Ryotan-Ji

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Ryotan-Ji (Ryootan ji 龍潭寺)
龍潭寺（りょうたんじ）

This temple is located in Shiga Prefecture, Hikone City. It is the Family Temple of the Ii Family, the former Lord of Hikone.

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Ryotanji is at the base of Sawayama Mountain.
The temple grounds themselves are surrounded by what seems to be a wall of trees. It feels almost like entering a different world. If you follow the path that goes around the back of the building, you come to a cemetery that goes up the side of the mountain. With the peace created by the setting of the cemetery and the trees, you sense how old this place is.

The main temple building itself is another wonderful place. When you enter the building, you immediately go right. There are display cases holding many ancient treasures. If you look out the doors to the right, you see a great rock garden . This garden consists of small white stones which are raked to form a very elaborate pattern. In the middle is a large rock. The smaller rocks are raked in a pattern around this rock. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to maintain this pattern.

As you continue to walk around the temple building, you see many ornately painted, very old screens. This building is built in such a way that if all the screens are removed it becomes one large room. With the screens in place, it appears to be a series of smaller rooms. Many of the screens are now a little faded and worn. But, if you use your imagination, you can imagine how ornate they once must have been.

Samantha Loree/ the Shiga Project


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Preparing 3000 Daruma dolls for the annual Daruma Market on April 1 and 2, at the temple grounds.



© osaka.yomiuri.co.jp, 2008



達磨(だるま)市恋のだるまはピンク色　　
Daruma ichi koi no daruma wa pinku iro

Daruma Market -
the Daruma for Love is
of pink color
Tr. Gabi Greve 　　　　　　　


《伊万里》　田中　秋子
Tanaka Ariko, Imari
© osaka.yomiuri.co.jp, 2008


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Daruma Temples

Daruma Ichi Markets to Sell Daruma / 達磨市

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