May 28, 2023 : Saiji (West) Temple Park
© 安岡喜晴 (JoyShine)
We went to the Saiji Temple Park.
Once upon a time, there was a temple called Saiji Temple (West Temple), which was built symmetrically to the west of Toji Temple (East Temple).
Both temples were built in 796 CE, but the West Temple was burnt down in a fire in 1233 CE and was lost, while the East Temple has flourished to this day,
as a landmark at the entrance to Kyoto for more than a thousand years.
Now, the Saiji ruins have become the park we wanted to visit today.
Walking along the sidewalk along the Toji Temple and turning right at the corner, we will find the Great South Gate.
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From there, we continued west and turned right at the corner and walked north until we saw the gate on the west side of Toji Temple,
then we turned left to enter the residential area and went straight for about 15 minutes until we reached Saiji Temple Park.
The site of the West Temple, which once flourished, is now the local park where children play with their friends.
On the hill in the park, the monument represents the place where Saiji Temple used to be.
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It is said that we can find the bricks that were burned when Saiji Temple burned down on the ground,
but we didn't search for them, because we were already too tired to search the weed-covered ground. lol