Kyoousan-Enyuji Temple
The Kyoousan-Enyuji temple is known for the beauty of its main hall, which is the oldest surviving wooden structure in the 23 wards of Tokyo.
The temple was founded by Jikaku Daishi in 853.
As you enter you will see the massive Niomon Gate in front of the temple, and after the main hall in front of the Amida hall, you will find the Bodhi Tree, where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
The main building, built in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), is a single-storey a traditional Japanese irimoya-style building.
The roof, with its beautifully curved gables, is a testament to the skill of the craftsmen.
Shortly after the war, the main hall (Shakado) of the Kyoousan-Enyuji temple underwent extensive restoration over a period of about 10 years.
During the preparatory research, an inscription was found on a pillar at the far end of the attic, believed to have been carved at the time of the foundation.
There was no record of the name of the person or the year, just the words "Our hands are good; look at the people": meaning, “if we have left the world with the most wonderful architecture, nothing else matters, as long as people see it for years to come”.
One day, some 30 years after the initial discovery, the foreman of the restoration work visited the temple and told the priest that there was now another inscription.
The priest replied, "Actually, I wrote it”
His response to the craftsmen was: "Your hands are excellent; I saw the people”.
