Kōshō-ji, Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan
Kōshō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan, set beside a river and surrounded by many maple trees. The grounds include several traditional gardens and different halls used for meditation and religious practice.
The monk Dogen founded the temple in 1223 in Kyoto before it reached its present location. The entire site moved to its current spot in 1645 under the lord Nagai Naomasa.
Ceiling panels saved from an earlier castle decorate the main pavilion and display paintings from past centuries. Monks gather in the meditation halls each day to practice seated forms of Zen taught within the Soto tradition.
The grounds open early in the morning and close in the late afternoon, with adults paying an entrance fee. Students and pupils may visit without charge.
A Kannon statue inside the temple displays a particular toe position meant to suggest the deity is ready to help. This unusual detail reminds visitors that the figure appears poised to move.
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