Circle island tour part 1

The Byodo-In temple

Valley of the temples memorial park.

Here is a little bit history of Byodo-In temple;

The Byodo-In temple situated at Valley of the Temples Memorial was

established on June 7,1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.

The Byodo-in was built entirely without the use of nails. It is a scale replica

of a temple at Uji Japan that was constructed over 900 years ago. The 

Byodo-in is built to represent the mythical phoenix, its wings upheld by pillars of 

stone. Folklore tells of the phoenix arising from the ashes to reflect the promises of 

hope and renewal. 

The Magnificent Byodo-in Temple translates ''Temple of equality - not to discriminate''

and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha a unique to the entire world.

The Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient 

times. Towering more than 18 feet, the immense figure is an original work of art

carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui. When the carving was 

completed, it was covered with cloth and painted with three applications of 

gold lacquer. Gold leaf was later applied over the lacquer finish. The hall and 

all the artistry it reflects are regarded as representing the essence of the culture

of the Fujiwara aristocracy. 

The Hall is popularly known as Hoo-do, or the Phoenix Hall, because a pair of the 

legendary birds of good omen and of Chinese origin is seen perched on both ends of the roof 

with their wings spread and ready to fly away.

The hall containing two wings reflects stability as well as artistic beauty.

The Bell House, called kanetsu-ki-do, contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called

bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan from a mixture of bronze

and tin, by permission of the government of Japan. It closely 

resembles the bell hanging in an identical Bell House at the Uji Byodo-in.

The original is said to be more than 900 years old and to have come from India. It is 

revered for its distinctive shape, and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace,

cleansing the mind of evil and  temptation. The resonant sound of the bon-sho creates

an atmosphere of tranquility for meditation that travels for 

some distance. A soft wooden log called the ''shu-moku'' us used to strike the bell. The 

bell customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread  the eternal teachings of Buddha. 

The temple

 Huge temple.

*speechless*

Side look.

This is the bell. Emily hit it. 

Then my sister.

Super noob ^^~

Ready to pull.

PULL!!!! 

Beatrice. 

The buddha 

The fish 

The Koi fish 

Black swam  

 2 swam on the lake 

Me and my roommate. 

And again 

2 duck

Is this what they call a pair duck that represent a wife and husband?

Idk. I have no idea.  

This is fish super huge!!  

The is a hill behind the temple.  

Its so biggg and beautiful 

And the tree looks natural 

One of the board. 

Us.

And again.

Going to our next destination!  

Take 2 

The school bus here is so long.  

My roommate was eating. 

*to be continued* 

PART 2 coming out soon