The year is coming to a close in just a few short days: New Year's Eve, December 31,There is an indispensable tradition to welcome the New Year. It is the temple bell ringing on New Year's Eve.Bells are rung at temples here and there. The sound of the bells shakes the quiet night of the ancient city.

One of the most famous is located in Higashiyama-kuNew Year's bell at Chion-in Temple, the head temple of the Jodo sectIt is. Many people may have heard the sound of the bells through TV broadcasts. The bell of Chion-in Temple is one of the most famous bells in Japan, along with those of Hokoji Temple and Todaiji Temple in Nara, both located in the same Higashiyama Ward.the three most important bells of JapanIt is one of the most important of its kind in the world. It is 3.3 meters high, 2.2 meters in diameter, and weighs about 70 tons. The bell at Hokoji Temple, which I visited recently, is also quite large, but the bell at Chion-in is no less impressive.

Chion-in Temple

The bell of Chion-in Temple, known for the temple bell on New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, one of the monks holds the main rope and strikes the cue while hanging down on his back. 16 monks hold the child reins and strike the cue one by one with shouts of "ee-i, hitotsu" (one, one, one). Meanwhile,The monks' voices echoing with Buddhist prayers create a clean and solemn atmosphere in the temple grounds.

The "night before the year ends" is the night when the old year is excluded, i.e.Excluding the old year and welcoming the new yearThe word "ku" is said to mean "to be free from troubles". It is believed that people have 108 worldly desires, and the purpose of this ceremony is to drive away these desires,On New Year's Eve, people ring the bell 108 times to wipe away misfortune and invite good fortune.

108 is the number of troubles a person has in the past, present, and future.It is said that the bell is a symbol of the "night of the dead," but there are many theories. The temple bell, which is said to be the bell that rids people of their worries, was originally meant to seal off the "demon's gate. The "demon's gate" refers to the direction of northeast. The bell is said to have been rung to prevent demons from entering the "demon's gate" of the Ox and the Tiger in December and January, respectively. It has long been believed that flutes, gongs, drums, and other sound-producing objects ward off demons and evil spirits. Bells are thought to contain the same element.

Now, in Chion-in Temple, which is known for this temple bell of New Year's Eve,legend of the Seven Wonders of Greeceremain. The Mikageido, a national treasure, contains one of these "forgotten umbrellas. It is said that the umbrella was left behind by the master craftsman of the Edo period, Sa Jingoro, to ward off evil, or that a white fox asked Reigan Shonin to live with him and in return left behind an umbrella to protect the temple.Umbrellas used on rainy days are a fire preventionIt is believed that ThisThe Mikageido is also decorated with other "water" drop-offs such as kappa, cicadas, and turtles.However, the Mikageido is currently undergoing major repairs and cannot be seen. We are waiting for the completion of the construction in 2019.

Mikageido undergoing major repairs

However, one of the Seven WondersUryuishiThe "Uryu Stone" is located in a corner of the street in front of the Black Gate and can be seen. It is said that a gourd vine grew, blossomed, and produced a gourd even though no one had planted it, or that after the Ushitotenno of Yasaka Shrine descended on Mount Uryu, he appeared again on this stone and a gourd grew and bore fruit overnight. There is also a theory that the stone is a meteorite.

Uryuishi, one of the Seven Wonders of Chion-in Temple

By the way, I recently heard a rather unfortunate story about the sound of the temple bell on New Year's Eve. Residents in the vicinity of the temple say that the sound of the temple bell is too noisy. The bell is said to be too noisy.

Every year, when I hear the sound of the bells ringing on New Year's Eve, I feel a strange mixture of regret for the passing year and anticipation for the new year to come. To be honest, I was surprised to learn that there are some people these days who consider the haunting sound of the bells to be nothing more than noise. Well,Everyone has their own thoughts on New Year's EveYou mean. This is,I want to welcome the new year with a relaxed mind while enjoying Japanese customs.I think.