Today my colleagues and I took a trip to Mt. Hiei to visit Enryakuji (延暦寺), one of the most revered temple complexes in the country and formerly known as 
the headquarters of the Tendai-sect of Japanese Buddhism. Although often thought of as synonymous with the main hall, the name “Enryakuji” does not refer to any specific building but rather the entire temple complex which encompasses Mt. Hiei. What is also important to note is that Enryakuji is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
今回同僚たちと日本の天台宗の総本山でありUNESCOの世界遺産でもある比叡山延暦寺にお参りしました。一棟の大きなとお寺と思われがちですが、実は延暦寺という名前は比叡山に点在する寺院の総称です。
While it is easy to solely focus on the beauty of the temple grounds, I feel that there is much to be said for the actual trip to the top of Mt. Hiei. Driving up the mountain offered a breathtaking view of Lake Biwa and the city of Otsu which cannot be seen anywhere else. Throughout the drive, you’re able to see the juxtaposition of modern-day Japan against the untouched forests which blanket the mountain. Once you arrive at the temple after seeing the vastly different landscapes right next to each other, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve traveled to another time.
延暦寺の美しさに目を奪われがちですが、比叡山のドライブも凄く綺麗でした。比叡山を登ったら、他の場所では全く見えないびわ湖の景色があって、現代の日本と古代の汚れない森林の対比が見られます。2つの全然違う景色を同時に見ると本当に別の時代に旅行した気がしました。
The temple grounds themselves were quite literally one of the quietest places I have ever been to. Of course it’s easy to say that any place that is situated on top of a mountain is bound to be quiet, but with the cities of Otsu and Kyoto sitting on its east and west respectively, to quickly find yourself in a place where most of the sounds that you have been hearing every day for the past 3 years are completely non-existent was truly a revitalizing experience for me.
寺院の敷地はこれまで訪れた中で最も静かな場所の1つだったと思います。もちろん、山の方に行ったら静かなのは当たり前ですが、比叡山は大津市と京都市の真ん中にあるので、都会の近くの場所なのにこんなに静かな場所があるのかと驚いたのです。3年間、毎日聞こえてくる喧騒を忘れて、ちょっと癒された気がしました。
Among the different temples we visited, the one that stuck out the most was by far the main temple, Konpon Chu-do (根本中堂). The temple was established in 788 by Dengyo Daishi (born Saicho 最澄), who is the founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism in Japan. The temple houses a Buddhist icon known as “Yakushi Nyorai”, which is the Buddha of healing and medicine, and it is said that Dengyo Daishi himself carved the statute. However, perhaps the most interesting thing about this temple is that the Buddhist statue has been continuously illuminated by a flame said to have been lit by Daishi Daigyo, for over 1,200 years. It is in this temple where visitors can see Buddhist monks going about their daily rituals, most of which have remained unchanged since the temple’s establishment over a millennium ago. After giving it some thought, I realized that this was what exemplified my experience visiting Enryakuji. The fact that while the world around it has changed so drastically throughout the years, time here seemingly stood still. Truly an experience I will never forget.
お参りした寺院の中でも一番感動したのはやはり根本中堂でした。788年に天台宗の創始者である伝教大師（最澄）は根本中堂を設立しました。お寺の中にある仏像は「薬師如来」の像で、この仏像は伝教大師自らが彫ったものと伝えられ、以来１２００年間その仏像を炎が照らし続けています。このお寺に古代から全く変わってない儀式が見られます。これこそ私が最も感動した点です。周りの世界は絶えず変わっていきますが、延暦寺は昔と変わらず、素晴らしいと思います。将来、機会があれば絶対にもう一度訪れたい場所です。
Yo! Biwako 