Kitain, Kawagoe


The history of Kitain is thought to have begun when the monk Ennin founded Muryoju Temple in 830 A.D.

Muryoju is another name for the Amitabha Buddha (Buddha of Unending Life) - the main object of worship at the Temple.

Kitain is a temple in Kawagoe, Saitama, that the Swedish King (who said Tokyo felt "claustrophobic") visited with Japan's Emperor.

There is also a shrine on the grounds of Kitain, the architecture of which closely resembles that of the main Tosyogu Shrine at Nikko. Japan Guide has more, including photos of the 540 stone statues of the disciples of Buddha, each with a unique facial expression. I wonder who had the great idea to get the Swedish King to go all the way to Saitama prefecture!

Comments

Pandabonium said…
That's interesting. I wonder if they sampled Kawagoe's sweet potato foods.

Kawagoe is a place I'd like to visit some time. There are many interesting things to see there in addition to that temple.
12:32 pm, March 30, 2007
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