The story of "Metsuna" at Higashi Honganji Temple, Kyoto (mid-Edo period)

The story of "Metsuna" at Higashi Honganji Temple, Kyoto (mid-Edo period)

During the restoration of Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto in the mid-Edo period, believers donated their hair to make "hair ropes" for the temple. The first hair rope failed to cut when lifting the ridgepole, but it was improved with the addition of kusaoka and became a success. This process was a symbol of piety and a sign of community cohesion. Temples at the time were the center of the community, and the creation of the kezuna was a story of technological innovation and faith fused together. Much prayer and unity existed in the background of Higashi Honganji Temple, which soars into the sky of Kyoto.