Going out wearing kimono : Daianzenji Temple, Fukui City

Although opportunities to wear kimono have lessened, kimono is still must-have item for wedding, coming-of-age or graduation ceremony and traditional Japanese culture such as flower arrangement or tea ceremony.

Kimono is expensive. However, it can be handed down from mother to daughter or mother-in-law to daughter-in-law for generation. If you take care of and keep them properly, you can wear for many decades.
Unlike Western clothing, kimono is not affected by trends and if the quality is good, it will be valuable as antique kimono.

 

Above all, if a woman walks in kimono, it makes the atmosphere brilliant. I think that Kimono makes Japanese women look most beautiful.

 

Four ladies who love kimono are going out to Daianzenji Temple in Fukui City. They are busy with dressing before leaving.

 

It takes about 20 minutes by car to the temple from the center of Fukui City. In early April, Daianzenji Temple is quiet.

 

The glittering canopy in front of the principal image caught my eyes. The Eleven-faced Kannon was created in the Heian Period .(794-1192) The paintings on the sliding doors by Kano school are 300 years old. At the back of the room, there is "Onari room" which was used when a feudal lord came.

 

Go out into the corridor and a dry garden with rocks, sand and moss "Aun garden" spreads. 300 year-old weeping cherry blossoms were blooming. Also, there is a 600 year-old Japanese umbrella pine tree. You can see Kaiki hall at the back of the garden.

 

In Kaiki hall, the wooden statue of Mitsumichi MATSUDAIRA, who built this Daianzenji Temple, is placed and it unveils only on 29th April every year.

Placing the crests of Tokugawa family and Toyotomi family side by side is an uncommon sight. You can see the same design of the two crests apposed in the graveyard of Matsudaira family "Senjojiki" up on the hill in the precinct. It shows that Mitsumichi remembers his ancestor's foster parent Toyotomi's kindness for a long time.

 

Daianzenji Temple did not suffer from World War II and the earthquake disaster so it keeps the original form almost the same as at the time of construction over 300 years ago. Most of the temple was designated as a national important cultural properties in 2008.

Daianzeji Temple is in a historical temple style including the building itself and the placed several Buddha statues. On the other hand, they hold various trial lectures and events so it is familiar to us living today.

 

By the way, their annual great event "Iris Festival", which the name changes to "Sange Festival" this year, is going to be held from 4th to 26th June. You can see irises, roses and hydrangeas, also you can enjoy their popular sermon, Buddhist cuisine, concert, crafts and flower arrangements exhibition, tea ceremony etc. However, if you will go to "Senjojiki", you should avoid kimono because you have to take a long walk the mountain path.