Day 11 features Kennin Kudo, Chief Abbot of Hannya-ji Temple, whose temple is located near the Nara Prison Museum.
Hannya-ji is a historic temple founded during the Asuka period. Since it has occupied its current location since then, the abbots several generations before me likely watched Nara Prison being built right before their eyes. Records remaining at the temple show that we provided a portion of our land for the construction of the prison. Near Hannya-ji is the “Kitayama Juhachigen-do,” a facility for leprosy patients built in the Kamakura period, and the temple itself has long provided relief to the poor and the sick. This suggests that the area has historically served as a center for relief in Nara. In that sense, the prison’s original purpose of rehabilitating inmates and offering a helping hand may embody the spirit that has always flowed through this land.
Hannya-ji Temple became known as the “Flower Temple” about half a century ago. It is especially popular from late September to October when 150,000 cosmos flowers bloom, earning it the nickname “Cosmos Temple.” Recently, its June hydrangeas have also become a sensation on social media. The Chief Abbot, Kennin Kudo, has a unique background as a former professional boxer with the ring name “Hannyaji Kennin.” Since succeeding to the temple, he has served the Buddha while also actively sharing updates on Instagram and other social media platforms.
Follow the series on Instagram: “The Exquisite Prison and the 30”
