Muza-chan's Gate to Japan

The Legend of the Hongaku-ji Bell

Tue, October 26, 2010, by Muza-chan
The bell from the Kamakura Hongaku-ji Temple, built in 1410, has an interesting legend associated with it:
Initially, the bell belonged to a temple from Chiba Prefecture, but one day, Nisshutsu, the chief priest from Hongaku-ji Temple, won a religious debate with the priests from Chiba and, as a prize, he received the bell. The legend says that the bell was carried to Kamakura by a servant with herculean strength... it is hard to believe, because the bell weights 700kg... but it's a nice legend.

The original bell is now at the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History from Yokohama, and at the Hongaku-ji Temple we can admire an exact replica.

Hongaku-ji Temple Bell, Kamakura
EXIF info:

Nikon D90
Lens: VR 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 22mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/500s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200


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