Raigō-in, Buddhist temple in Ohara, Sakyo district, Japan
Raigō-in is a Buddhist temple in Ohara, Sakyo district, with a main hall housing three seated Buddha statues from the Fujiwara period: Yakushi Nyorai, Amida Nyorai, and Shaka Nyorai. The temple also holds a significant collection of approximately 600 ancient Buddhist manuscripts documenting historical ritual practices.
The temple was founded in 1109 by monk Ryonin and quickly became a center for particular forms of Buddhist chanting and ritual music in Japan. This musical tradition made the site significant in the development of Japanese Buddhist practice.
The temple is deeply connected to traditional Buddhist chanting rituals that monks have practiced here for centuries. Visitors can still sense the spiritual character of these practices that shape daily life within the temple grounds.
The temple is about 15 minutes by foot from Ohara bus stop and welcomes visitors daily. Sturdy shoes are recommended since the grounds feature stairs and uneven surfaces.
Two streams beside the temple, Ritsusen and Ryosen, carry names derived from Buddhist chanting methods: Ritsusenpo and Ryosenpo. These waterways quietly mark the site's long history as a center of these particular musical teachings.
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