{"id":335,"date":"2023-03-18T10:44:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-18T01:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/?p=335"},"modified":"2026-04-24T16:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T07:17:20","slug":"__trashed-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/?p=335","title":{"rendered":"For Whom Yakuo-in Temple\u2019s Bell Tolls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is the shoro belfry in the precincts of Yakuo-in Temple in Mt. Takao, which is a reconstruction of the old building that was destroyed by one of the powerful typhoons in 1966.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reconstruction of the current building was completed in 1974. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Old temple bell cast in 1631<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The old temple bell preserved next to the belfry is, however, said to have been cast in the early 17th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having said that, the temple bell in Japan has a much longer history dating back to the Asuka period (592 – 710).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The temple bell at Kanzeon-ji Temple in the city of Dazaifu in Fukuoka prefecture is arguably the oldest surviving temple bell in Japan cast in circa 682. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shoro Belfry at Kanzeon-ji Temple in Fukuoka (URL: https:\/\/commons.m.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:20100719_Dazaifu_Kanzeonji_Belfry_3421.jpg<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although Buddhism is a religion that originated in ancient India, the origin of Japanese temple bell is hardly found in India but in ancient Chinese bronze wares.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember that when our family went on a sight-seeing trip to China in 2004 we visited the Shanghai Museum where we can appreciate a great collection of bronze wares in ancient China some of which are surprisingly said to have been made much earlier than the birth of Shakyamuni (463 BC). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shanghai Museum designed in the shape of an ancient bronze cooking vessel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, a temple bell used to be employed in sounding the hours of the day in the Edo period, but now its main use is on New Year’s Eve when it is rung 108 times. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is said that on New Year\u2019s Eve, the sound of the bell rings out the old year and rings in the New Year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 108 sounds of the temple bell are also supposed to release people from their 108 worldly desires.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of you may wonder why they are 108.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a widely recognized theory, the number 108 is not random, but rather a systematic map of human experience developed from a formula combining senses, feelings, mental states, and timeframes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, it is assumed that our worldly desires all arise by recognizing a recognition object such as a sight, a sound, a smell, a taste, a physical feeling, and a mental representation through our six (6) senses.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These six senses include the sense of sight (eyes), the sense of hearing (ears), the sense of smell (nose), the sense of taste (tongue), the sense of touch (body) and the sense of reasoning (mind).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, our worldly desires are classified into three (3) types of feeling, pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, our worldly desires are classified into two (2) types of\u00a0mental states<\/strong>, pure (or non-attachment) and impure (or attachment).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last, our worldly desires are interconnected across the three (3) temporal worlds, (i.e., the previous life, the current life and the future life) in the cycle of reincarnation of the Buddhist philosophy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the bottom line is that six 6 senses \u00d7 3 feelings \u00d7 2 mental states \u00d7 3 timeframes = 108 worldly desires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does it make sense?  I personally sort of get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of you may not be patient enough to wait for the temple bells to be rung 108 times on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, for visitors to Mt. Takao there will be an alternative service to achieve the release from your 108 worldly desires much more easily and quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following is a photo of one of the facilities called Rokkon Shojo Ishi Guruma<\/strong>, literally, Six Sense Purification Stone Wheel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rokkon Shojo Ishi Guruma to purify your sense of sight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is said that every time you rotate this type of stone wheel once one of your 108 worldly desires will disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should be able to find as many as eighteen (18) similar stone wheels across the mountain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, we should be able to be free from all the 108 worldly desires by rotating all the eighteen (18) stone wheels six (6) times for each without undergoing any rigorous religious training or listening to a temple bell rung 108 times on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you should not be able to find all the eighteen (18) Rokkon Shojo Ishi Guruma there, you can achieve the same objective alternatively by rotating the following big stone wheel located close to Shitenno-mon (the Gate of Heavenly Kings) of Yakuo-in Temple eighteen (18) times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cRokkon Shojo Ishi Guruma\u201d to purify all the six (6) senses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In fact, this big stone wheel is a sort of the headquarters of Rokkon Shojo Ishi Guruma and is believed to purify all the six (6) senses of yours every time you rotate this stone wheel just once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who believe shall be saved.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is understood that the tradition of ringing temple bells on New Year\u2019s Eve was introduced to Japan in the 13th century by Chinese Zen monks who moved to Japan as refugees when the Song dynasty (960 \u2013 1279) was being invaded by the Mongol Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, we can reasonably assume that Zen temples represented by Kencho-ji Temple in Kamakura should be some of the pioneers of this tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Temple bell of Kencho-ji in Kamakura cast in 1255<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The tradition of ringing the temple bells on New Year\u2019s Eve had gradually been spreading nationwide in the Muromachi period (1336 – 1573).