Relics of the tycoon Hideyoshi

  If I had a time machine, I would go back 400 years ago and visit  the  Great Buddha Hall of Kyoto. It was the building storing a Buddha statue 4 meter lager than the one located in Nara. Although it was totally burned out by the lightning in the late 18th C, you can see it in the following screen painting.
The area in and around the Kyoto city (Funaki-version)

 The Great Buddha was built by the extraordinary warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He took on the project to rebuild the devastated Kyoto city after the long civil war. The Great Buddha Hall of Kyoto was the symbol of the project and his glory as well as the Jurakutei castle which was Hideyoshi's residence and government house in Kyoto.

 Unfortunately Hideyoshi died September 18, 1598 before the completion of the hall.

 (Toyotomi Hideyoshi, February 2, 1536, or March 26, 1537 – September 18, 1598)
He was born in peasant family and finally reached to the top of power. That's the reason his birth record is uncertain.

 Yesterday was anniversary of his death so I guided my guest from Germany to the places related with Hideyoshi.

  The precincts of the  Great Buddha Hall included today's Kyoto National Museum, Chishaku-in temple and part of Sanjusangen-do temple. According to historical records, not only Japanese but also Western people visited the hall and they were overwhelmed by the size of the building and the statue as well as the number of statues in Sanjusangen-do temple. Maybe around there was the most popular tourist destinations in Kyoto in that time.

 Chishaku-in temple is the best place where you can feel the atmosphere of the time of Hideyoshi. You can relax on the tatami mat surrounded by gorgeous paintings and peaceful garden. 

It is said that the garden is reflecting the taste of Rikyu who was the extraordinary tea master served for Hideyoshi.  

The garden was inspired by the area around Mt.Lushan in China. The rain added the mysterious profundity of the garden.

 It was rainy day but we can enjoy sightseeing inside the halls at the destinations.  After visiting Chishaku-in, we visited the shrine dedicated to Hideyoshi. A lot of people including foreigners had already gathered in front of the gate and watching the memorial service for Hideyoshi.

 There are some posters of NHK historical drama of this year in the precinct of the shrine. It is the story of legendary samurai warrior Sanada Yukimura who served for Hideyoshi’s family and fought against the strongest power, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of Edo shogunate. You can watch the 5 minutes digest at the NHK youtube channel.





 Screen painting of Jurakudai, Hideyoshi's residence and government house in Kyoto. 

Only the relics of Breat Buddha hall and Jurakudai  remain in Kyoto but the contribution of  Hideyoshi for the development of the ancient capital is remarkable.  That's why he is loved by local people even today.