This morning, I walked over the beach to our neighborhood temple, the Komyoji temple. This temple was build in 1240 and transferred to the present location in 1243 and renamed Komyoji. The temple was sponsered by the fourth generation regency of Hojo Tsunetoki, who was Shikken, or an assistant to the Shogun. He held the real power in the Kamakura government. After his death the temple continued to enjoy the patronage of the Hojo Family who inherited power as Shikken. The temple was first place in school education, where Jodo Buddhist priests trained during the Edo era. The temple still belongs to the Jodo Buddhist sect.

There is always this serene quietness. The inside of the temple is beautiful. The temple is surrounded by two beautiful gardens. Kishu Teien with a lotus pond and Sanson Goso Raigo in the Karesansui (a dry landscape garden) style. The “Nelumbo” lotus water lilies in the pond had all withered away and the big pod seeds are all changing into this dark brown dry color. The big leaves are turning brown. Autumn is on its way.

But 3 weeks ago before I left for Mashiko, the pond looked like this: the walkway to the pond.

At the pond.

A golden coy fish in the pond. (Also, look on my blog of May 24).

The water lilies.