and homeless, abused and addicted: Your generosity goes here. Thanks!
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by RinchenChodron
I'm Marsha Camblin. My Buddhist name is Rinchen Chodron. I'm a photographer and designer. Check out my Studio. For Clothing | Accessories... more »
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