Daicho Ji Temple Travel Report - Kimberly's report

Experience

First Visit

Purpose of your visit

travel (sight seeing)

Impressions

I visited this temple because it has an interesting story associated with it.: The temple contains the tomb of lovers: Koharu and Jihei. These lovers comitted a double suicide and their dramatic story was featured in a famous play called "Shinju Ten-no Amijima" by Chikamatsu. Jihei is a paper merchant who falls in love with a young courtesan in the pleasure quarters named Koharu. However, Jihei is not a great guy because he is also in love with his wife Osan. He is a weak man who can not make a choice. He makes the situation worse by encouraging a friendship between the two women. A friendship of respect grows between Koharu and Osan. Jihei’s problem gets worse when his father in law removes Osan from Jihei's home by force. She leaves behind his two children. The loss of Osan removes the choice Jihei was torn over. However, he has another problem because cannot afford to purchase Koharu's freedom from the pleasure quarters. So the two lovers run away together on a final journey which ends is their double suicide. Chikamatsu (the author) arouses intense sympathy for the pair of lovers. This is very uncommon in Japanese theatre. I don't explain it well ... but it is a good play.

Details

Daicho Ji Temple dates from 1606 when Kyogoku Takatomo (lord of the Miyazu) built the temple as his home. The various art works on the temple relate to the history of his family. The temple was not originally at this site. It used to be where the Fujita Art Museum is now. The gate now seen at the Fujita Art Museum was originally the gate of this temple.

Advice

It is free and open anytime. It is virtually unknown to most tourists and is never crowded. To get there take KTR Miyazi Line to Miyazu and walk 15 minutes. Check the map at the station for further directions. All the locals will know where it is too. Use the most useful Japanese phrase "____ wa doko desu ka?" Probably should know the japanese for straight, right and left too haha.

Recommended for...

sight seeing photography history

Tags

Japan Travel     Daicho Ji Temple     Kyoto     Kyoto Shrines And Temples     Japan