A Special Show at the World Heritage Site Kongobuji Temple Koyasan Shingon sect to commemorate
The 1,250th Anniversary of Kukai's Birth.
『LIFE®︎ Inochi Special Screening & Life Exhibition』
Venue：Kongobuji Temple, Okuden
※Okuden
The event will be held in a special room, which is normally closed to the public and surrounded by a magnificent coiling dragon garden, making it a truly unique and exclusive experience. The garden itself is one of the largest stone gardens in Japan and adds to the overall atmosphere of the event.
Sponsored by Koyasan Shingon Sect Sohonzan Kongobuji
Co-sponsored by Feel & Sense Incorporated Association
高野山真言宗総本山金剛峯寺
Kongobuji Temple
Head Temple Of The Koyasan Shingon Sect
The 1,250th Anniversary of Kukai's Birth.
Koyasan, located in Wakayama Prefecture, is a sacred site established by Kobo Daishi Kukai (Odaishi) in 816 as a place for Shingon Esoteric Buddhism monks to practice and spread the religion in Japan. On March 21, 835, Odaishi entered Koyasan Okunoin, where he continues to watch over and protect the Japanese people.
The year 2023 marks the 1,250th anniversary of Odaishi's birth, and Koyasan will hold the Grand Puja commemorating the occasion for 57 days from May 14 to July 9, with a focus on his birthday, June 15. The theme of the event is "Shine forth your life - with the heart of Odaishi", a puja celebrating his birth and wishing for the growth and health of today's children, inspired by Odaishi's own wisdom as a child. In this commemorative year, a special screening of "LIFE Inochi" and the "Inochi Exhibition" will be presented.
Let us brighten our lives with the teachings and thoughts of Kobo-Daishi Kukai in this sacred place of Koyasan, as we look towards the future.
At "Okuden," a special room not open to the public,
there will be a special screening of the art film
"LIFE®︎ Inochi - Re-experiencing the act of being born" (25 min.)
and an exhibition showcasing the themes of the film.
Join us for a unique experience at the Kongobuji Temple in Koyasan, where we will be holding a special screening of the art film "LIFE®︎ Inochi - Re-experiencing Birth" and an "Inochi Exhibition" to explore the mystery of life. The event will take place in the Okuden, a special room that is usually closed to the public and is surrounded by the beautiful "Coiling Dragon Garden," one of the largest stone gardens in Japan. The garden features a sea of clouds and a pair of male and female dragons guarding the inner sanctum of the temple.
We invite you to rediscover the wonder of life and connect with the source of life in this sacred place. Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience the beauty and mystery of Koyasan. See you at the temple!
Coiling Dragon Garden
one of the largest stone gardens in Japan and is known for its representation of a pair of male and female dragons.
Coiling Dragon Garden = Banryutei
The stone garden covering an area of 2,340 square meters is considered to be one of the largest in Japan. It was created to celebrate the 1,150th anniversary of Kobo Daishi's enshrinement and the Great Enshrinement Ceremony. The garden features a pair of dragons, with the male dragon on the left and the female dragon on the right, appearing to be guarding the "inner sanctuary=Okuden" as they face each other in a sea of clouds. The stones used to depict the dragons are made of granite from Shikoku, which is also the birthplace of Odaishi, and the Shirakawa sand used to represent the sea of clouds comes from Kyoto.
Okuden
The secluded room known as "Okuden," located within the Coiling Dragon Garden, will be opened to the public for this special event, despite its usual closure to visitors.
The Okuden, built in 1934 as a guest room for the head temple on the site of the former Kozanji Temple, is rich in history and art. The large sliding door panels were painted by Ishizaki Koyo and depict the beauty of the Himalayas and Himalayan rhododendrons in a piece titled "Setsuzan Kashin". However, due to the unfortunate passing of the painter before the completion of the work, some of the paintings on the sliding doors in the back of the inner hall remain unfinished. Visitors will have the rare opportunity to enter this special building, as it is usually closed to the public, for the "LIFE Inochi Screening & Exhibition".
Duration of Event
5月14日（Sun）- 7月9日（Sun）
Every Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Time Period
AM ①10:00-10:45 ②11:00-11:45
PM ③14:00-14:45 ④15:00-15:45
Each session is limited to 30 people.
We will close the registration once the limit is reached for each session.
Admission is free.
※Admission fee for Kongochoji Temple is required.
2023.6.14
A special celebration of the birth of Kobo-Daishi = Kukai, the founder of the Shingon sect, will feature a unique screening of "LIFE®︎ Inochi" under the stars.
GaranKonpon Daito
"Danjo Garan"
Kongobuji temple is the heart of the Koyasan temple complex, founded by Odaishi who devoted himself to the construction of pagodas and halls based on esoteric Buddhism. The mandala, representing the Taizo Mandala, is a symbol of the temple's deep spiritual significance. Okunoin, where Odaishi entered the temple, is also considered a sacred site of faith. The "Ryodan-Nyodo Order" has been passed down in Koyasan, and the halls are introduced in a recommended order. We suggest visiting the halls in this order to fully experience the spiritual significance of each.
A special celebration of the birth of Kobo-Daishi = Kukai,
will feature a unique screening of "LIFE®︎ Inochi" under the stars.
2023.6.14
We invite you to join us for a unique celebration on the eve of Kobo-Daishi's birthday, featuring a special starry sky screening of "LIFE®︎ Inochi: Re-experiencing Birth" at the plaza in front of Konpon Daito. Under the twinkling stars, you will have the opportunity to reconnect with the vastness of the universe and the wonder of life itself. We can't wait to share this magical experience with you.
Performers
Hogen Yabu
Employed in the Office of the Head Priest of Koyasan Shingon-shu Kongobu-ji Temple
Masahiko Hashimoto
LIFE®︎Inochi Director
Rep. of Incorporated Association Feel&Sense
Date：2023.06.14（Wed）19:30-20:30
Place：in front of Garan Konpondaito
Admission is free.
※If it rains, the event will be moved to Koyasan University Reimeikan. There is no need to register for this event.
Content：LIFE®︎Inochi Special Screening
Greetings by Hogen Yabu / the Officer of the Head Priest of Koyasan Shingon-shu Kongobu-ji Temple
Live Singing Perfomance by Masahiko Hashimoto / LIFE®︎Inochi Director
Organized by Koyasan Shingon-shu Kongobu-ji Temple
Co-organized by Incorporated Association Feel&Sense
Support the Koyasan Project
The ART Project aims to create new value for tourist attractions by enhancing the power of "life" at sacred places in Japan where the wisdom of our ancestors has been accumulated, with the goal of realizing "Well-Being" 10 to 100 years from now, so that we can live our lives in our own way. This is a project that we will create together with everyone and continue. We would like you to participate in the project in any way you can, whether by contributing to the set-up, staffing, sound, etc., or by becoming a sponsor and contributing financially.
SPONSOR/COOPERATION
