- HAIR ROPE OF HIGASHI HONGAN-JI TEMPLE - DEVOTEES

When i was in Kyoto i been inspired as soon i saw this temple.

Inside a square glass it was displayed an hair rope and i want to share with you the meaning of this rope.

The temple complex unfortunately was burnt down a number of times, and rebuilt each time.

The construction of the temple's 2 main halls, the founder's hall and the Amida hall required the hoisting and moving of a massive wooden beams, but unfortunately, obtaining rope strong enough for the job was nearly impossible at the time. Luckily, the female devotees of the temple got together to help out. Cutting off their long hair, they took the long locks and braided them together to make a strong, thick, gross rope that was able to hoist the heavy beams.

The flower in her head is called Zinnia 百日草 (Hyakunichisou) and the hanakotoba (the meaning of this flower) is Loyalty and strength.