The 26th International Friendship Salon
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To Todaiji-temple in Nara
The bus carrying 38 passengers of RIFA members and foreign residents including young children left Ritto City Hall around 9:00. The participants enjoyed the tour to touch ancient Japanese culture. The weather was beautiful. Arriving at Todaiji-temple, they were welcomed by deer that had just had their horns cut. At the Daibutsuden-building, where a big funeral ceremony had been held to cerebrate the large repairs more than 20 years ago, they observed the biggest Buddha statue, Daibutsusama, in the world with the height of 14.98 meters and the weight of 452 tons. There is a hole at the bottom of a big pillar behind the statue. The size of the hole is the same as the hole of the nose of the statue. It is said that going though the hole brings you happiness, so the people were standing in line.
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Posing in front of the gate,
Nandaimon. |
Going through
the hole. |
The Participants arelistening
to an explanation |
Enjoying the meal
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The 800th Anniversary after Priest Jugen' death
They happened to observe the big ceremony held in memory of the great
priest Jugen, who had been dedicated to restoring the temple in the Kamakura
period. It was also interesting to listen to the stories about the statue,
and the structure of the storehouse whose structure is the same as Shosoin,
the famous treasure house.
With the good explanation by Mr. Matsumura, they were thinking of the paradise in the bus. Soon, they arrived at the last destination, Joruriji-temple and were welcomed by the nine Buddhist statues of Amida.
Joruriji-temple
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The main building of
Joruriji-temple that
matches the pond
very well. |
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The beautiful
three-story tower
standing quietly |
Jorurij-temple consists of the maim building, Kyutai Amida-do and the
three-story tower, sanju no to. The tranquil temple standing at the foot
of a mountain taught them part of Japanese history. Foreign residents told
that it was good to participate in this event and that they learned a lot.
Knowing of familiar Japanese history is the first step for international
understanding. It was a meaningful day, in that sense.
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