Autumn colors in Heirinji Temple in 2011
3-1-1 Nobidome Niiza city Saitama Pref.
I visited Heirinji Temple on December 9, 2011.
Here, we can enjoy a large precincts of Heirinji Temple that have not only
the charm of an art as the Buddhist temple but also the charm of nature of the mountain village.
It was cloudy on that day, and it had already passed their peaks a little as for the colored leaves.
However the leaves were wet and attractive because of the rain of the day before.
I could really enjoy the tasteful autumn atmosphere that were beyond what's called bright autumn colors.
I will show you much scenery by using two items of "Artificial scenery around the temple buildings"
and "Natural scenery around paths", which would remind us the images of old Musashino.
1. Artificial scenery around the temple buildings
Scene of Sanmon Gate seen from Sohmon Gate
Passing through Sanmon gate, you will see "Sazare-ishi", a Pebble.
Autumn colors around Benzaiten goddess
Autumn colors around Benzaiten goddess and Hohjohchi pond
The scene of maple leaves profiled against the shadows of Buddha Hall and trunks of trees
Waving surface of the fountain
Pure and neat appearnce around the Main Hall was impressive.
Combination of trimming green and natural red
Simple compositin by red trees, green trees and a white rock
A colored maple and an old tree
Simple & clear composition by maple trees and pine trees
Belfly srrounded by various autumn colors
Nextly, let me show you "Natural scenery around paths"
2. Natural scenery around paths which would remind us the images of old Musashino
Still wetted by the rain of the day before, the leaves showed tasteful tones.
Passing through Benzaiten goddess and Hohjohchi pond, I turned right at the corner.
I was excited with an expectation how the new world would spread beyond the tunnel of colorful maples.
It was so beautiful that I looked back after I walked halfway.
The next new way was opened.
When I turned right again, the long path of maples wove through the wood towards the north.
The tree of yellow leaves was not a ginkgo but a yellow maple.
The path of maples spreads out still more.
Though it is still around noon, the neighborhood became dark probably because of the grove of miscellaneous trees.
It reminded me of a lonely scene of the mountain village in childhood, where I yearned for the light of the house in the evening darkness.
I kept walking for a while and turned to the east and began to come back towards the main hall.
The color of maple leaves glistened at the places where sunlight shone through the rift of the grove of miscellaneous trees here and there.
It was a downhill gentle slope here. Turning right at a path junction over there I went south
This tunnel was the darkest, but it showed a deep fantastic hue.
I kept walking more and turned left to the east and came back to the main hall.
The paths of Heirinji Temple are in the grove of miscellaneous trees.
Maples form a line on both sides of the path and sometimes make the tunnel of the maple.
and the shadow is sometimes bright and sometimes dark,
and it is always changing and creates the colored leaves scenery with various tones.
I perceived me in the changes of the seasons.