About This Video
Donkaiin temple is part of Kongosho-ji which is located on top of Mount Asama, Mie’s highest mountain. Built-in 825 by Kobo Daishi (774~835) who was a Buddhist saint and founder of the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism. Kongos-Ji is in fact a rampart designed to protect Ise Jingu from any spiritual or human threats coming from the north-east of the city.
What makes Donkaiin particularly interesting is that the temple is deemed to be located on another planet and not being on earth. Upon entering the temple grounds you slowly travel to another dimension and enter the world of the dead. During your walk through the temple’s main entrance, you will be greeted with huge wooden memorial boards known as Tohba (塔婆) and be surrounded by cemeteries. What’s special here is that loved ones often leave some of the deceased personal belongings hung on the Tohba such as glasses, hats, and so on.
