On the evening of April 18, monks and worshippers chanted sutras to commemorate the founder of Chion-in Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto.
Chion-in Temple is the head temple of the Pure Land school of Buddhism.
Accompanied by the sound of wooden drums, the chanting of “Namo Amida Butsu” echoed at night from the temple’s Sanmon main gate, which is designated a national treasure and is said to be one of the largest in Japan.
The “Gyoki Midnight Nenbutsu” ceremony is an annual event held in conjunction with the “Gyoki Daie”, a memorial service held in memory of the sect’s founder, Honen (1133-1212).
The upper part of the gate is called the “rojo”, and it houses a statue of the Buddha Shakyamuni wearing a crown and the Sixteen Arhats.
The temple is usually closed to the public, but during the event, visitors can enter and exit freely. Visitors flocked in to chant sutras with the monks.
