Trivia quiz about Sanjusangendo: a collection of questions to deepen your knowledge

Soseki Natsume

“Day is long, Sanjūsangendō is long.” This is a haiku said to have been composed by the Japanese literary master Natsume Sōseki. It is included in “Draft Haiku Sent to Masaoka Shiki, No. 10.” It seems the hall’s overwhelming grandeur was such that even Natsume Sōseki could only remark on its sheer “length.”

42 pieces

The statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon has a total of 42 arms. However, there is a reason it is called the Thousand-Armed Kannon. Excluding the two hands joined in prayer, it has 40 arms. In Buddhism, there is a concept called the Twenty-Five Modes of Existence, which divides the cycle of rebirth into 25 realms. Each of the Kannon’s arms is said to save one of these 25 realms, so 40 × 25 = 1000.

Emperor Go-Shirakawa (the Retired Emperor/Former Emperor Go-Shirakawa)

Sanjusangendo was founded in 1165 by order of the retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa. Incidentally, it is said that Taira no Kiyomori was instructed by the retired emperor to provide materials to support its construction.

Yosegi-zaiku (traditional Japanese marquetry)

The principal image of Sanjūsangendō, the seated Thousand-Armed Kannon, is made using a technique called yosegi-zukuri. Yosegi-zukuri, established by Jōchō, is a method of creating Buddhist statues by combining multiple pieces of wood. In addition to enabling the construction of large statues from small pieces of wood, it helps prevent warping and cracking, facilitates division of labor, and improves manufacturing efficiency.

Hall of Great Compassion

There are two types of goshuin (temple seals) available at Sanjūsangen-dō. One features a waka poem written in the 5-7-5-7-7 syllabic pattern, and the other bears the inscription “Daihiden.” “Daihi” refers to the great compassion of Kannon, the bodhisattva who mercifully saves all beings, and “Daihiden” denotes the hall where Kannon is enshrined. In addition to Sanjūsangen-dō, some other temples and shrines dedicated to Kannon also write “Daihiden” on their goshuin.

Emperor Emeritus Go-Saga

After the Great Fire of the Kenchō era, Sanjūsangen-dō was rebuilt by order of the Retired Emperor Go-Saga. Reconstruction is said to have begun after the 1249 fire and was completed in 1266. The structure rebuilt at that time has been preserved to the present day through ongoing repairs.

Bishamonten

Bishamonten, included among the Twenty-eight Attendants, is also known as one of the Seven Lucky Gods and is believed to grant blessings such as prosperous business, victory in contests, and protection from misfortune.