Hōkō-ji Temple

Welcome to Hōkō-ji Temple, a site that once stood as a symbol of the absolute power and ambition of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the great unifier of Japan. Today, the temple may seem modest, tucked away in the Higashiyama district near…

We stand now before the Daibonsho, the Great Bell of Hōkō-ji. Cast in 1614, it is one of the largest and most famous bells in Japan, weighing approximately 82 tons. …

As we walk to the open area adjacent to the current temple hall, we are standing on the site of the former Daibutsu-den, or Great Buddha Hall. In the late 1500s, this was one of the most awe-inspiring sights in Japan. …

Let us examine the massive stone walls that form part of the temple's outer perimeter. These are not typical temple walls; they are built with the same techniques used for the most formidable Japanese castles. …

Immediately adjacent to Hōkō-ji is the Toyokuni Shrine, dedicated to the spirit of Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself. After his death, Hideyoshi was deified as 'Toyokuni Daimyojin,' the Great Bright Deity of Our National Wealth. …

A short walk from the temple and shrine brings us to a somber and controversial landmark: the Mimizuka, or 'Ear Mound.' This grass-covered hill, topped with a stone pagoda, is a burial site for the noses and ears of Korean…

Returning to the main Hōkō-ji temple hall, we find a more intimate space that honors the memory of the vanished Daibutsu. While the massive hall is gone, the current building houses a smaller, but still impressive, replica of the…

As we conclude our tour of Hōkō-ji Temple, I hope you have gained an insight into the profound ways in which architecture, art, and politics are woven into the fabric of Kyoto. Hōkō-ji is a site that reminds us of the fragility…