HAKATA HAS MY HEART

 

A DAY IN HAKATA

July 9^th, 2022

So, we went around one of the most important historical areas in not only the Fukuoka prefecture but in entire Japan, that is, Hakata. Hakata has been associated with many warlords, monks, and scholars. It has a rich cultural, religious, and political history. The Hakata region being near the sea served as a crucial point of contact with foreign lands such as China and Korea during historical times.

We saw the biggest street in Hakata called Taihaku Dori Street. It was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, A Japanese samurai and feudal lord or daimyo of the Yamato Government. The street is said to connect Hakata with Dazaifu. Dazaifu housed the administrative complex from the Nara period to the Kamakura Period, while Hakata was an important site for trade and cultural exchanges.

 

Tochoji Temple

We next visited the Sanbo Kojin temple, a small temple dedicated to the kitchen god! Yes, you read it right. Sanbo Kojin is considered to be the God of fire, hearth, and kitchen.

We also saw a temple named Ryuguji Temple which houses the remains of a mermaid (well that is what people believe). It was said that a mermaid was captured in 1222 AD and was believed to be a good omen. The mermaid was buried in the ground of the temple Ukimido and from then on, the temple was known as Ryuguji. (In Japanese, Ryugu means underwater palaces in which mermaids are said to live).

We then headed to the first Mikkyo Buddhism Temple in Japan, that is, the Tochoji temple. This temple was called Jingoji temple until the Edo Period (1603 AD to 1867 AD). Mikkyo Buddhism is a form of Esoteric or tantric Buddhism. The temple was said to be founded by Kukai in 806 AD when he returned from Tang (modern-day China).  The main object of worship here is a statue of a thousand-armed cannon. The temple also houses the grave of some of the historically significant Feudal Lords and calligraphy by prominent people of that time. In 1992 a statue called “The Great Buddha of Fukuoka” was installed in the temple. It is the largest wooden statue of a seated Buddha in entire Japan. I was really spellbound after seeing it, we were not allowed to take pictures though.

Then we headed towards Jotenji temple. Jotenji temple is a Zen (Rinzai sect) temple founded by a monk named Shoichi Kokushi, also known as Enni-Ben’nen. The construction was supported by a Chinese merchant named Sha Koku mei or Xie Guo Ming. The temple is also said to be the birthplace of the udon and soba noodles in Japan. Not only this, even the famous sweets of Japan called Manju was brought by Shoichi Kokushi from China. The temple is a Zen temple and thus is extremely peaceful and serene. The zen way of decorating the temple premise doesn’t involve water. Thus, one can see beautiful patterns of sand laid down in the temple premise surrounded by rocks. This formation of the sand depicts the ocean waves.  

 Jotenji Temple

 Jotenji Temple and me!!!

                 The Hakata Millenium Gate

The entrance of the temple has a gate called the Hakata Millennium Gate. Both the sides of the gate have calligraphy in Chinese.  The white plaque of the gate faces Hakata Bay while the black plaque faces Dazaifu. Hakata Bay was the direction of the port from where the ships would leave for China and Korea, while Dazaifu is the old government complex crucial for administrative activities.

We then headed towards the Shofukuji temple which was the first Zen temple in Japan. It was founded by a Buddhist priest Myoan Eisai or Yosai and supported by Minamoto no Yoritomo. The construction was completed in 1195 AD.  

Our trip ended at one of the many shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. It is called the Tsunaba shrine. It is here that Sugawara no Michizane was welcomed by the locals when he landed at the harbor on his way to Dazaifu to take up his post.

My friends and I feel truly blessed to have been residing in Fukuoka which constitutes a region as rich in history as Hakata. Japan has innumerable shrines, more than the number of convenient stores. Japan is truly a home to cultural richness. No wonder people fall in love with Japan, its beauty, and its culture.

Grateful to my professor who takes us to all these amazing places. He is the BEST!! We will miss you Ichiki Sensei. 

Hakata truly has my heart. 

Japan has my heart. 

 

(I have so much to write and thus I simply jot down all that I feel like at the moment, so my blogs might not be the best literary pieces to read!!)