#uji bridge

[seraphica]

Mie Prefecture, Japan [via]

[tabikaerupeqs]

#旅かえる

[bugcatcherpatrice]

[fromthefloatingworld]

Sunrise at Ise Jingu Shrine by rockcake on Flickr.

[kyotodreamtrips]

Koshoji temple in Uji, along the banks of the Uji river. If you walk through Uji-bashi Higashizume along the river in the upstream direction for approximately 800 m and continue up the Kotozaka walkway from the main gate (stone gate) for approximately 200 m, you will see the Zen temple and the Chinese Dragon’s Palace-style temple gate.

[kyotodreamtrips]

It is said that the original bridge was constructed in 646 by the Buddhist priest Doto of the Genko-ji Temple in Nara. It is one of the oldest bridges in Japan. The history is carved in the “Ujibashi Danhi” in Hashidera Temple. The Uji Bridge is referred to in Waka as well as in The Tale of Genji and was also the stage of the bridge battle in the Tale of the Heike. During its long history, the Uji Bridge has been washed away by floods and burned down in times of war many times, but it has always been rebuilt. The current bridge was repaired in 1996. “San-no-Ma,” which thrusts out in the upstream direction, is said to be the remains of a shrine for the protective deity “Hashihime” and possibly the location where water used for the tea ceremony for Toyotomi Hideyoshi was drawn. The view from San-no-Ma is magnificent.

The present bridge is 155.4 meters long and 25 meters wide. Its design comes from the many the many histories and cultures of the bridge. For example the “Giboshi” ) Onion shaped ornaments) on the wooden railings is one of the sights of Uji. The railings are made from cypress in the style of the Azuchi Momoyama era and the ornament tops of the railings were made to match the shape and size at the rebuilding in 1636.