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:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Mitsubishi Type 0 Carrier Fighter