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is said that with the advent of the Edo period (1603 – 1868), the temple bells came to be rung three (3) times a day at 6:00 am, noon and 6:00 pm at first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, from the reign of the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada onwards, the temple bells were rung twelve (12) times a day, every two (2) hours until the Meiji Restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, when I explain a temple bell to foreign tourists, I would just focus on the event on New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having said that, at Yakuo-in Temple in Mt. Takao, the temple bell is rung three (3) times a day at 6:00 am, at noon and at 6:00 pm in addition to the tradition of ringing the temple bells on New Year\u2019s Eve.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I suspect that this may be because the number of worldly desires of visitors to Mt. Takao is considered marginally larger than the average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have also found that Yakuo-in Temple\u2019s bell is sounded six (6) times both at 6:00 am and 6:00 pm and nine (9) times at noon.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not twelve (12) times instead of nine (9) times at noon?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the old Japanese system of keeping time, the midnight which is the starting point of the day was referred to as 9 o’clock and every two (2) hours thereafter, 8 o’clock, 7 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 5 o’clock, 4 o’clock and at noon again back to 9 o’clock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, every two (2) hours in the afternoon, 8 o’clock, 7 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 5 o’clock, 4 o’clock and at midnight again back to 9 o’clock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This system comes from China where the number nine (9) is considered to be an auspicious number as the pronunciation of nine (9) (jiu) resembles the pronunciation of eternal (jiu) in Chinese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under this system, nine (9) is treated as one (1) unit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, starting with 9, then, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 54 for a half day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, the digit in the tens place is ignored.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, the bottom line is 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 in order of earlier time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned in the post titled How should we make a prayer at Izuna Gongen-do Hall in Mt. Takao?<\/strong>, nine (9) is an unlucky number in Japanese in that nine (9) is pronounced ku<\/strong> in Japanese and ku<\/strong> could mean sufferings in Japanese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, in the context of counting the number of sounds of temple bells, Japanese people used the pronunciation of kokonotsu<\/strong> for nine (9) for superstition or otherwise in those days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan), which is the 2nd oldest book of classical Japanese history written in Chinese, the 38th Emperor Tenchi placed a water clock called rokoku<\/strong> introduced from China in the Imperial Palace called Omi Otsu no Miya<\/strong> in the present-day Otsu, Shiga prefecture on June 10th, 671.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To commemorate the establishment of Japan\u2019s first water clock, the 10th of June is designated as Time Day on which the Water Clock Festival is held at Omi Shrine in Otsu, Shiga prefecture as an annual event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monument of water clock at Ohmi Shrine in Otsu, Shiga prefecture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, the history of clock in Japan appears to be as long as that of the temple bell.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is understood that a Western style mechanical clock, which was designed to work according to the fixed time system<\/strong>, was first brought to Japan in 1551 when Francis Xavier, a missionary of the Catholic church and one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus, presented it to Ouchi Yoshitaka, one of the Christian feudal lords based in the present-day Yamaguchi prefecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, Japanese people modified the same type of Western style mechanical clocks to adapt it to the seasonal time system<\/strong> that is a way of measuring time, by equally dividing daytime and nighttime, as determined by the times at which dawn and dusk occur, which had been applied throughout the Edo period or until the Meiji Restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Edo period, the temple bells were rung according to the hours told by the modified mechanical clocks called wadokei<\/strong>, literally, Japanese clocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wadokei (Japanese clock) made in the mid-Edo period (Source: https:\/\/commons.m.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Japanese_Lantern_Clock.jpg<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wadokei were so expensive that only the Tokugawa shogun, feudal lords and wealthy merchants, etc. could afford them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, before the Meiji Restoration, Japanese people may have been considered careless about being on time from the perspective of foreigners from the countries where the fixed time system was adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As time goes by, recently Japanese people appear to have successfully established the reputation that they are more punctual and that the public transportation system in Japan runs like clockwork among visitors from overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having that that, I\u2019m afraid that Japanese business persons and their employers have not been very punctual when it comes to the end of working hours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the shoro belfry in the precincts of Yakuo-in Temple in Mt. Takao, which is a reconstruction of the old building that was destroyed by one of the powerful typhoons in 1966. The reconstruction of the current building was completed in 1974. The old temple bell preserved next to the belfry is, however, said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sight-seeing-japanese-culture"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/308A8E8E-45B3-4540-9C78-23CD5EBCBF9D.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=335"}],"version-history":[{"count":129,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2850,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335\/revisions\/2850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shirok57eblog.tokyo\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}