MONAS | Tone 1 | Phrase 2: The Sacred Megaliths of Chōmei-ji Temple

Aureilia
May 29
16 min read

Updated: Jun 20

[Tone 1. Shiga: The Sea of Niho] 〜 This muddy vesture of decay 〜

Chōmei-ji Temple—true to its name, 'The Temple of Long Life'—is a venerable sanctuary renowned for bestowing blessings of absolute health, longevity, and freedom from illness. Here, a towering, moss-draped stone staircase rose majestically, casting a profound, cooling silence that seemed to quell the very heat of early summer.

Its genesis is said to trace back to the reign of the 12th Emperor, Keikō, when the legendary statesman Takeuchi no Sukune prayed for eternal longevity upon this very site. Near the summit, sacred megaliths (Iwakura) still endure, silently retaining the raw, visceral traces of primordial rituals.

In ancient times, Mount Ikiya, where Chōmei-ji is situated, was an ‘island’—or a peninsula isolated within a sprawling wetland—floating upon Lake Biwa. As a highly restricted sanctuary accessible solely by boat, this lacustrine island was equated by the ancients with ‘Mount Penglai’: the utopian land of immortality and eternal life, known as Tokoyo.

Legend has it that when Prince Shōtoku later visited this sacred ground, he discovered a mysterious cipher carved into a willow tree: ‘If you wish to prolong your life, pray here.’ Moved by this revelation, he sculpted a statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon and officially founded the temple.

Today, the temple grounds are graced by the Main Hall, a three-storey pagoda, and a bell tower—all designated as Important Cultural Properties, meticulously reconstructed between the Muromachi and Momoyama periods. It stands as an absolute vantage point, renowned for offering a breathtaking, panoramic vista over the mother water, Lake Biwa.

Thirty minutes into the ascent. Kai, scaling the daunting path with effortless grace despite his massively heavy equipment bag, glanced back at Kaho—who was lagging an entire lap behind—whilst casually snapping photos.

“Boss. You’re completely knackered, aren’t you?”