[Kyoto] Looking at the Umbrella at Chion-in Main Hall
This is a print depicting Chion-in when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
The history of Chion-in, the head temple of the Jodo sect, began in the second year of Joan (1175) when Honen Shonin, the founder of the Jodo sect, built a hermitage on this site.
Honen Shonin began preaching the Senju Nembutsu (the teaching of exclusively chanting Namu Amida Butsu) here.
Honen Shonin, courtesy name Genku. Officially titled Tozen Enko Daishi by imperial decree as the founder of the Jodo sect. A native of Inaoka, Kume District, Mimasaka Province. Surname Urushi, father Tokikuni, mother Hata clan. Childhood name Seishimaru. Initially studied Tendai, later propagated the sect of exclusive devotion to the Pure Land.
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The visitors are taking a break at Chion-in's main hall, the "Mieido" (Miei Hall). (It is called Mieido because the statue of Honen Shonin is enshrined there as the principal image.)
The man on the far left is looking up at something; he is gazing at the "Forgotten Umbrella," one of the Seven Wonders of Chion-in.
An umbrella is wedged into the eaves of the Mieido, and legends say it was left behind by an incarnation of a white fox, or that it was placed there by Hidari Jingoro as a charm against evil.
Regarding the white fox theory, I will quote from "Kyoto Meisho" (Famous Places of Kyoto) from the Taisho era, which provides details.
An umbrella is inserted between the rafters in the southeastern part of the main hall, and it is known in the world as the "Chion-in Shigure (Drizzle) Umbrella."
It is said that around the time the main hall was rebuilt, a white fox lived within the temple grounds, took the form of a boy named Nuregami, served the then-abbot Gyoyo Shonin, and joined in the morning and evening services to seek the merits of the Buddha's teachings. Later, the Shonin wrote the six characters of Namu Amida Butsu on this umbrella and gave it to him. Through its efficacy, he was able to be reborn into the human world, so in gratitude, he left this behind at the temple, vowing that it would serve as a charm to prevent fire, and then departed.
Since then, it has been kept there, and perhaps because of this, when a fire broke out at Yaami in Maruyama Park during the Meiji era and spread to the temple, the tea house burned down, but the main hall remained completely unharmed.
Furthermore, the Hidari Jingoro theory stems from the fact that the "Nightingale Floors" of Chion-in's long corridor (a 550-meter corridor leading from the Mieido to the Shueido, Daishoin, and Koshoin) are attributed to Hidari Jingoro.
I will quote this from a book titled "Shumi to Kyoyo" (Hobbies and Culture) from the Taisho era.
There is a temple in Kyoto called Chion-in. It is said to be the work of Hidari Jingoro; the ceiling is a coffered ceiling, the corridor is a nightingale floor, and it is a magnificent building with no flaws from start to finish.
However, interestingly enough, as those who have visited know, there is an umbrella called "Hidari Jingoro's Forgotten Umbrella" stuck in the attic of the main hall of this temple. It seems likely that Jingoro simply forgot it there one day while inspecting the construction.
Now, this umbrella has become one of the temple's treasures. The guide always says this: 'Look, that is the famous Chion-in Forgotten Umbrella. They say that because it is there, this temple has never once been struck by fire since ancient times.'
Isn't that an interesting story, everyone? They say that because there is one forgotten umbrella, Chion-in never encounters fire.
Hidari Jingoro was a legendary sculptor in the early Edo period who left behind numerous works throughout the country. Among them, the "Sleeping Cat" at Nikko Toshogu Shrine and the "Ascending Dragon" and "Descending Dragon" on the Karamon Gate at Ueno Toshogu Shrine are particularly famous.
Come to think of it, last year (2022), during restoration work at Daitoku-ji Temple, a carpenter's chisel was discovered in the attic of the Hojo (Abbot's Quarters).
The chisel was found near the southeast corner of the building, which is said to be the same location where the "Forgotten Umbrella" at Chion-in Temple is placed. Furthermore, the Hojo of Daitoku-ji was built in 1635, and the Miedo Hall of Chion-in was built in 1639, meaning they were constructed around the same time. It is speculated that these were intentionally placed in the southeast (Tatsumi, or dragon) direction as a charm against fire.
Crossing four hundred years of time...
Because that is there, this temple
is said to have never suffered a fire since ancient times.
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Reference: Sankei Shimbun "Is that chisel in the attic a 'forgotten item' or a 'prayer'? The mystery of the abandoned object at Daitoku-ji, Kyoto"
Author's Note: I will update this as needed when new characters are deciphered or when I notice typos or misreadings. For details, please read the "Self-Introduction/Disclaimer" page. 📖