Smith's School of English Soap Box

One of my passions is Japanese history and I am amazed that the majority of the student’s at Smith’s School of English in Koenji (スミス英会話高円寺) do not share my fervour, in fact they are astonished that I know so much about times gone by. I have learnt about Japan’s past simply by visiting temples and shrines. A couple of by-products from these visits are the exercise that I have walking around, up and down stairs etc that enables me to, in part, to control my weight, additionally as I write about the temples of Tokyo I am creating interesting “Let’s Talk” lessons for use with my monthly paying (英会話月謝制) English conversation (英会話) students.

Kiyomizu Kannondo is in Ueno Imperial Park – the official name of Ueno Park, and is a much smaller replica of Kyoto’s Kiyomizudera , it is built on a hill in the park over looking Shinobazu pond and was one of the many temples that formed part of the Kaneiji Temple complex. It was built in 1631 by Tenkai the founder and head priest of Kaneiji who was given Kiyomizu Kannondo’s main image (a thousand handed Buddha) which was originally housed in Kiyomizudera (Kyoto).

The temple each year has a Ningyo Kuyo (doll funeral ) for dolls which are presented at the temple throughout the year as gifts for the safe delivery and good health by women who are expecting a child or who have recently given birth. The dolls are burnt in a elaborate funeral ceremony.

Kiyomizu Kannondo Temple is classified as an Important Cultural Property as it is one of the few Kaneiji Temple complex structures in Ueno Park that were not destroyed during the Meiji Restoration Period and World War II.

Ken
Smith’s School of English Koenji

http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/koenji.shtml