Single-Character Sutra-Copying Experience 永平寺門前エリア：般若心経一文字

Official explanation

Visitors to Eiheiji can participate in a unique single-character sutra-copying experience held on weekdays at the Shihi-ku Community Center, located next door to Hakujukan. Each participant writes one of the 266 characters of the Heart Sutra (Hannya shingyō), which describes the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness. Once a copy of the entire sutra has been completed, it is donated to Eiheiji Temple and stored in a special building for copied sutras called the nōkyōtō (literally, “tower for storing sutras”).

The act of copying Buddhist sutras by hand, called shakyō, has a long history. One of the earliest historical accounts of sutra-copying is recorded in the Nihon shoki (Chronicles of Japan), which mentions that the imperial court requested that a sutra be copied in Nara in 673. Sutra copying is considered a form of spiritual training and a means of spreading Buddhist teachings, though it can also be performed as a prayer for the fulfillment of a particular wish.

Read the full explanation

The Heart Sutra, one of the shortest and most widely known sutras, is often used for sutra copying. Wholeheartedly copying a single character of the Heart Sutra is an excellent introduction to the practice of shakyō. Once the full sutra has been completed, a commemorative copy of the work is sent to all the participants. Sutra-copying sessions are generally held Monday to Friday between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and cost ¥2,200 to attend. Visitors who wish to try the single-character sutra copying for themselves will need to make advance reservations by contacting Mr. Ōzeki at the Eiheiji Monzen Sightseeing Association (0776-63-3131).

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.