Ohara is a mountain village roughly 12 km north of Kyoto. Though it is quite far from the city, it is believed that people have lived here dating back to when the capital in the Heian period was moved to Kyoto in 794.
Ohara is located in what used to be known as Wakasa Province in the middle of the Wakasa Kaidō Road. Once upon a time, Wakasa was the contact point for commerce between Korea and Japan. The Wakasa Kaidō Road connected Wakasa and Kyoto and was an essential road where many traversed back and forth. So, it is said that many people used to travel through Ohara on this road.
The monks studying at temple were among these people who would make their way down the mountain from Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji, the head temple of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism. Why would the monks come down from Hieizan? Ohara is the birthplace of the Tendai Shōmyō Buddhist Liturgical Chant and the center of the Amitabha faith which drew the monks to the village.
The Buddhist chants sound like a song and have a beautiful and unique timbre. The Tendai chanting style actually originated in China and was brought over by a Buddhist monk, Ryōnin, who opened a manda or lecture hall in Ohara. Chanting practices were held at this manda, so monks would go down there to join these sessions.
Sanzen-in which has traveled from place to place, found a base here in Ohara. Did you know that Sanzen-in has been known by other names throughout its travels? Next, let’s dive into the history of Sanzen-in’s many reincarnations.