KAWANISHI, Hyogo — A Buddhist temple in this western Japanese city has put a colorful spin on its water bowls, filling them with seasonal flowers that float on the surface of the water.
Flowers occasionally float in two bowls of water – designed for visitors to wash their hands – on the grounds of Kougen-ji, a temple located on a mountain slope in the northwestern part of Kawanishi. Bright yellow sunflowers could be seen floating in a bowl in bright sunlight when this reporter walked past the entrance on a recent visit.
The flowers had been placed in the bowls to coincide with the annual Buddhist obon event. In the other bowl on site were refreshing white and pink periwinkle flowers. I forgot the summer heat for a while while admiring the beautiful view.
It is believed that the temple was first built in 1476 and its weeping cherry tree is over 300 years old. The calm atmosphere of the temple, which has upheld the faith of locals, changed slightly about two years ago as more people visited during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after the cherry blossom season ended, the number of people walking around the temple grounds increased.
Chief Vice Priest Myoshin Murakami recalls guessing, “Maybe they want a place to rest amid the coronavirus pandemic.” His wife Mariko had the idea of placing the flowers of the season in the bowls of water. They pick the flowers from the temple grounds and the area around it.
Murakami commented, “I continue this in the hope that the temple will become familiar to people. I am happy if they have a moment of relaxation and join their hands in prayer to the main object of worship in our temple.”
For inquiries, contact Kougen-ji Temple by phone at 072-799-0627 (in Japanese).
(Japanese original by Kazuhiro Doi, Takarazuka Resident Bureau)
