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Kyorinbo Temple is a Tendai Buddhist temple located in Azuchi, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture. It is known as a celebrated autumn destination, where the grounds are dyed deep red with maple leaves, as well as for its Momoyama-period garden featuring massive stones.<\/p>\n
The temple is said to have been founded in 605 by Prince Shotoku. The name \u201cKyorin\u201d originates from the legend that Prince Shotoku once preached his teachings in a forest. Within the grounds remain a large rock known as the Prince Shotoku Preaching Rock and a sacred cave that enshrines the principal image, which is why the temple has long been called the Stone Temple.<\/p>\n
The principal image is a stone Buddha believed to have been carved by Prince Shotoku himself. According to legend, it saved a woman from a difficult childbirth through a surgical operation, and the Buddha has since been worshipped as a guardian of safe delivery. In addition to prayers for fertility and childbirth, Kyorinbo is also known as the Kannon of Second Pilgrimage. As expressed in an old devotional poem, it is believed that even the most difficult wishes may be fulfilled if one visits the temple twice.<\/p>\n
The temple grounds are covered in moss, creating the quiet atmosphere of an ancient sanctuary. The garden, attributed to Kobori Enshu, is scattered with moss-covered stones and monumental rocks. This distinctive landscape was introduced by writer Masako Shirasu in her book Hidden Villages, under the title The Stone Temple.<\/p>\n
Facing the garden stands the thatched-roof study hall, designated as a tangible cultural property by the city, along with storehouses and the main gate, all dating back to the Edo period. Together with the garden, they create a strong sense of wabi-sabi. The view from the study hall is especially admired and is often called a hanging scroll garden, resembling an ink landscape painting that changes with the seasons.<\/p>\n