The path continued up a steep flight of stairs to a small
plateau with several buildings. This was the south area of the temple complex.
From a terrace, above the buildings, there was a great view across the town
to Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake.
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Kannon Hall |
Red Lantern |
The largest building in the group was Kannon Hall (1689). It
enshrines a famous statue of Nyoirin Kannon, a version of Buddah,
but the statue was not on display. Apparently it seldom is. Kannon
Hall was surrounded by several other smaller buildings. Just accross
the way was a one-story building that Darrell initially took to be a
souvenir shop because of a huge, gaudy red lantern displayed there.
One of the more important buildings here was Reisho Hall, housing Miidera’s original
8th Century temple bell,. It is called Benkei’s Bell
after a warrior monk who, according to legend, carried the three ton
bell off on his back to a nearby mountain top. Unlike the Evening Bell, that is still hanging
and is regularly rung by being struck by a large log suspended next to it,
Benkei’s Bell is no longer in use. It just sits on a high platform.
Reishodo Bell Hall |
8th C. Benkei Bell |
Benkei carrying the Bell |
By this time it was noon, and we were ready to leave Miidera. We
did not look forward to retracing our steps all the way back to the entrance. Then
we found another long flight of steps that led down to a path going
east, the general direction of the road we had come on. We took a
chance and followed that. It brought us to a parking lot with a
small restaurant. No one spoke English there, but we managed to
order some ice cream for lunch, as well as to get them to call us a
taxi.
We were back at the Red Cross Hospital by 1:00 and spent the rest of
the day in the usual routine.
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