Ancient Japanese Temple In Hawaii? ハワイーでは古いお寺かな？

The cry of the heart
Stirs with the Shakuhachi
Walking past the dead

How well do you know your temples?

Here are two photographs of Byodo-in Temple. The topmost photo is Byodo-in in Uji. The second is Byodo-in in O'ahu Hawaii. It is located at the feet of Mt. Ko'olau in the Valley of Temples.




Hawaii's Byodo-in was built in the 1960's in commemoration of the first Japanese immigrants who worked in Hawaii's cane fields. It is a functional Buddhist Temple where one can partake in Buddhist Ceremonies. Weddings and other ceremonies are held on the Temple grounds.

There is a large 30 ton brass bell on site. It is a replica of the bell at Byodo-in in Uji. It is customarily rung before you enter the temple as a means of purification. The original bell is featured in my previous post on Temple Bells. The bell in Hawaii is called, the 'Peace Bell.'

Interestingly enough this area is known by two names, Valley of the Temples and Memorial Park. The park houses the cemeteries of Buddhist, Shinto, and Catholic dead. Hawaii's Byodo-in houses Catholic Statues, Crypts, along with the Stations of the Cross and Virgin Mary Statues. (Nice to see the Japanese way of intermingling 'religions' has spread across the ocean.)

On the Big Screen

I'm not a 'Lost' fan, but apparently the character Sun's father's home is filmed here at Hawaii's Byodo-in. You may also recognize the area from the movie, "Pearl Harbor" (The most recent version.) There is a brief scene showing Japanese women walking in front of the temple while the Doolittle raid flies over Japan.

For more information on Byodo-in in Hawaii and the Valley of Temples, (Including directions) try these links.

About.com's well researched link
Wikipedia's Valley of the Temples Memorial Park page.

Something NEW at the Pool of Zen

-Here is the photograph of Hawaii's Byodo-in. It has been altered to enhance some of the colors and crispness of the photo. I've noticed that many other sites have altered photographs on their pages. Occasionally I am going to post my own alterations just to give another perspective.

Personally I like the dark shadings and perspective on the photo of the Uji Byodo-in best. I especially like how the ropes are hanging from the eves of the building I am standing in.

For another look at the ancient Byodo-in, Click Here

Which one's your favorite? Do you prefer the original photos or the doctored images?


All photo's, original works, and comments are my personal property. Please be respectful of the effort I've taken.

Your comments are welcome, be polite:
No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.